Senior Citizen Card getting older brings with it with some challenges, whether they include extreme tiredness, health issues or just not being as active or enthusiastic as you were when you were pretty young. To cover this and support individuals keep up with the times, the Social Welfare Department has started certain plans that persons are allowed to avail. However, to make it easy for people to avail of these, they have come up with a Senior Citizens Card, which makes the entire procedure a lot easy one.
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What is a Senior Citizen Card?
Senior Citizen Card Simply put, the Card issued by the Social Welfare Department offers a recognized proof of age to elders to ease their access to concessions, priority or discounts services provided by Government departments, commercial and private establishments.
What are the advantages of applying for a Senior Citizen Card?
Railway privilege for people of 60 years or more & Railways has a separate queue for senior citizens.
Discount for people who are 60 years or more by KSRTC & BMTC Transport.
Air travel privilege of 50% on the basic fare for elders who are 65 years or more.
For a minimum age of 60 years,30% discount at multiple private hospitals.
Government hospitals do offer free treatment for 60 years old or older.
Most of the banks gives an additional interest of 0.5% to 60-year-olds.
Income tax-exempts senior citizens (65 years and above) to pay any tax & Income tax relief is offered to all senior citizens.
Old age home- admissions are absolutely free or at a nominal cost.
Income of up to Rs 3 lakh is non-taxable.
Income of up to Rs 5 lakh is non-taxable for super senior citizens (over 80 year of age).
Health insurance premium of up to Rs 30,000 gets tax deduction under Section 80D of Income Tax Act 1961.
Senior citizens who are pretty much suffering from a critical illness can avail a tax deduction of up to Rs 60,000 under Section 80DDB. The limit is enhanced to Rs 80,000 for super seniors.
TRAVEL DISCOUNTS. Senior citizens can avail of numerous discounts on fares.
Air Travel. Air-India: Who are over 60, Elder citizens with Indian citizenship are entitled for 50% discount on economy fare for domestic travel.
Rail Travel. Women over the age of 58 and Men over the age of 60 are eligible for 50% and 40% discount respectively. The privilege is accessible on fares of all classes of Express / Rajdhani /Mail/ Jan Shatabdi/ Shatabdi/ Duranto trains.
Bus Travel. Some state governments and municipal corporation give privilege to elder citizens on bus fare. Also, certain bus seats do reserved for them.
HIGHER INTEREST. They get higher interest on investments
The Senior Citizen’s Saving Scheme is avail to all seniors over the age of 60. It offers interest of some percent per annum.
Senior citizens get some percentage of higher interest rate on FD than the standard rate.
LOWER CHARGES. Their telephone bills are suuportive or subsidised
BSNL: over 65, Senior citizen are eligible for registration of telephone on priority. Registration charges are also refused for them.
MTNL: over 65, Senior citizen are qualified for 25% privilege on monthly service charges and installation charges for landlines connections.
OTHER BENEFITS
Banks, hospitals, etc. make special allowances for them
for registration and clinical examination, there are separate queues for the elderly in hospitals.
Over the age of 60, Senior citizens can write to the court for privileged hearing of their cases.
Have separate queues for the elderly for Bank branches
for senior citizens, Most banks have distinct accounts that offer facilities like priority service at branches, issuing senior citizen cards, etc ..
Apply for Senior Citizen Certificate
Apply In-Person:
Do approach the connected Suwidha centers or Gram Suwidha Kendra’s (GSK). DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SECURITY AND WOMEN & CHILD DEVELOPMENT issues this ID.
Following website provides contact details: punjab.gov.in
Please go to the respective work place to get information for applying and also the application form.
Connect for application form: senior citizen certificate
Make certain that you have all the proper paper work mentioned in the “Required documents.
The user shall submit his request for sanctioning of Senior Citizen Identity Card to the Authorized
GSK/Suwidha operator by giving him necessary details along with significant supporting documents.
The user would have to prove his identity to the Authorized Operator utilizing any government issued ID Proof. If user has no age proof then he has to get his age certified from some Civil Hospital.
The Authorized GSK/Suwidha operator will process the submitted application online.
Please follow authorities guidelines and pay as necessary.
User will get the acknowledgement slip/ transaction id. Please keep it for future transaction.
This application will be processed internally. Verification of submitted paper work will also be carried.
After successful completion, Certificate will be delivered to the user through applicable norms after notification.
The complete procedure of issuing the Senior Citizen Certificate will take some working days.
Required Documents
Application form. Link for form: senior citizen certificate
Two photographs of the aspirant.
Aadhaar card
ID card of the aspirant (Identity Card issued by competent authority OR Bank passbook with photograph/School certificate/Pension book)
Residential Proof(Voter ID card/Ration cards/Valid Passport)
Document/Birth certificate to prove the age
Residence certificate provided by Competent Authority for the said period as needed.
Pan card ( For Monthly allowance above Rs.15,000 per month)
Elder citizens are granted a higher freedom limit in comparison to normal tax payers. Freedom limit is the quantum of income up to which an individual is not accountable to pay tax. The exemption or freedom limit given to senior citizen and very senior citizen for the financial year 2020-21 is given here:
Senior citizen (Age 60 years or more but must be less than 80 years): A senior citizen is given a higher freedom or exemption limit in comparison to non-senior citizens. The freedom limit is accessible to a resident senior citizen is Rs. 3,00,000. For non-senior citizen, the freedom limit is Rs. 2,50,000.
Thus, it can be noticed that an additional profit of Rs. 50,000 in the shape of larger freedom or exemption limit is given to a resident senior citizen as in comparison to normal tax payers.
Very senior citizen (of age above 80 years) : A very senior citizen is given a higher exemption or freedom limit as compare to others. The exemption or freedom limit accessible to a resident of very senior citizen is Rs. 5,00,000.
Thus, it can be noticed that an additional profit of Rs. 2,50,000 in the structure of larger freedom limit is given to a resident very senior citizen as in comparison to normal tax payers.
What is senior citizen age for ladies?
As per guidelines, women senior citizens of minimum 58 years are granted privilege in the fares of all classes of Rajdhani / Shatabdi /Mail/Express/Jan Shatabdi/Duronto group of trains. The element of privilege is 40% for men and 50% for women.
What is senior citizen smart card?
MSRTC has introduced Smart Card facility for the people aged over 65 years under which they not only get a privilege of 50 percent on the bus fare but can also pay their fare. Through this card, they do also purchase other goods.
HRTC has also started “SMART CARD”. Under this plan, a smart card holder is permitted 10% privilege in fare for traveling in HRTC buses. The general public do purchase the smart card against a payment of Rs. 50/- having its authenticity for two years.
Is there any pension scheme for senior citizens?
There is a pension scheme for the elder people to get a monthly income to support their expenses
The beneficiary does not require to contribute any amount to receive a pension.
Between ages 60 and 79 years as Rs200 is paid monthly to this age beneficiaries, and Rs500 for those aged 80 years and above.
The amount is paid directly into the pensioner’s post office account or bank.
How can I make my senior citizen card in Punjab?
Punjab residents are eligible for Senior Citizen Cards as soon as they attain the age of 60. No fee charged by Department. The application would be made at Sewa Kendras with necessary documentary proof. Sewa Kendra do charge 10/- for the form.
The application has to be endorsed by an Numberdar/ Sarpanch /MC. It would take 9 days after filling the form.
| Application form | Link for form |
| No of Photos Required | Two photographs |
| ID card of the applicant | Pension Book/Aadhar Card/Ration cards/Valid Passport |
| Office Locations | Suwidha Centre |
