CEA Clarification – If a Government servant dies…

Reimbursement of CEA Clarification – If a Government servant dies…

The Department of Personnel and Training has issued consolidated instructions regarding the grant of Children Education Allowance (CEA) and Hostel Subsidy in accordance with the recommendations made by the Seventh Central Pay Commission. The government has revised the rates of CEA/Hostel Subsidy and simplified the procedure for claiming reimbursement of the same, as reflected in the OM of even number dated 16-8-2017. However, the department has received queries regarding the applicability of various provisions/instructions issued during the sixth CPC regime and difficulties faced by some government employees in obtaining certificates from the Head of the Institution. To address these concerns, consolidated instructions have been issued superseding all earlier OMs on the subject of CEA and Hostel subsidy.

a) The Children Education Allowance/Hostel subsidy can only be claimed for the two eldest surviving children, except in cases where the second child’s birth results in twins or multiple births. If a sterilization operation fails, the CEA/Hostel Subsidy would be admissible for children born beyond the usual two-child norm due to the first instance of such failure.

b) The reimbursement for Children Education allowance is fixed at Rs. 2250/- per month, per child, regardless of the actual expenses incurred by the government servant. To claim reimbursement of CEA, the government servant must provide a certificate issued by the Head of the Institution for the academic year in question, confirming that the child studied in the school during the previous academic year. If obtaining such a certificate is not possible, a self-attested copy of the report card or fee receipt(s), including e-receipt(s), confirming that the fee has been paid for the entire academic year can be presented as supporting documents.

c) The ceiling amount for hostel subsidy is Rs. 6750/- per month. To claim reimbursement of Hostel Subsidy for an academic year, a certificate from the Head of Institution confirming that the child studied in the school will suffice. Additionally, the certificate must mention the amount of expenditure incurred by the Government servant towards lodging and boarding in the residential complex. The period/year refers to a complete academic session of twelve months.

If a certificate cannot be obtained, the employee may submit a self-attested copy of their report card and the original fee receipt(s)/e-receipt(s) indicating the amount spent on lodging and boarding in the residential complex to claim Hostel Subsidy. The employee will receive either the actual expenditure on lodging and boarding or a maximum of Rs. 6750/-, whichever is lower. The period/year will be defined as mentioned in clause (b) of this paragraph.

For Divyaang children of government employees, the reimbursement for Children Education Allowance will be double the normal rate of CEA prescribed in clause (b), i.e., a fixed amount of Rs. 4500/- per month.

The rates/ceiling mentioned above will automatically increase by 25% every time the Dearness Allowance on the revised pay structure goes up by 50%. The Hostel Subsidy and Children Education Allowance can be claimed concurrently, but if both spouses are government servants, only one of them can avail reimbursement under Children Education Allowance and Hostel Subsidy.

The reimbursement of CEA and Hostel Subsidy will be done once a financial year after its completion. Hostel subsidy is only applicable to children studying in residential educational institutions located at least 50 kilometers away from the Government servant’s residence.

The Children Education Allowance and Hostel Subsidy will not be affected by the academic performance of the child. This means that even if the child fails a particular class, reimbursement for these allowances will not be stopped. However, if the child is admitted to the same class in a different school, even though they passed the same class in a previous school or in the middle of the academic year, the Children Education Allowance will not be reimbursable.

If a government employee dies while in service, the Children Education Allowance or Hostel Subsidy will be granted for their children provided their spouse is not employed by the Central Government, State Government, Autonomous body, PSU, Semi-Government Organization such as Municipality, Port Trust Authority or any other organization that is partly or fully funded by the Central Govt./State Governments, subject to certain conditions. In such cases, the CEA/Hostel Subsidy will be payable to the children until the employee would have actually received it and as long as all other terms and conditions are fulfilled. The payment will be made by the office where the Government servant worked prior to their death and will be subject to other conditions laid down in this OM.

Upon retirement, discharge, dismissal or removal from service, CEA/Hostel Subsidy will be granted until the end of the academic year in which the government employee ceases to be in service due to retirement, discharge, dismissal or removal from service within an academic year. The payment will be made by the office where the government servant worked prior to these events and will be subject to other conditions laid down in this OM.

The age limit for Divyaang children has been set at 22 years. For other children, the age limit is 20 years or until they pass their final examinations.

The Children Education Allowance (CEA) is available to Divyaang children enrolled in government-aided or approved institutions, or whose fees are approved by Central/State/UT Administration authorities, regardless of whether the institution is recognized or not. The CEA will be reimbursed until the child turns 22 years old. The CEA is also available to all children of Central Government employees, including those from Nepal and Bhutan, if they are studying in their native place. However, a certificate from the concerned Indian Mission is required to confirm that the school is recognized by the educational authority with jurisdiction over the area where the institution is located. The CEA or hostel subsidy is applicable to a government employee while on duty, under suspension, or on leave, including extraordinary leave. During any period that is considered ‘dies non,’ the employee will not be eligible for the CEA/hostel subsidy. These instructions will be in effect from July 1st, 2017.

More Clarifications about CEA

• Reimbursement Children Education Allowance – Clarification on Leave or Suspension
  
• Children Education Allowance Payable for Citizens of Nepal and Bhutan – Clarification
  
• Class Eligibility of Children for Children Education Allowance
  
• Upper Age Limit for Children Education Allowance
  
• Reimbursement of Children Education Allowance – In case of retirement…
  
• CEA Clarification – If a Government servant dies…
  
• Clarification on CEA – Child Fails in a Particular Class
  
• Children Education Allowance – Distance of residential educational institution
  
• Reimbursement of Children Education Allowance – Both are Government servants
  
• Children Education Allowance – Period for Reimbursement
  
• Reimbursement of Children Education Allowance – DA Impact
  
• Reimbursement of Children Education Allowance – For Divyaang Children
  
• Reimbursement of Hostel Subsidy – Eligibility of Amount
  
• Reimbursement of Children Education Allowance – Eligibility of Amount
  
• Reimbursement of Children Education Allowance – Eligibility of Children