How to check pension status / PPO number — CPAO + Bhavishya + Bank (2026)

• Before retirement: register on Bhavishya at least 8 months before retirement. Track all 9 stages: Form 5/6/7 submission → HoO scrutiny → AG/CPAO → e-PPO → Bank credit.
• After retirement: visit cpao.nic.in → Pensioners Corner → Pension Status — enter PPO number + DOB.
• Bank route: log in to your disbursing bank's net-banking → check “Pension” section. Most PSBs (SBI, PNB, Canara, etc.) show pension credit history.
• Find PPO if lost: contact disbursing bank with retirement letter + Aadhaar + service certificate. They can re-issue PPO copy.
• Provisional pension under Rule 68 — if final PPO is delayed beyond 6 months, provisional pension equal to 100% of basic must be released. Most don't know to demand this.
• Family pension activation — surviving spouse must apply with death certificate + bank statement; revision within 30 days mandated.

What we hear from RTI Wiki users: Mr. Ramamurthy, a 60-year-old retired Junior Engineer from CPWD Delhi, hadn't received any pension 7 months after retirement. He filed an RTI to his last drawing office (CPWD Division) asking (a) date of forwarding pension papers to AG/CPAO, (b) current location of file, © reason for delay beyond Rule 65's 8-month timeline, (d) provisional pension status under Rule 68, (e) projected sanction date. Reply in 26 days revealed the file was held up at AG's office for 5 months on a single missing service-verification entry. He chased AG; PPO issued in 14 days; arrears (7 months × Rs. 36,000) credited.

• Service verification gaps — break-in-service, leave records missing. Fix: collect all service certificates from past postings.
• Last-pay certificate (LPC) issue — wrong basic, allowance, or DA noted. Fix: rectification request to last drawing office.
• Bank account issue — joint account vs single, KYC pending. Fix: bank visit.
• Aadhaar-PAN mismatch — DBT routing fails. Fix: update both with consistent data.
• Family details not updated for spouse and children. Fix: Form 12 to HoO for nomination.
• Pension fixation calculation error — 7th Pay Commission revisions may have been applied incorrectly. Fix: file RTI for fixation worksheet.
• HoO transferred / unreachable — common after restructuring. Fix: contact next administrative officer in line.

• Provisional pension under Rule 68 of CCS Pension Rules 2021 — 100% of basic + DA, payable indefinitely until final PPO. ASK FOR THIS in writing if delay exceeds 6 months — most HoOs don't volunteer it.
• Bhavishya app (Android) lets you track pension stages from your phone. Notifications at each stage transition.
• Annual life certificate is mandatory each November via biometric (Jeevan Pramaan app or bank visit). If missed, pension freezes.
• Pension can be received in any bank in India — not just disbursing bank. CPAO portal allows bank change without re-application.
• Family pension is 30% of basic (50% if death-in-service); can be claimed by parents (if no spouse/children) or unmarried daughter (any age) or disabled child (any age). Most family-pension claimants don't know about the disabled-child clause.

Bhavishya: 1800-11-3000 · CPAO: 1800-11-7788 · DoPPW: 011-26194914 · Email: helpdesk-bhavishya@nic.in / cpao@nic.in

The official SLA on this service is published. If your status is stuck beyond it, you have a statutory right under §6 RTI Act 2005 to demand information from the public authority. Reply mandatory in 30 days.

File an RTI to: Pay & Accounts Office (PAO) + AG (Audit) + Last Drawing Office

Ask these 5 questions:

1. date pension papers forwarded to AG/CPAO
2. officer-in-charge
3. reason for delay beyond 8-month rule
4. provisional pension status (Rule 68)
5. projected sanction date

→ Use our free AI RTI Drafter to generate a complete §6(1) application in 60 seconds. The Drafter pre-fills your name, address, fee statement, and the 5 questions above.

→ Or speak it in हिन्दी / English / 9 other Indian languages via AwaazRTI.

→ For deeper case-law on this scenario: Read the full RTI guide for pension delay.

• Q: How long after retirement should pension start? — CCS Pension Rules 2021 mandate 8-month pre-retirement processing. First installment should hit your bank by retirement date or within 30 days.
• Q: What is provisional pension and when can I claim it? — Rule 68 of CCS Pension Rules — 100% of basic + DA, payable when final pension is delayed > 6 months post-retirement. Demand in writing.
• Q: Can I receive pension in any bank? — Yes — pensioner is free to choose any bank. CPAO portal handles transfer without re-application.
• Q: What if my PPO is lost? — Disbursing bank can issue duplicate. Contact bank with Aadhaar + service certificate.
• Q: Family pension after pensioner's death — what to do? — Spouse files Form-14 with HoO + death certificate + bank passbook. Revision within 30 days mandated. Children eligible till 25 (sons) / lifelong (unmarried/disabled daughters).

To check status: use the official portal listed above with your reference number. SLA is published; if stuck beyond it, file a free RTI.

• If status is normal → wait the published SLA, then download/use your document
• If status is delayed → click 🪄 AI RTI Drafter now; complete §6 application in 60 seconds
• If status is rejected → demand reasons under §4(1)(d) RTI Act; appeal/represent
• For state-specific guidance → see state-by-state guide

• 🪄 AI RTI Drafter — type problem, get §6 application
• 🎤 AwaazRTI — voice-to-RTI in 11 Indian languages
• 🔮 Outcome Predictor — score your draft's win-likelihood
• ⚖️ First Appeal Generator — §19(1) draft on Day 31
• 📬 PIO Reply Checker — analyse evasive replies
• 📅 Timeline Calculator — track 30-day window
• 💰 Fee Calculator — state-wise fees
• 🔍 RTI Research — AI Q&A from this site

• Master guide: Full RTI for pension delay
• State-by-state: Pick your state
• Citizen RTI playbook: All 100+ scenarios
• The RTI Act 2005: Complete guide
• All status-check guides: All 25 status-check pages

• RTI Act 2005 §§6, 7, 19
• Official portal (linked in Quick Facts)
• Statute referenced in Quick Facts

Last reviewed: 25 April 2026.