FAQ’S - Air Force Association

What is Air Force Association (AFA)?

(a) AFA established on 15 Sep 1980 with the immediate retired Chief of the Air Staff as its “PRESIDENT.”

(b) It’s Head Office is in Delhi and 20 Branches all over India and 2 Branches in Abroad. One each in UK and Australia.

Who can become a member of AFA?

(a) All uniformed serving members of the Indian Air Force after their retirement may take voluntary membership by paying one time subscription fee.

(b) Spouses of deceased Air Veterans can also become the member.

How to become a member of AFA?

(a) Membership form can be downloaded from AFA website (www.afa-india.org) for offline and online submission.

(b) For offline membership, contact the nearest Branch. Address can be obtained from the AFA Website. Completed from can be submitted / sent by post to the AFA Head Office or nearest Branch.

What is the Life Membership Fee?

The present Life Membership fees (for life) are as under:-

Rank	Air Cmde & Above	Gp Capt & Above	Hony offrs/MWO/WO/JWO	Sgt & Below	NCs(E)	Widows of Non AFA Member
Amount	Rs. 5000	Rs. 4000	Rs. 2500	Rs. 2000	Rs.1000	Rs. 700 * Free of cost if husband/ Air warriors was already a member of AFA

What are the objectives of AFA?

(a) To promote the welfare of Air Force Veterans and their Families.

(b) Liaison with Service HQs, Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare, MoD, PCDA (Pension) Allahabad, JCDA (AF) New Delhi, Kendriya Sainik Board, DG (Resettlement), ECHS etc for resolving the problems of members.

What are the welfare activities of AFA?

(a) Scholarships of wards of Air warriors, Veterans, NCs (E) DSC Personnel & widows.

(b) Accommodation for members at “AFA Senior Citizens” Home (SCH) at Tughlakabad, New Delhi.”

What are the financial help given to members of AFA?

Financial Help To Members:

(a) Ex-gratia payment of Rs. 7,500/- to the spouse or NOK on the death of the member.

(b) Financial support in the wake of the natural calamities.

(d) For daughter’s wedding of a widow member.

(e) Up to Rs. 1 Lakh financial support for Serving /Retired Air Warriors, NCs(E) and DSC personnel for IVF Treatment.

What are the objectives of Marshal of the Air Force & Mrs Arjan Singh Trust?

Objectives

To provide grants/financial assistance to the needy Air Veterans/Widows/dependents to meet expenses for:

(a) Medical treatment for self and dependents.

(b) Higher education of children.

(d) Repairs those Air Veterans who are in financial distress.

(e) Meeting any other contingency as deemed fit by the Trust.

What are the Welfare Schemes run by the Trust?

Welfare Schemes

(a) Eight scholarships of Rs 15,000/- each for under graduate courses.

(b) Five scholarships (Marshal Arjan Singh Centenary Scholarship) of Rs 12,000/- each for the classes from 9th to 11th.

(d) Sponsoring of Fee of four special children studying in Special Schools/Institutions on the basis of reimbursement/direct payment to the Centre of IAF Personnel.

(e) One time Sports Award (to be implemented from Apr 2023) to three sportsmen every year as per details given below:-

(i) National Level Rs 75,000/-

(ii) Junior Level Rs 50,000/-

(iii) State Level Rs 30,000/-

(iv) Zonal/School Rs 25,000/-

* For eligibility & details please contact Manager of Marshal of the Air Force & Mrs. Arjan Singh Trust or refer website www.afa-india.org

What are the actions to be taken by Spouse / NOK on demise of Air Veteran?

ACTION BY SPOUSE / NOK ON DEMISE OF AIR VETERAN

Sl No.

Agency

Purpose

Nearest AF Station

Intimate death of Air Veteran for necessary assistance to provide Assured Decent Last Rites (ADLR) and claiming ‘GARIMA’ grant from local Service Institute (Delhi area: Approach Adjutant AFND)

Bank

(If not migrated in SPARSH Module)

Commencement of Family Pension / Stoppage of Pension

– Intimate in writing about the demise of Air Veteran to the Banker (Pension drawing bank) along with Death Certificate (in Original) with a request to stop his pension from the date of his death and commence the Family Pension (FP) in name of spouse (as per PPO).

Advisory-I The bank account is NOT to be closed. The Air Veterans pension joint account with spouse is to be converted to single account in name of the spouse.

Advisory-II Family Pensioner may nominate one of her children as a nominee to the Bank Account.

Advisory-III Widow of Gallantry Award winner continues to get the award money as well as get IT exemption.

SPARSH

(If migrated in SPARSH Module)

Commencement of Family Pension / Stoppage of Pension In the event of death of Air Veteran after discharge from service, where PPO was issued from SPARSH forward death intimation to PCDA (AF) Prayagraj through online mode. Spouse/NOK is requested to upload death information and initiate / stop family Pension claim from the following link:-

Open the SPARSH portal using URL:

https://sparsh.defencepension.gov.in/

Go to services option and select “Initiate / stop Family Pension” provided under section “For Family Pension.”

Fill all details like Pensioners Unique identifier and related information like Name, relation, mobile number, E-mail ID and upload death certificate issued by Registrar of Births and Deaths.

Submit the form. The claimant will get a token ID for future reference. For tracking service request go to services and select “Track Service Request.” Enter the token number and status of request will be visible to its claimant. In case of any assistance, please approach office of PCDA (P), Prayagraj on help line number 1800 180 5325.

Dte of AV (DAV)

– Intimate DAV in writing along with original copy of Death Certificate for issue of HDN (Home Death Notification) to AFGIS, IAFBA, AFA, AFFWA (C) & JCDA (AF). HDN mentions the details of likely Family pension payable to the spouse along with various accruable benefits from different agencies.

AFGIS

(a) Approach AFGIS along with duly filled Forms 222 and 229 (downloaded from AFGIS website) www.indianairforce.nic.in (HR Initiatives) for claiming PRIC/AVIC benefit (Post Retirement Insurance / Air Veteran Insurance Cover). The insurance cover of the current AVIC schemes is as below:

Rs 14 Lakhs (Officers) Rs 7 Lakhs (Airmen) Rs 3.5 Lakhs NCs(E)

(Full amount for 15 years from date of retirement and 50% thereafter till the age of 75 years. No (R) No cover after 75 years of age.) Note: The above mentioned amount for various old schemes of PRIC/AVIC vary wrt the eligibility of Air Veterans as per their date of retirement vis-à-vis age at that time and date and amount of insurance (Request check eligibility on AFGIS website).

(b) If there are any fixed deposit(s) held with AFGIS the same can be converted to your name with one of the children as nominee.

IAFBA

– Approach IAFBA along with NEFT mandate form for grant of FAS (monthly grant for 8 years depending on scheme prevalent at the time of retirement of Air Veteran). The rates of various FAS schemes are as follows:

Scheme	Category	Death in Service (payment for 15 years)	Death after Retirement (payment for 8 years
FAS-97	Officers	Rs 2,500/-pm	Rs 1,900/-pm
FAS-97	Airmen/NCs(E)	Rs 1,900/-pm	Rs 1,300/-pm
FAS-20	Officers	Rs 10,000/-pm	Rs 8,000/-pm
FAS-20	Airmen/NCs(E)	Rs 8,000/-pm	Rs 6,000/-pm
FAS-09	Officers	Rs 5,000/-pm	Rs 3,800/-pm
FAS-09	Airmen/NCs(E)	Rs 3,800/-pm	Rs 2,500/-pm

URC

– Approach nearest URC for surrender of Veteran’s Canteen Smart Cards and apply for new Canteen Smart Cards for Spouse (Both Grocery and Liquor).

ECHS

– ECHS Card of Air Veteran is to be deposited at ECHS Poly Clinic (along with Death Certificate). It is presumed that the spouse and dependant parents / children would be holding their respective ECHS cards. If not, the same can be applied for now.

Air Force Association

– Ex-Gratia amount of Rs 7,500/- if the Late Air Veteran was a member of AFA. For the same, please approach the nearest AFA Branch.

Zila Sainik Board (ZSB)

– Approach Zila Sainik Board (ZSB) office to surrender Veteran I-Card issued by ZSB (if the Later Veteran had obtained one) and set an update on the State Benefits (if any). This is optional.