AI SummaryGoa Welfare / Pension Scheme for Seafarers provides a monthly pension of ₹2,500 to retired Goan seamen and their widows, helping senior citizens who spent years working at sea enjoy a steady income in their old age.
This scheme continues to run for maritime workers in Goa and the state government has decided to make it permanent for all Goan seafarers. The Chief Minister announced this change in 2025, along with a plan to raise the monthly pension to ₹3,500 if the government returns after the 2027 elections.
Welfare / Pension Scheme for Seafarers - Introduction
Goa Welfare / Pension Scheme for Seafarers, run by the home department of the government of Goa, came into being to honour retired maritime workers who took up low paid jobs on board ships during their working years. The scheme pays a monthly honorarium to eligible people who qualify.
The pension amount stands at ₹2,500 per month as of August 2026. The scheme was earlier run as a limited period arrangement, but the state has now kept it as a permanent support for Goan seafarers and their widows.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Scheme Name | Goa Welfare / Pension Scheme for Seafarers |
| Level | State |
| Beneficiary Type | Individual |
| Nodal Department | Home Department |
| Benefit Amount | ₹2,500 per month |
| DBT Enabled | No |
Benefits
Eligible people receive a gross pension of ₹2,500 per month under this scheme. If a person already gets benefits from other government schemes such as Dayanand Social Security Scheme, Griha Aadhaar Scheme, or Kala Samman Scheme, the difference is paid only when the pension received from those schemes is lower than this amount.
Eligibility
A few conditions need to be met before applying for support under this scheme. These are given below:
- The applicant should be a citizen of India and a bonafide resident of Goa by birth.
- If the applicant was not born in Goa, the birth should be registered in the state, or at least one parent should have been born there.
- The applicant should be a retired seaman aged 60 years or above who has completed 120 months of actual sea service. A break of up to 6 months can be excused.
- If a seaman was invalidated from sea service on medical grounds before retirement, the 120-month service requirement is waived.
- Widows of deceased seamen qualify on compassionate grounds if they have lived in Goa for at least 15 years and have an annual income under ₹1,20,000.
Application Process
Application for this pension follows a few simple steps. This is how it is done:
STEP 1 - Visit the office of the commissioner for NRI affairs or the Goa CM Welfare Portal to get the official application proforma.
STEP 2 - Fill out all required details in the form. Paste a recent passport-sized photograph and sign across it.
STEP 3 - Attach self-attested copies of all the required documents along with the filled form.
STEP 4 - Submit the completed application to the office of the commissioner for NRI affairs and keep a copy for reference.
Documents
Keep the following documents ready before preparing the application:
- Continuous Discharge Certificate (CDC) or Seafarers Identity Document.
- Birth certificate or school leaving certificate as proof of age.
- Medical certificate if the applicant was invalidated from service.
- Death certificate and marriage certificate (specifically for widows).
- Valid income certificate and residence certificate.
- Life certificate attested by a gazetted officer.
- Affidavit on a ₹50 non-judicial stamp paper.
- Copy of Voter ID and Aadhaar card.
References
Goa Chief Minister Welfare Portal
FAQ's
Can a beneficiary choose the bank for pension credit?
Yes, once approval is received, the beneficiary can specify a preferred savings bank account of a nationalized bank to the sanctioning authority for pension credit.
Are those invalidated from sea service exempt from the 120-month service rule?
Yes, if medical grounds caused retirement before the age of 60, the seaman is exempt from the 120-month minimum service requirement.
What residency rules apply to widows?
Widows must show that they have been residents of Goa for at least 15 years to qualify for the scheme.
Who has the final authority on decisions?
The commissioner for NRI affairs, appointed by the government, holds the final authority and approves or rejects all recommendations.
How is the pension paid?
The amount is deposited directly into the savings account on the last working day of every month.