National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS)

What is it?

The National Family Benefit Scheme is one of the five components of the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP), a fully funded Centrally Sponsored Scheme of the Ministry of Rural Development. NSAP began on 15 August 1995 and covers both rural and urban areas.

This component deals with a sudden shock rather than a regular monthly need. When the primary breadwinner of a household living below the poverty line dies, the family is left without its main source of income, often with no warning and no savings. The scheme gives the surviving family a single lump sum of Rs 20,000 to help them cope with the immediate financial difficulty.

The published condition is that the deceased breadwinner must have been between 18 and 59 years of age at the time of death. The household must be a below poverty line household as identified by the Government of India.

This is a one-time payment, not a pension. A family that also needs ongoing monthly support may separately look at the old age, widow or disability pension components of NSAP, which are handled as separate schemes with their own conditions.

Around 3.5 lakh beneficiaries were recorded under this component, and the budget allocation for it for 2025-26 was Rs 659 crore. As with the rest of NSAP, Gram Panchayats and Municipalities help identify eligible households, and payment is made mainly through Direct Benefit Transfer.

Potential benefit

Up to ₹20,000 one time

A lump sum of Rs 20,000 is given to the bereaved household. It is a single payment intended to help the family manage the immediate financial difficulty caused by the loss of its primary breadwinner, and it is not a recurring pension.

Who can apply?

Other conditions stated by the government

• The household must be living below the poverty line.
• The death must be that of the household's primary breadwinner.
• The deceased breadwinner must have been between 18 and 59 years of age.
• There is a scheme-wise ceiling or cap for each State and UT on the number of beneficiaries under NSAP components.

Eligibility information is provided for informational purposes only. Final eligibility and approval are determined by the relevant government authority.

How to apply

The claim is made through the Gram Panchayat or Municipality, which identifies eligible households under NSAP, or through the state department that administers NSAP. Payment is made mainly by Direct Benefit Transfer into a bank or post office savings account, or by postal money order.

Where to apply: offline and panchayat

Deadline

No fixed deadline. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.