পশ্চিমবঙ্গের বিধবা মহিলাদের জন্য একটি গুরুত্বপূর্ণ আপডেট। The West Bengal Widow Pension, popularly known as Bidhoba Bhata and officially listed as “WCD Widow Pension” under the Jai Bangla Pension Scheme, currently provides ₹1,000 per month to eligible widows. The BJP-led government’s election manifesto and subsequent statements have proposed doubling this to ₹2,000 per month, but as of now, there is no official notification from the Department of Women & Child Development and Social Welfare confirming this increase.
This article covers the complete, up-to-date picture: what you actually receive today, what’s been proposed, who is eligible, how to apply, and how to check your payment status.
Current Amount: ₹1,000/Month — ₹2,000 Proposed, Not Yet Notified
₹2,000/month is part of the BJP’s election manifesto. No official notification has been issued by the Dept. of Women & Child Development and Social Welfare as of this update. We’ll revise this page the moment that changes.
West Bengal Widow Pension (Bidhoba Bhata)
📋 Widow Pension — Current vs Proposed Amount
| Scheme | Current (Confirmed) | Proposed (Unconfirmed) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Widow Pension (Bidhoba Bhata / WCD Widow Pension) | ₹1,000/month | ₹2,000/month | ⏳ Pending notification |
Old Age Pension and Disability (Manabik) Pension are separate sub-schemes under Jai Bangla. We’re verifying their figures independently before reporting changes — see our dedicated pages once confirmed.
⚠️ Manifesto Promise vs Official Notification
The BJP’s election manifesto referenced increasing widow pension to ₹2,000–₹3,000 per month as part of a broader social security push. As of this update, the officially confirmed and disbursed amount remains ₹1,000 per month, per the Jai Bangla MIS portal. No notified order increasing this amount has been published. We will update this page the day an official notification is issued — এই পেজটি আপডেট করা হবে।
What Is the West Bengal Widow Pension Scheme?
The West Bengal Widow Pension — commonly known as Bidhoba Bhata (বিধবা ভাতা) and officially listed on government portals as WCD Widow Pension — is a state government social security scheme providing monthly financial assistance to widowed women from economically weaker sections. It is funded and administered by the Department of Women & Child Development and Social Welfare, Government of West Bengal, and, since 2020, has operated under the unified Jai Bangla Pension Scheme umbrella, which consolidated old-age, widow, disability, and several occupation-specific pensions onto a single platform.
📋 West Bengal Widow Pension — Key Details
| Scheme Name | West Bengal Widow Pension (Bidhoba Bhata) |
| Bengali Name | বিধবা ভাতা |
| Official Portal Name | WCD Widow Pension (under Jai Bangla) |
| Current Monthly Amount | ₹1,000 per month |
| Current Annual Amount | ₹12,000 per year |
| Target Group | Destitute widows from BPL families |
| Minimum Age | 18 years |
| Payment Method | Direct Bank Transfer (DBT) |
| Apply At | BDO / SDO / Municipality office |
Eligibility — Who Gets the Widow’s Pension?
✅ You ARE Eligible If:
- ✅ You are a widow
- ✅ Aged 18 years or above
- ✅ Permanent resident of West Bengal (10+ years)
- ✅ From a BPL (Below Poverty Line) family
- ✅ No other government pension received
❌ NOT Eligible If:
- ❌ Already receiving old age pension
- ❌ Already receiving disability pension
- ❌ Receiving farmer pension scheme benefits
- ❌ Not a BPL family
- ❌ Remarried since husband’s death
Note: ₹1,000/month is uniform across most Jai Bangla sub-schemes — including old-age, widow, and disability pensions — so the age and income criteria above apply specifically to the widow pension sub-scheme, not the umbrella scheme as a whole.
Documents Required
📋 Documents Checklist — Widow Pension
| # | Document | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ✅ Husband’s Death Certificate | Proof of widowhood — mandatory |
| 2 | ✅ Husband’s Identity Proof | Aadhaar or Voter ID of deceased husband |
| 3 | ✅ Applicant’s Aadhaar Card | Identity + DBT account linking |
| 4 | ✅ BPL Ration Card | Proof of poverty status |
| 5 | ✅ Voter ID Card | West Bengal residence proof |
| 6 | ✅ Bank Passbook (own name, Aadhaar-linked) | DBT payment account |
| 7 | ✅ Age Proof | Confirm age 18 and above |
| 8 | ✅ Passport-size Photograph | Application photo |
| 9 | ✅ No Marriage Certificate declaration | Confirm not remarried |
💡 Pro Tip: Obtain your husband’s death certificate from your local municipality or Gram Panchayat office before visiting the BDO. Without it, your application will not be processed. স্বামীর মৃত্যু শংসাপত্র আগেই সংগ্রহ করুন — এটি সবচেয়ে গুরুত্বপূর্ণ নথি।
How to Apply for West Bengal Widow Pension
Offline Application (Primary Method)
🏛️ Where to Apply
- 🏢 Block Development Office (BDO) — for rural / panchayat areas
- 🏛️ Sub-Divisional Office (SDO) — for all areas
- 🏙️ Municipality Office — for urban applicants
- 🏙️ Kolkata Municipal Corporation — for Kolkata residents
Bidhoba Bhata Status Check 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the widow’s pension in West Bengal right now?
The currently confirmed and disbursed amount is ₹1,000 per month. An increase to ₹2,000 has been proposed but not yet officially notified.
বিধবা ভাতা এখন কত টাকা?
বর্তমানে নিশ্চিত পরিমাণ মাসে ₹১,০০০। ₹২,০০০ করার প্রস্তাব দেওয়া হয়েছে, কিন্তু এখনও সরকারি বিজ্ঞপ্তি জারি হয়নি।
Has the BJP government officially confirmed the ₹2,000 increase?
No. As of this update, there has been no notification from the Dept of Women & Child Development and Social Welfare confirming the increase. It remains a manifesto proposal.
What is the minimum age for a widow’s pension in West Bengal?
The minimum age for the widow pension sub-scheme is 18 years, unlike the old-age pension’s 60-year requirement.
What is WCD Widow Pension?
It’s the official name for the widow pension sub-scheme listed on the Jai Bangla portal — the same scheme commonly known as Bidhoba Bhata.
Can a widow apply for the pension after her husband’s death?
Yes. Eligible widows can apply through the BDO, SDO, Panchayat, Municipality, or other designated government offices using Form P, along with the required documents.
Final Thoughts
The West Bengal Widow Pension currently provides ₹1,000 per month (₹12,000 per year) to eligible widows through the Jai Bangla platform, a meaningful support for women with no other income. A proposed increase to ₹2,000 per month would be a significant step forward, but it remains a manifesto commitment rather than a confirmed policy change. We’re tracking this closely and will update this page the moment an official notification is issued — বাংলার বিধবা মহিলাদের জন্য এই পেজটি নিয়মিত আপডেট করা হবে।
💰 বর্তমানে ₹1,000 প্রতি মাসে — ₹2,000 প্রস্তাবিত
If you are a widow in West Bengal aged 18 or above and not yet enrolled — visit your BDO office with Form P today.
Existing beneficiaries will automatically receive any future revised amount once notified. নতুন আবেদন করতে হবে না। ✅
