Goa Dayanand Social Security Scheme 2026 Application Form / List of Documents / Payment / Benefits

Goa government runs Dayanand Social Security Scheme (DSSS) to give monthly pension to senior citizens, single women, widows, disabled persons and HIV / AIDS patients. The scheme has been in force since 2002 and is one of the main social security programs of the state. Its main aim is to give money help to the most at risk sections of society. This article explains the DSSS application procedure, list of documents, eligibility, benefits, payment mode and the latest updates.

In the budget for the financial year 2026-27, the state has set aside Rs 479 crore for the Dayanand Social Security Scheme. The government has also said it will look into raising the monthly support to eligible people after checking inflation patterns. This keeps the scheme one of the biggest welfare programs in Goa.

Latest Update on Dayanand Social Security Scheme

In March 2026, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant announced that Rs 45.26 crore was credited directly to the bank accounts of over 2.24 lakh beneficiaries across the state. This payment covered both existing and newly registered people under the Griha Aadhar and Dayanand Social Security Scheme. From now on, financial support under these schemes will be credited by the 10th of every month without fail. This step removes delays and makes the payment process clear and easy for the people who depend on state support.

Earlier, the state cabinet on 29 October 2021 amended the scheme to raise the monthly support to widows from Rs 2,000 to Rs 2,500. As many as 35,145 widows presently get benefits under the scheme. In his budget speech for 2021-22, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had given an assurance that support to widows would be raised by Rs 500 per month. While no separate category exists for widows under the scheme, it is included as a sub-category under the "single women" head. A single woman is a female above the age of 18 years and includes widows, divorcees, deserted or judicially separated women, and unmarried women above the age of 50 years.

If a widow crosses 60 years of age, she can choose support under either the "widow" or "senior citizen" category. She is not eligible for support under both at the same time.

Eligibility for Dayanand Social Security Scheme

To get the benefit, the applicant must be a resident of Goa. The main eligibility points are given below.

• Senior citizens who are 60 years and above are eligible for the monthly pension.
• Single women above 18 years, including widows, divorcees, separated women and unmarried women above 50 years, can apply.
• Adult disabled persons with a minimum 40 per cent benchmark disability as per the RPwD Act, 2017 are eligible.
• Disabled children and HIV / AIDS patients are also covered under the scheme.

Dayanand Social Security Scheme Application Procedure

The application for the grant of financial support under the scheme is made in the prescribed form to the Directorate of Social Welfare. Applicants can also visit the District Social Welfare Office or the designated centers to collect and submit the form. The filled form along with the required documents is submitted to the concerned authority for verification.

List of Documents for Dayanand Social Security Scheme

Each application must be accompanied by the following documents.

• Birth Certificate issued by the Registrar of Births and Deaths, or age as shown in the school records, or any other valid document showing proof of age as notified by the government.
• Income Certificate - Each applicant has to submit the family income certificate issued by the competent authority. If the applicant cannot get the income certificate, a self declaration on Rs 20 stamp paper in the prescribed format, duly certified and attested before a Gazetted Officer of the state government, can be submitted.
• Residence Certificate - a 15 year residence certificate issued by the Mamlatdar of the concerned taluka. The applicant can also submit a certificate in the prescribed format issued by a Gazetted Officer of the state government certifying that the applicant has been a resident of Goa for the last 15 years.
• Medical Certificate - a certificate in the prescribed form issued by the Medical Board in case of disabled persons.
• Death Certificate and Marriage Certificate of the spouse in case the applicant is a widow, and a decree of divorce in case the applicant is a divorcee. For unmarried women above 50 years, a self declaration on a fixed stamp paper as per the prescribed format, signed by a Gazetted Officer of the state government, is required.
• An attested copy of the Ration Card.
• An attested copy of the Aadhaar Card of the applicant.
• An attested copy of the Election Photo Identity Card.

Benefits of Dayanand Social Security Scheme

The scheme gives a monthly pension to the eligible people. The amount depends on the category of the beneficiary.

• Senior citizens, single women, adult disabled persons and HIV / AIDS patients get Rs 2,000 per month. As per the latest update, support to widows is now Rs 2,500 per month.
• Disabled children with disability less than 90 per cent get Rs 2,500 per month.
• Persons with disability of 90 per cent and above get Rs 3,500 per month, subject to the required documents and general conditions. Disabled children continue to get the benefit even after they turn 21 years.

Medical Assistance

Senior citizens covered under the scheme who have medical problems requiring regular medication as part of treatment can get medical support of Rs 500 per month. For this, they have to produce a Medical Certificate from the Chief Medical Officer or Health Officer of the Health Department in the prescribed format along with the application for claim of medical reimbursement.

Financial Assistance for Aids and Appliances

Persons with disabilities covered under the scheme who need aids or appliances as part of rehabilitation can get financial support of up to Rs 1,00,000 (one lakh rupees) once in five years. They have to produce a Medical Certificate from the Chief Medical Officer or Health Officer of the Health Department in the prescribed format along with the application.

Sanction of Financial Assistance

The applications received are checked by the Directorate of Social Welfare and the same are sanctioned by the Sanctioning Committee. The Sanctioning Committee includes the Chief Minister as Chairperson, the Minister for Social Welfare as a member, the Leader of Opposition as a member and the Director of Social Welfare as a member.

Mode of Payment

The financial support sanctioned to the beneficiaries is deposited in the bank account of the beneficiary by the Director of Social Welfare every month. As per the latest update, the amount is now credited by the 10th of every month without fail.

General Conditions for Dayanand Social Security Scheme

Some general conditions apply to all beneficiaries under the scheme.

1. Life Certificate - every beneficiary has to submit a Life Certificate to the Director of Social Welfare once a year in the month of April or May in the prescribed format. It can be issued by the manager of the bank where the monthly support is deposited, or by a Gazetted Officer of the state government. If the beneficiary fails to submit the Life Certificate, the support is stopped.
2. Each beneficiary must open a single account in a Nationalized Bank or Co-operative Bank.
3. In case of divorce and legal separation, both the husband and wife are treated as individual members if they are individually eligible.
4. Annual family per capita income of the applicant must be less than the amount of annual financial support under the scheme.
5. After the death of the beneficiary, the other spouse is entitled to the support provided he or she applies for transfer of the support in the prescribed format.
6. 50 per cent of the support drawn by the spouse is given to a maximum of two children each, till they reach 21 years, in case of death of the member and the spouse, subject to the limit of Rs 1,000 per child.
7. In case of disabled and HIV positive children, the support is extended even if the parents are availing DSS or Griha Aadhar.
8. Disabled people who were availing the DSS benefit continue to get it even after marriage with a disabled person who is also a DSS beneficiary, subject to the condition that they have not taken up gainful employment.

Stopping or Cancellation of the Financial Assistance

Financial support sanctioned under the scheme is stopped or cancelled if the beneficiary resorts to professional begging, or if the beneficiary is employed and the income exceeds the ceiling income prescribed in the rules.

Interpretation of Rules

The Sanctioning Committee's decision on the eligibility of a beneficiary or member for the purpose of the scheme is final and binding on all the parties concerned. If any question arises on the interpretation of any clause, word or expression of the scheme, the decision lies with the government and is final and binding on all concerned.

Redressal of Grievances and Dispute

Grievances or any dispute arising out of the implementation of this scheme are addressed to the Secretary to the Government in charge of Science and Technology, who hears and decides such matters. The decision of the Secretary to the Government in this regard is final and binding on all concerned.

DSS Scheme PDF - https://www.goa.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Dayanand-Social-Security-Scheme.pdf