Under the on-going Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme for Below Poverty Line (BPL) beneficiaries, the eligibility for pension will now be reduced to 60 years from 65 years at present.

This was announced by the the Union Finance Minister Shri Pranab Mukherjee while presenting the Union Budget 2011-12 in the Lok Sabha today.

He also announced that the pension amount is being raised from Rs. 200 at present to Rs. 500 per month for those who are 80 years and above.

Pension eligibility lowered under old age national scheme, and increased benefits for the oldest beneficiaries. Eligibility under the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme for Below Poverty Line beneficiaries is reduced to admit younger old-age claimants, and the scheme's monthly pension rate for the oldest age group is increased, creating an age-based benefit increase targeted at the most elderly within the scheme.