NFBS

National Family Benefit Scheme

5.8/10

A family welfare scheme under the umbrella scheme ‘National Social Assistance Programme’ (NSAP) by MoRD. In this scheme, financial assistance is provided to the bereaved households in case of the death of the primary breadwinner irrespective of the cause of death.

Central Cash

States / UT: All India

Ministry / nodal: Ministry Of Rural Development

Nodal department: Department of Rural Development

Scheme for: Family

Scheme profile

DBT (direct benefit transfer): No

Scheme open date: 2018-04-01

Categories: Social welfare & Empowerment

Sub-categories: Crisis/Disaster/Accident, Financial assistance, Citizen empowerment

Target beneficiaries: Family

Tags: Household, Family, Below Poverty Line, BPL

Details

A family welfare scheme under the umbrella scheme ‘National Social Assistance Programme’ (NSAP) by MoRD. In this scheme, financial assistance is provided to the bereaved households in case of the death of the primary breadwinner irrespective of the cause of death. The family benefit will be paid to such surviving member of the household of the deceased poor , who after local inquiry, is found to be the head of the household. The death of such a breadwinner should have occurred whilst he/ she is more than 18 years of age and less than 60 years of age.

Benefits

  • ₹20000/ - will be given as a lump sum assistance to such surviving member of the household of the deceased poor who after local inquiry is found to be the head of the household. The assistance would be given to every case of death of breadwinner in a family

₹ 20000/ - will be given as a lump sum assistance to such surviving member of the household of the deceased poor, who after local inquiry, is found to be the head of the household.
The assistance would be given to every case of death of breadwinner in a family.

Eligibility

  • The applicant must be a citizen of India.
  • The family of the applicant must be living Below Poverty Line (BPL).
  • The primary breadwinner of the applicant's family must have been deceased.
  • The age of the deceased breadwinner must have been more than 18 years and less than 60 years.
  • The applicant must be the succeeding primary breadwinner of the family.

How useful is this scheme?

Public benefit analysis

A practical look at this scheme for citizens

AI-generated insights showing how useful, accessible, and practical this scheme may be — combining deterministic scoring rules with a public-policy LLM analyst.

5.8
/ 10
Public Benefit Score
Accessibility 5.0/10 Moderate
Rural usefulness 6.0/10 Moderate
Application complexity 9.0/10 Challenging
Financial impact 6.0/10 Moderate
Literacy barrier 7.0/10 Challenging
Women inclusivity 8.0/10 Good
Awareness 7.5/10 Good
Implementation reliability 7.0/10 Good
Bigger shape means a better fit for citizens
  • Accessibility5.0
  • Financial impact6.0
  • Rural utility6.0
  • Awareness7.5
  • Simplicity1.0
  • Inclusivity8.0

What problem does this scheme solve?

The National Family Benefit Scheme provides essential financial support to bereaved families, particularly those below the poverty line, ensuring they have some financial relief in times of loss.

Key challenges addressed

  • Financial assistance for families after the death of the primary breadwinner.

Most beneficial for

  • Families below the poverty line
  • Surviving members of deceased primary breadwinners

Likely challenges

  • Complex application process for semi-literate individuals
  • Awareness about the scheme may be limited in rural areas

Practical insights for citizens

Practical but requires significant effort from applicants, especially in rural areas

Rural challenges

  • Limited awareness and understanding of the scheme
  • Access to application forms may be challenging

Digital challenges

  • Limited internet access in rural areas
  • Dependence on mobile for online applications

Implementation bottlenecks

  • Local inquiry process may delay assistance
  • Bureaucratic hurdles in document verification

Awareness challenges

  • Low awareness among target beneficiaries
  • Need for outreach programs

Application analysis

Application mode
Hybrid
Documents burden
Moderate, requires proof of death and identity
Verification complexity
Moderate, involves local inquiry
Office dependency
High, requires submission to local officers
DBT dependency
Low, as it is primarily offline with some online options
CSC support
Available through local CSCs
Estimated citizen effort
Moderate, requires filling forms and gathering documents

Estimated beneficiary reach

  • Rural / urban reach High
  • Gender reach Inclusive
  • Target income group Below Poverty Line
  • Occupation reach All occupations

Benefit analysis

Benefit type
Cash
Benefit frequency
One-time
Benefit practicality
High, provides immediate financial relief
Financial meaningfulness
Moderate, helps but may not cover all expenses
Long-term impact
Positive, can aid in stabilizing the family's financial situation temporarily

Plain-language guidance

The National Family Benefit Scheme gives financial help to families when the main earner dies. If your family is below the poverty line, you may qualify for this support.

Who should apply
Families below the poverty line who have lost their primary breadwinner.
Who may struggle
Semi-literate individuals and those unfamiliar with the application process.
Best application route
Apply via local CSC or submit the form to the District Social Welfare Officer.

This intelligence section is generated by an AI policy analyst combined with rule-based scoring. Scores and narrative are estimates derived from the publicly available scheme information shown on this page; actual experience may vary by state, district, and department. Always confirm details on the official portal before you apply.

Application Process

Offline

Step 1: Take a print of the application form given in Annexure-III (page no. 47) of the scheme guidelines -
https://nsap.nic.in/Guidelines/nsap_guidelines_oct2014.pdf
(The application forms are available with the District Social Welfare Officer (DSWO) or Tehsil Social Welfare Officer (TSWO) free of cost.)
Step 2: The duly filled-in Application forms along with the required documents are to be submitted to the designated officer appointed by the respective state governments. The applicant has to complete the application form and enclose proof regarding age, income, status, address, and death certificate. Complete case is to be submitted to the concerned TSWO which consolidates the lists and forwards to the Block Level Sanctioning Committee. The cases are then submitted to DSWO for accord of sanction by District level sanctioning committee headed by the Director General, Social Welfare Department.

Online

  • One can download UMANG App or visit website https://web.umang.gov.in/web_new/home - The citizen can login using mobile number and OTP.
  • Once logged In, citizen can search for NSAP.
  • Click on “Apply Online”
  • Fill the basic details, choose the mode of payment of pension, upload photo and click on “Submit”.

Clarifications

Additional points from the scheme information published on myScheme (not legal advice).

Will the benefits be provided monthly or as lump sum?

The one-time financial assistance under this scheme will be provided as lump sum.

How will it be decided which member of the family should be provided the amount of assistance be provided?

The assistance will be provided to such surviving member of the household of the deceased poor , who after local inquiry, is found to be the head of the household.

What is the maximum amount of financial assistance that a household can receive through NFBS?

Under this scheme, a household will receive a one-time assistance of ₹ 20000.

My mother passed away this month. She and my father were both earning members of the family. However, my mother earned more than my father. Will she be considered as the Primary Breadwinner of the family?

Yes, Your mother will be considered as the Primary Breadwinner. Irrespective of the gender, the Primary Breadwinner is the family member whose income constitutes a major share of the family's total earnings.

Will my uncles & aunts and their children will also be considered as part of the household?

No, the term "household' in this case strictly includes spouse, minor children, unmarried daughters and dependent parents.

I have duly filled and signed the application form for NFBS. I have also attached the necessary documents and passport sized photograph. Where/Whom am I supposed to submit the form?

The duly filled and signed form (along with the copies of the required documents) need to be submitted to either the District Social Welfare Officer (DSWO) or Tehsil Social Welfare Officer (TSWO).

After my father passed away, my mother became the main breadwinner of the family. She is eligible to apply for NFBS but she is illiterate and cannot sign. Does the form has the option of thumb impression instead of signature?

Yes, for the applicant who is unable to sign the form, there is the option for providing the thumb impression.

Where do I find my Family ID and Member ID?

The details reg. the Family ID and Member ID can be found in your BPL Card.

Definitions

  • main breadwinner
  • household

References

Guidelines
https://nsap.nic.in/Guidelines/nsap_guidelines_oct2014.pdf

Apply

Apply now

Opens the official application or programme portal in a new tab. If in doubt, confirm details on the ministry site.

Frequently asked questions

What is the purpose of National Family Benefit Scheme?
National Family Benefit Scheme is a government welfare initiative designed to support Family, Family through benefits related to Social welfare & Empowerment, financial assistance, subsidies, social welfare, healthcare, education, or livelihood support.
Who can apply for National Family Benefit Scheme?
Eligibility for National Family Benefit Scheme may depend on factors such as income category, age, gender, occupation, state of residence, social category, and government-defined beneficiary criteria.
What benefits are offered under National Family Benefit Scheme?
Benefits under National Family Benefit Scheme may include financial assistance, subsidies, scholarships, insurance support, healthcare benefits, pension support, training assistance, or welfare services depending on the scheme guidelines.
Which department manages National Family Benefit Scheme?
National Family Benefit Scheme is managed by Department of Rural Development and may be implemented through district offices, online portals, CSC centres, banks, or authorised government agencies.
Can users apply online for National Family Benefit Scheme?
Yes, eligible applicants may be able to apply online for National Family Benefit Scheme through official government portals, authorised service centres, or digital application systems depending on the implementation process.
Is Aadhaar mandatory for National Family Benefit Scheme?
Many government schemes may require Aadhaar verification, identity proof, or linked bank account details for beneficiary validation and direct benefit transfer processing.
Where can users apply for National Family Benefit Scheme?
Applications for National Family Benefit Scheme may be submitted through government departments, official scheme portals, CSC centres, district offices, welfare departments, or authorised service centres.
What documents may be required for National Family Benefit Scheme?
Applicants may need Aadhaar card, income certificate, residence proof, bank account details, caste certificate, photographs, educational records, or occupation-related documents depending on scheme eligibility requirements.
Is National Family Benefit Scheme a central government scheme?
Yes, National Family Benefit Scheme is a central government welfare initiative that may be implemented across multiple states through authorised departments and agencies.
Can CSC centres help users apply for National Family Benefit Scheme?
Many government schemes may be accessible through nearby CSC centres, authorised digital service centres, or welfare facilitation offices.
How can users check the latest updates for National Family Benefit Scheme?
Users should verify official notifications, department announcements, application deadlines, and eligibility updates through authorised government portals or implementing agencies.
Are there deadlines for applying to National Family Benefit Scheme?
Some schemes may operate through fixed application windows, annual registration cycles, or department-specific deadlines depending on scheme implementation policies.
Can beneficiaries track application status for National Family Benefit Scheme?
Certain schemes may provide online application tracking, beneficiary verification systems, or status-check facilities through official portals.
Where can users get help for National Family Benefit Scheme in All India?
Users in All India may seek assistance through CSC centres, district welfare offices, government departments, agriculture offices, social welfare departments, or authorised facilitation centres.
Which nearby public services may help with National Family Benefit Scheme applications?
Depending on the scheme, users may require support from Aadhaar centres, CSC centres, banks, hospitals, post offices, or government welfare offices for document verification and application assistance.