Pensioner Bonus 2026: West Bengal Government Announces Bonus for Pensioners
Pensioner Bonus 2026: The Finance Department of the West Bengal Government has made a significant announcement regarding the financial benefits for the upcoming fiscal year 2025-26. A new directive has been issued outlining the Ad-hoc Bonus, Ex-gratia grants, and Festival Advances for state government employees, teachers, and pensioners. This early announcement sets the tone for financial planning ahead of the festive season.
Benefits for Government Employees: Bonus and Advance
For active government employees and teachers, the benefits have been categorized based on salary slabs. The government has clearly defined the ceiling limits for eligibility:
- Ad-hoc Bonus: Eligible employees will receive a bonus of ₹7,400 for the 2025-26 fiscal year. This benefit is applicable to those whose revised emoluments did not exceed ₹46,000 per month as of the cut-off date.
- Festival Advance: Employees earning above the bonus ceiling are eligible for an interest-free Festival Advance. Specifically, staff members with monthly emoluments exceeding ₹46,000 but not crossing ₹54,000 can apply for this advance. The maximum amount sanctioned under this head is ₹22,000, which is typically recovered from the employee’s salary in subsequent installments.
Ex-gratia for Pensioners
The state government has also ensured that retired personnel are included in the festive grants. Pensioners will receive an ‘Ex-gratia’ payment subject to specific income criteria.
- Payment Amount: Eligible state pensioners will receive a lump sum Ex-gratia payment of ₹3,800.
- Eligibility Criteria: To qualify for this grant, the pensioner’s total monthly receipt (Basic Pension plus Dearness Relief) must not exceed ₹40,000 as of March 31, 2026.
Service Tenure and Key Dates
According to the directive, the length of service plays a crucial role in determining eligibility. Employees or pensioners who have rendered continuous service or have been under the pension scheme for at least six months within the period from April 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026, will be entitled to these benefits. This proactive announcement provides clarity to lakhs of state treasury beneficiaries regarding their festive entitlements.
