These are interesting and practical tips for those who are above 40+. You may agree with all or some of them and it is possible that you may not agree with any or all of them. But when you view them, I am sure that they will kindle your thought process, especially in the present day context.
Please click the link to view them : ten_commandments
Planning for retirement and doing something about it is something that most youth and elders detest. For the youth there is no incentive to plan for something that will come up 35 years later. For the elders, the fear that they may not have enough money in their last phase of life prevents them for doing a deeper analysis and action after that.
Retirement Planning is not only about money
There is more to retirement planning than money. Some of the key things to be planned which actually make the planning more interesting is to consider:
In fact, most people just think of the last one without considering the first four. This leads to confusion and fear.
Tips for Retirement Planning
1. Plan Time: Many retired people are lost because they have not planned for the question “What next?” It is important to find some activity that will fill the 8 to 12 hours that one has spent at work. This is not only for the breadwinner but also for the homemaker. What will you do to manage a new person with whom you need to share 8 to 12 hours, suddenly?
2. Plan Travel: Except for the envied few who had great travel oriented jobs, most would have sacrificed their travel plans for their career. And don’t grow too envious because those jet flyers on the job are also cribbing because they had to travel on such tight schedules that they hardly got to see anything worthwhile travelling on the job. Retirement is a wonder time to plan for all those missed countries and places to visit.
3. Plan Health: Health insurance is very handy when you are retired. But if this is planned on the brink of retirement not only is the cost too high, but diseases may already have set in. This means that the pre-existing diseases will not be paid for by the insurance for upto 4 years after taking the plan.
4. Write a Will: Writing a will to efficiently pass the wealth created to our loved ones is very important. However in India, this is a commonly absent practice. Even some of the richest persons in India have not taken up this practice (think Dhirubhai Ambani). This leads to costly and lengthy process of passing our hard earned wealth to our loved ones.
5. Plan Finances for Regular Income: Though this aspect alone can be written in whole books, the basic idea can be summed up with a few point:
Retirement Planning:
Retired life is supposed to be fun filled and peaceful. But today we find more old age destitute homes popping up than schools, indicating a trend towards lack of retirement planning. The above tips will help those in their prime of life and those near retirement to plan for a comfortable retired life.
Source : BankBazaar.com
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS, RAILWAYBOARD
COMMERCIAL CIRCULAR NO. 18 of 2011
No.TCII/2161/2011/SRC/Policy
New Delhi, dated 13.5.2011
The General Managers(Comml),
All Indian Railways.
Sub: Increase in the element of concession to men senior citizens from 30% to 40% and reduction in the age limit for women senior
citizens from 60 to 58 years.
As per existing provisions contained in S.No.36 of Annexure to rule 101 ofIRCA Coaching Tariff No. 25, Part-I (Vol. II), Senior citizens of minimum 60 years are eligible for concession in the basic fares of Mail/Express trains and all inclusive fares of Rajdhani/ Shatabdi/ Jan Shatabdi trains. The element of concession is 30% for men senior citizens and 50% for women senior citizens.
2. As announced by Hon’ble MR in Budget Speech for 2011-12, it has been decided to reduce the minimum age for availing concession from 60 years to 58 years in case for women senior citizens. However, the element of concession will continue to remain at 50%.
3. It has also been decided to increase the element of concession in case of men senior citizens from 30% to 40%. The minimum age will, however, continue to be 60 years in case of men.
4. There will be no change in other terms and conditions.
5. This concession will be admissible on tickets purchased on and after 01.06.2011. In case of tickets already issued for travel on & after 01.06.2011, refund of difference of fares will not be admissible.
6. This issues with the concurrence of the Finance Directorate of the Ministry of Railways.
7. Wide publicity through various media may be given at regular intervals. Necessary instructions may be issued to all concerned immediately including PRS/UTS and compliance ensured.
sd/-
(Dr.Monica Agnihotri)
Director Passenger Marketing
Railway Board.
Air India’s Maharaja may be critically ill but he still knows how to take care of fellow senior citizens like no other Indian carrier. The national carrier has now made anyone over 63 years of age eligible to a 50% senior citizen discount on basic fares.
Earlier, only women over 63 could have availed of this benefit while men had to wait to turn 65 before getting a similar discount.
The two other full service carriers, Jet and Kingfisher, offer senior citizen discount to people above 65 years of age. Low cost carriers IndiGo and SpiceJet do not have any such scheme for the aged.
In a statement, AI said the uniform age of 63 for both men and women for availing senior citizen discount had been implemented from last Saturday. “Now, any person who has crossed the age of 63 years can avail a discount of 50% concession on the basic fare component of the normal economy class fare under the scheme,” it said.
Meanwhile, AI has extended the discount it offers to personnel of paramilitary forces to the employees and family members of the BSF, ITBP, Coast Guards, CISF, CRPF, Assam Rifles, RPF, Intelligence Bureau and Sashastra Seema Bal.
“Other than on apex fares, a discount of 50% on the basic fare component will be available on all fare levels in economy class for domestic sectors only. The discount will be available on production of official ID issued by the unit commandant of the concerned establishment of the government,” the statement said.
Similarly, AI extended the 50% child concession on basic fare to all levels of economy class except apex fares on domestic sectors from Monday. “Children who have completed two years but have not completed 12 years of age are eligible for the discount on the basic fare component,” the airline said.
Here is good news for senior citizens who are struggling to write their will and searching for a safe place to keep it.
An NGO working for the older citizens has launched a scheme to provide legal assistance to them to write their will and keep it in safe hands.
“It has been seen that when family members and relatives of old people came to know of their will details, they make it a bone of contention. This leads to family quarrels and tension in their lives leading to discomforts in many ways,” says Himanshu Rath, founder of Agewell Foundation who has launched the initiative.
“Senior citizens always fear about safety of their will as it may fall in unwanted hands. Many opt for bank lockers or their solicitors to keep them safe which costs them a lot for longer periods. And in absence of assurance of safety, older persons prefer not to write any will causing family feud later,” says Rath.
The helplinne run by Agewell for older persons was flooded with inquries related to making a will and its safety.
“So we thought to launch our initiative in this regard,” says Rath.
There are legal advisors to help senior citizens in making the will and a lifetime fee of Rs 1500 will be charged. The draft can be downloaded either from the NGO’s website or its available through post also.
Sealed envelopes with the final document can be deposited with Agewell Foundation for safe custody by willmaker in person in presence of 2 witnesses. It will be handed over to the desired person either after the demise of the will maker or whenever he wants.
The will-maker can ask for his document for making changes as and when required in the presence of the two witnesses.
A locker has been taken in a bank where all the documents will be kept.
Satish Jain, a former bank-employee, says he is relieved after making his will and assued of its safety.
“I have toiled hard whole life to earn some property. I have made my will and I am done with my final responsibility. My children will see my will after I am gone and will stay happy and in peace,” he says.
Experts say that its most advisable for senior citizens to make a will.
“A person earns through out his life and its important that his property is inherited by the people he wants to give it to,” says Delhi-based lawyer Sanjeev Singh.
“It also helps in keeping peace in the family. Once a will has been made, senior citizens should get it registered as well so that a parallel record is available with the Government,” he adds.
In the absence of a will, a deceased male’s property is inherited by his mother, wife and children while in case of a female, it goes to her husband and children
Once a person retires from active business, he finds it difficult to maintain the same lifestyle or at times, even to make both ends meet.
However, this can be mitigated if you invest wisely during your working life — planning it such that you receive a suitable amount of money on retirement.
Financial independence becomes more significant in these times when children do not fend for the parents — sometimes out of compulsion, sometimes out of choice. Moreover, parents also find it embarrassing to ask for money from their children.
It is advisable you start thinking about retirement in, say, your early 30s. Do not think that you still have lot of time to retire and therefore, can plan later — sooner the better in this matter.
Also, after retiring from your active earning career, your ability to take risk on financial front almost becomes nil, therefore you should invest your money carefully and wisely otherwise you may loose the savings of a lifetime. There have been numerous cases where people took voluntary retirement and then burned their hands by speculating in stocks or invested the same in some business ventures and lost the all the money. Today, these ‘retired’ people are burdened with debts.
Let us now have a look at investment options for retired people and have received a lumpsum such as gratuity or provident fund dues. These investments will ensure a reasonably good income every month, while ensuring the safety of your capital. Here I am not referring to retirement planning, but planning for a risk-free flow of income to meet your day-to-day expenses post retirement.
Senior citizen scheme: You can invest up to Rs 15 lakh in this scheme. Any person who has completed the age of 60 years can open a senior citizen saving account with the post office, State Bank of India or specified branches of nationalised banks.
People who have taken voluntary retirement and whose age on VRS is 55 years or higher too qualify for this scheme. Interest is paid at 9% p.a. In case both you and your wife are above the age of 60, you can invest up to Rs 30 lakh in aggregate. This investment of Rs 30 lakh will fetch you monthly interest income of Rs 22,500. The money is required to be deposited for a period of 5 years.
Interest under this scheme is paid quarterly in March, June, September and December. You can furnish the bank form No 15G or 15H for non-deduction of tax on such interest in case your total income is not taxable.
Post Office Monthly Income Plan: Here, you can invest up to Rs 4.50 lakh per head and in case of joint account, you can invest up to Rs 9 lakh at 8% p.a.
There is no age restriction for this investment, but there is lock-in period of 6 years. On maturity, you receive a maturity bonus of 5% of the amount deposited. This investment of Rs 9 lakh will give you a monthly income of Rs 6,000 per month. There is no tax deduction of income tax on such interest.
Cash leftover still? The above two investments can bring you a monthly income of Rs 28,500 on investment amount of Rs 39 lakh.
Part of the balance amount can then be invested in fixed deposits (FD) in various banks which give cash interest on monthly basis. Presently, the interest rates vary between 7% and 8% p.a. if invested over a period of two years.
Moreover, the banks give an additional 0.50% interest to senior citizens. These FDs will give you flexibility as you can withdraw the money prematurely at an interest penalty of 1%.
It is advisable that you open a few FDs of varying amounts so that in case of any emer-gency, you can prematurely withdraw only that FD which will cover your needs, rather than having to break a big FD and bear penalty.
If you are still left with some money, you can invest the same in mutual funds which will fetch you higher returns as compared to a bank FD. This will help you in enhancing the fixed flow of income by taking inflation into account.
The writer is CFO, ApnaPaisa.com, a pricecomparison engine for loans, insurance and investments. He can be reached at balwant.jain@ apnapaisa. com
By now you have seen on TV, the widows of the men who were killed in terrorist attacks in New York , Mumbai, Delhi and London. They tell of hardship coping with confused, upset children and looming financial distress during a period when their grief makes it difficult to complete the most ordinary tasks let alone sort out the estate of beloved, terribly missed husband. Many in USA and England helped these women. All govt. agencies helped them to expedite the issuing of death certificates making it easier to get insurance benefits. They are getting free legal aid.
Let us see what happens to a similar situation in India. No help whatsoever comes in the wake of terrorist attacks, in Delhi and Mumbai, natural disasters as in Mumbai, Orissa or in Gujarat, no Govt., Municipal or legal advice, no financial help. Yes, lot of VIP visits and empty promises, empathy but no concrete help and this difference in attitude makes the task of Indian widow onerous one.
This note has been prepared with the fond hope that husband when alive, will take certain actions, which considerably reduces the chances of harassment when wife is alone. In this respect sensible financial planning can be crucial.
Anticipating a tragedy may be one of the most important bits of financial planning a wife can do. Thinking ahead to protect yourself and your children in the event of a disaster, while perhaps emotionally difficult, need not take a great deal of time or be very complicated nor very costly unlike in USA, and you could some day be very grateful you did it.
WILL power
First step – you and your spouse should make separate WILL and get them registered. In India(Delhi)getting a WILL registered cost less than Rs. 21/- Abroad it may cost $ 1500-2000. It’s a myth that people in their late 20s and early 30s are too young to worry about a WILL. Indeed that age group suffered most on September 11 attack in NY and most died intestate or without a WILL. Lack of WILL makes the process of recovery lengthier and complicated resulting in court cases.
It’s also a myth that you need to have substantial amount of money and assets including immovable property to make a WILL. If you fail to make your WILL, your property will be distributed by law to your legal heirs – including your mother, widow, children(s) etc. as in the case of Indian Hindu male.In the case of hindu women, property goes to husband, daughter and son.
Legally speaking there is no difference in registered and un-registered WILL. However, if one goes by experience, there are lesser chances of people going to courts, if WILL is registered. It is also essential that a copy of WILL should be available with YOU OR your lawyer/friend/relative so that it is easy to get same in the event of your or spouse death.
Step II Keeping records
Step two in your disaster management plan costs nothing but time. You and your husband should gather all of your key records, a copy of WILL and information where original is kept, account numbers, safe deposit locker information, insurance, PF, PPF beneficiaries and the like. Keep them in one place but definitely not at where you work. All documents in twin World Trade Centre were lost.
All those in employment in high positions depend too much on their Offices and/or on PAs to keep such records without may be without the knowledge of wife. Can a better system be devised by such persons.
Step III Keeping Records updated
You should also update your records and files every month so that you are not caught up with unpleasant surprises.
Amar Pandit, Financial Analyst, Mumbai says that in his experience only 5% have proper financial records.
Keep an ASSET REGISTER.
Step IV Stay Informed
If you have opened an account in Bank, PPF, or taken a life policy before marriage, do remember to change your nominee in Bank, PF, PPF, Insurance Policy etc. Ensure that after marriage, nominee and beneficiary under the WILL is your spouse in all instruments.
Step V Keep track of following
House and Flats:- Original sale deed, if on power of attorney the original POA, original documents given by DDA/Housing Agency to original allottee, payment receipts, allotment letter, Vth and last payments, possession letter, letter of physical handing over of house/flat, registered WILL of original allottee, sale deed, special and general power of attorney, etc. (a word of caution – never part with your original/photocopy of documents to anyone), house tax receipts, bank account numbers, cheque books, locker number and bank, FDRs of bank, companies and other financial instruments nomination under GPF, PF, PPF, Post Office accounts, car papers and insurance, income tax files, insurance policies including life, house hold, medi-claim, etc. Pension file, legal cases file if any, DVB, DJB payments, passport and their numbers if any, property on rent – original lease deed and host of other documents.
Step VI – Write Name of Helpful Person
Write down the name of person(s) who will be helpful in period of distress.
Step VII – (Final piece of emergency planning) Write Power of attorney in favour of your Spouse
You and your spouse need to give each other power of attorney over the other assets in the event that one of you is severely injured but does not die.
All this may sound gruesome but sudden death of your spouse is something you might have to face one day. The bottom line in disaster management planning is to help the surviving partner and make the transition to a life without you.
N. AHUJA
MA.,LLB, P.G.Dip (Manchester Business School), AIPM ( London)
Management Consultant & Retirement Planner
Advocate
Mobile: 9312234825
Courtesy RREWA and Thanks to Mr. N.Auhja
Courtesy: India.gov.in
Senior Citizens are a treasure to our society. They have worked hard all these years for the development of the nation as well as the community. They possess a vast experience in different walks of life. The youth of today can gain from the experience of the senior citizens in taking the nation to greater heights. At this age of their life, they need to be taken care of and made to feel special. Indian Government provides several benefits through its schemes in various sectors of development.
With various tax benefits, travel and health care facilities provisioned for them, Indian Government has created reasons for Senior Citizens to feel happy. This corner on Senior Citizens is aimed at providing details on various aspects concerning them.
SURVIVAL OF SENIORS IN THIS DIFFICULT WORLD – legal and practical precautions
After working throughout life – may be both of them for about 40 years, there comes a time of retirement when regular monthly cheque stops. If one was prudent enough , one might have saved substantial sums of money and assets to live well and comfortably on retirement. This is the time you have looked forward to and enjoy now with certain precautions
In this write-up an effort has been made to describe legal and practical precautions to be taken by seniors to thwart evil eyes some one may have on life, wealth and assets.. Evil eyes could be of ones near and dear ,domestic help /of neighbours and/or unrelated persons.
LEGAL MEASURES
WILL WRITING AND REGISTERING
Will is a legal declaration of the intention of the testator i.e. writer of will with respect to his /her own property including business which is desired to be carried into effect after one’s death – it is revocable during the life time of writer of will . It is prerogative of the person to distribute and DISINHERIT any one from his assets even to the extent of his/her legal heirs. While writing WILL, be considerate to each children including married daughters. It is no use saying that I had spent lots of money on her marriage.
Will is required to be written when one is in sound physical and mental condition and preferably get it registered.. with registered authority of the state. Courts, Insurance Companies, banks, municipal committees etc prefer registered will than unregistered one. In case of unregistered will, many institutions insist that same be probated in the proper court of law which is costly affair costing about 3 percent of total value of property and lawyer fee and time-consuming may be few years.Will requires only plan paper no stamp paper witnessed by two persons on each page and attested by SDM of registering court. If spouse has his/her own property , same person should also write and register will. There is a misconception that if property is held by the husband, same will be inherited by wife on the death of husband. It is incorrect.
Generally and prudently, while writing will, first every thing should be given to spouse and on his/her death , to be distributed to next legal heirs. Also, nominees in various instruments and Will should be same to avoid any controversy. Childless couple or single persons should also write will otherwise many legal heirs spring up on death of such persons. It is highly desireable that spouse should know contents of WILL and where same has been kept.
In case there is no Will, property will be distributed by legal heirs and/or Court in case of differences as per the religion of the dying person. In the case of male Hindu, one part is given to spouse and one each to sons and daughters. Just imagine, if there is a flat, of say, 1000 sq feet, it cannot be physically distributed and everyone will be owner of flat jointly . Similarly , there will be many business partners including senior and children apart from spouses and it is left to the imagination of readers to draw conclusions about what would happen to business.
It is preferable that contents of the Will are kept secret from legal heirs and others otherwise pressure can be built on writer of will to change the Will according to the desire of legal heirs. Hence, it is desire able that Will be kept in a safe place beyond the hands of legal heirs and others and still better in the locker in the bank.
Will can be revised several times but registered will can be revised by later registered will only.
Nomination and Will
General assumption is that a nominee for NSC, LIC polices, Fixed deposits, Mutual funds, Provident Fund and Saving bank account is the legal heir for the proceeds for which he or she was nominated. Supreme Court does not feel so. SC in the case of Sarbati Devi Vs Usha Devi in 1984 had held that ‘Mere nomination under section 39 of the Insurance Act, 1938 does not have the effect of conferring on the nominee any beneficial interest in the amount payable under the life insurance policy on the death of the assured. The nomination only indicates the person who is authorised to receive the amount on payment. The amount, however, can be claimed by the heirs of the assured in accordance with the law of succession governing them. Hence, one needs to have a WILL in place to make sure that the person of your choice receive the amount meaning thereby the person as nominee and receiver in the WILL are same person.
PROPERTY IN JOINT NAMES
If both husband and wife have contributed to the purchase of property, both should write will for the part for which they are owners and should write will to this effect also. It is imperative that property be not got registered with any other person except spouse. In Delhi, DDA has such a facility where in anyone including spouse, son, daughter can be co owner even when they have not paid the money for the purchase of that property. Sometimes this unnecessary benevolence TO ANYONE OTHER THAN SPOUSE has caused various legal problems to the original owner.
LEASE HOLD PROPERTY
Till few years ago, only Lease hold properties were allotted in Northern India including Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad and a small Lease money was required to be paid every year as Lease money. System has been given a go by. Now it is possible to get the property converted to FREE HOLD by one time payment. It is advisable to get the property converted to free hold by payment of certain amount and get same registered in own name as legal owner.
PROPERTY PURCHASED ON POWER OF ATTORNEY.
In Delhi and around large number of properties were sold and purchased by people on POWER OF ATTORNEY.
Legally POA Properties stay in the name of the original owner in DDA and Corporation records and the person gives a power to purchaser to do any act on his behalf including selling of the property. In legal terms, power of attorney holder is not legal owner of the property even though he may be in possession of the property. Power of attorney also expires with the death of the person who gave such a power of attorney. From time to time DDA and other agencies have allowed such properties to be made Free Hold in the name of the last purchaser. It is suggested that such power of attorney properties be got Free Hold by making certain payments to the authority and stamp duty. Once property is converted into freehold property in one’s name, immediately one should inform Corporation along with copy of free hold registered conveyance deed that the property be mutated in his/her name in municipal records and also for payment of property tax.
IMMOVABLE PROPERTY BELONGS TO ONE IN WHOSE NAME IT IS REGISTERED WITH REGISTERING AUTHORITY AND NOT TO ONE WHO HAS GOT POWER OF ATTORNEY FROM ORIGINAL OWNER
PRACTICAL PRECAUTIONS
PROPERTY ON RENT
If property is to be given on rent, certain precautions have to be observed by seniors such as legally vetted agreement registered in court and premises given on rent to the good party even if rent is less, by involving reputed property dealer. Agreement will also provide that in case the property is not vacated on the expiry of Lease period, the rent shall be …. times of the original rent.
For giving on rent the property, don’t give or hand over the key to any property dealer who is involved in bringing tenants. One 82 year senior retired IAS woman lost control of that part of the flat to a property dealer because he occupied same without rent and is not vacating knowing very well she is old, infirm , helpless etc. Case is going in Delhi Court for several years and dates are managed by other party with the connivance of court staff.
HANDING OVER THE BUILDING TO BUILDER FOR MULTI STOREY FLATS
Builders or property dealers in India are not known to be honest. One has to be careful while dealing with such persons. If agreed to such an arrangement, consult good legal firm with reputation for legal vetted agreement
PROPERTY SHARKS
In large city and now in even small cities , there are property sharks who by dubious means try to grab big properties of elderly persons by dubious means. They use various means to create hurdles in the sale of such properties senior persons. If such senior persons has to sell the property, they should consult preferably only one property dealer . However, don’t sign blindly to any document put before you for your signature. Read it carefully and take your own time. Such persons can take the help of HELPAGE, AGEWELL /DIGNITY FOUNDATION AND/ OR AN ADVOCATE.
LOAN CLOSURE ON PROPERTY
In case you had taken loan while being employed and that loan has since been paid off, don’t forget to take back documents which were submitted to bank or your office for loan purposes and also all clear dues certificate .
LARGE PROPERTY
In case one has large property whose price has appreciated considerably , one can consider selling such a property and buying small property which is safe, manageable and secure. It is more important to live and live safely than to live in big mansion.
FINANCES
After sixty, it is time to re asses your assets and risks. Conservation of capital becomes an important decision while allocating investments . Risk profile of senior citizens is towards low risk – PPF, Post Office monthly scheme (POMS), Fixed deposits with banks, senior citizens saving scheme. Remember Rs. one lakh lost at 20 is different from Rs. one lakh lost at 60 years.
Before parting with your savings,consider all the aspects of proposed investment so that you are not taken in by advertisements assuring of an unusually high return and safety.
Now a days seniors are living up to 90 years – full thirty years after their retirement with inflation as high as 8%. Hence it is essential that they put their hard-earned money earns enough in whatever financial route they choose that they get enough returns so that principal amount does not erode rather it increases with the passage of time. Remember you cannot enjoy retirement if you are BROKE. A comfortable income does not guarantee happiness in old age, but too little income does guarantee misery and its as simple as that.
Tips to tame inflation Scrutinise our monthly shopping list and give priority to healthy food, cut back on junk food.
Check the weight of packaged goods, something costing the same as a rival brand could actually be of a lower weight while the two appear similar. Buy only recently packaged goods and avoid buying packaged foods in large quantities to avoid wastage. Also, avoid goods on impulse just because the discount looks attractive; focus on what you really need.Go for less known brands – they may not be necessarily of poor quality. Sometimes big brands cost more because they advertise more and you know how for this advertisement YOU.
Keep track of your finances.Don’t keep money with private or public limited companies for higher interests. Sleep well with lesser interest and lose sleep with higher interests. Many senior citizens have lost their principal amount in public limited companies in the past.
Emergency Funds It is necessary to have an Emergency Fund which helps through rainy day or say tough times. It takes only one uncertain situation to throw everything haywire. It is better to depend on your emergency funds instead of borrowing from friends and relatives. Don’t forget that no help may be coming forward for such a help.
Check bank/credit card statements. Computers don’t make mistakes but daily paid operators do make mistakes. Avoid Internet banking. Don’t give personal bank information to unsolicited e mails. Many have lost their money from bank by fraudulent withdrawals.. Withdraw only small amount from bank. Never count money in the presence of domestic helps. Don’t trust anyone and don’t show your riches.
NON RETURN OF FIXED DEPOSIT MONEY BY PUBLIC /PRIVATE COMPANIES
In case you have kept money in a private or public limited company, they are not returning same at the end of the period, start writing to the Directors of the company at their residential addresses stating there that you are a senior citizen , repeatedly and such an approach has brought money back.
There is no need for you to leave too much for posterity. Let them learn to earn, Mind you no one is ever grateful for the wealth one inherits.
REMEMBER WEALTH IS NOT HIS THAT HAS IT BUT HIS THAT ENJOYS IT
REVERSE MORTGAGE
This is a new concept introduced new in India. It means that in case you do not have enough money to provide for your old age beyond 60 years, you could mortgage your house to a bank ora financial institute and get a fixed sum on monthly, quarterly or annual basis , which takes care of your regular expenses. Clients do not have to return loans because bank becomes the title holder of the house. Senior citizens are allowed to live in their house for life. This is for own built or brought house or flat and not for ancestral flat or house. Six months after the surviving spouse passes away, the bank gives the legal heirs an opportunity to pay back the loan and recover the house. If they fail to do so, the bank has the right to sell it off and use the money to recover the loan amount. Whatever money is left over is handed over to the legal heirs of the deceased.
THE MAINTENANCE AND WELFARE OF PARENTS AND SENIOR CITIZENS ACT, 2007
There was a time when Indian society laid stress on providing care for the elderly. However, due to withering of joint family system, many of elderly are not being looked after by their family. Consequently,many older persons, particularly widowed women are now forced to spend their twilight years all alone and are exposed to emotional neglect and to lack of physical and financial support.
Act has cast an obligation on the persons who inherit the property of their aged relatives to maintain such aged relatives (For details read the Act) .
GIFT DEED
No gift deed of the property till one is alive whatever is persuasion or threat. In case of threat, one can go to police station and report against the person for threat etc . In case, police refuse to register complaint, please send written report through registered /speed post and or courier with a copy to Police Commissioner, etc.
NO SURETY/GUARANTEE OF LOAN/ ADVANCE TO ANYONE INCLUDING CHILDREN
Near relatives of such senior persons approach them for signing as surety for the advance or loan to be taken by them from LIC, Banks etc for any purpose. After paying few instalments, they stop payment of instalments and in connivance with the banks etc, they send goons for recovery of the loan. Supreme Court has recently held that guarantor is accountable if the real borrower fails to pay the loan taken from the bank.
BANK ACCOUNTS AND LOCKER
Bank account , locker,mutual funds, shares, etc should be in joint names with proviso to operation of same by either or survivor.
PUBLIC PROVIDENT FUND
Many seniors have PPF account in Banks and Post Office.
Please check that nominee is your spouse otherwise as per Public Provident Fund Act, money shall go to the nominee – may be any unknown person.
HEALTH
Take special care of your wife. Wife are more concerned about the health of husbands and generally don’t care about their own health. It is duty of senior male person to be careful about his wife health also.
High moral helps you to come to terms with old age. The mind plays a big part in making you feel younger or older than years. A MAN /WOMAN IS AS OLD AS HE/SHE FEELS. . Life is tough, rough and dreamy. But still it is possible to live without a bang of dog look. We should once in a while to count our BLESSINGS. It is time we slow down before our health forces us to.We need to give our body and mind, the semblance of CALM and SANITY they deserve and make tranquility and composure, in the face of aggravation.
LEARN TO IGNORE WHAT ONE CANNOT CONTROL
AND
LEARN TO CONTROL WHAT ONE CAN
Avoid STRESS. it causes many diseases. Exercise is important. Most of us have done away with the need for physical exercise in our daily task. Walking is an excellent exercise. it costs nothing. If one walks, one feels good.
It is highly desire able that Health of senior couple be taken seriously by themselves. No one is going to come to their aid. Hence, all should try to find from their employers whether there is any scheme of Medical Insurance from where they were employed even by annual or one time payment. Central Government, Defence Forces, Delhi Government employees have such scheme for their pensioners and retirees should take advantage of same by one time payment. In case no such scheme is available, such couple should go for mediclaim policies of Insurance Companies even after 60 years. However, don’t forget to read devilish details of policy printed in fine prints.
LONELINESS
Loneliness in old age is all about perception. It is an attitude which one can change or attempt to change even after retirement. One has to develop after retirement ways to keep himself busy may be anything which interests him/her.
Instead of brooding, it pays to stay in touch with friends. socializing with people you like, can add a decade or so to your life because those with net work of friends lived longer than those who did not socialize.
RELATIONSHIP
Indian husbands so far have been very lucky unlike Japanese husbands. A leading Japanese women’s magazine has reported that in Japan women are divorcing their husbands after they retire as they are considered as Sodai gomai, meaning much garbage. The husbands are called eleven to seven men as they are away at their workplace the rest of the time. After they retire, the wives are unable to tolerate their presence and dominance, and seek the solution of cutting the Gordian knot by applying for divorce.
Remember one must keep one’s wife happy during life time even if she is wrong sometimes because it is only your life time that she would have a SAY as none is going to listen to her afterwards.
The husband wife team factually heats up only in old age, when all their children desert. It is precisely for this companionship that the institutions of marriage was conceived. Partners for this union have to necessarily pass the rigorous of family life and settle down to the peace of coexistence.
Do not offer advice to children unless sought. Do not unnecessarily interfere in their affairs. Don’t take children for granted. Do thank them when they show consideration to you but never expect thanks for help you may give or have given.Avoid having to seek financial help from them.
For God’s sake treat your daughter in law well and if couple desires to live separately, let them live so otherwise your life after retirement is going to be HELL. Also do not pamper grand children. Daughter in-laws generally abhor this interference. Avoid it.
CREATION OF SOCIAL GROUP IN IMMEDIATE NEIGHBOURHOOD
Leave your designation at the table while retiring. All retired people are equal in status and do not attempt to dominate because of your past position.
It is highly desirable that a social group be formed in immediate neighbourhood which can be called in serious emergency to take one to hospital or doctor or in case of other emergencies such as theft, injury etc.Their telephone numbers should be known by heart.
PERSONAL GROOMING
Seniors should try to stay active, walk daily without fail,shave daily and be smartly dressed. there is no reason to lament that I am a retired person. Most of us are in a position to maintain ourselves and in fact maintain same standard of living which we were used to before retirement. This is the age when we seniors can wear what we wish to . Now a days cloth wearing has become age less. A person who is smartly dressed, active etc is unlikely to be looked vulnerable to attack also. Avoid showing yourself as old, infirm and helpless to any one. Better still, carry small stick with you while walking in the morning /evening. Maintain dignity.
HOW TO GET YOUR WORK DONE IN OFFICES
All of us have some work with the government or private offices. Some Organisations on paper have policy of attending SENIORS on priority basis. In spite of the motto , if ones work is not being attended to, straight away go to top officials of the organisation personally and complain against harassment to a senior citizen and chances are one’s work will be attended to in priority.
RTI ACT ( RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT 2005 )
RTI Act is most beneficial for senior persons. In case one’s work is pending in any government and/or Public sector organisation, follow RTI route. Write your RTI application stating the facts of the case i.e. no reply etc, and attach Rs. ten postal order and send to head of the department through courier or speed post with the request to send reply within 30 days of the receipt of the RTI application . In the application also ask the name of the person/official who is responsible for delay etc and it is very likely one’s work will be done even before 30 days.
HOW TO DEAL WITH PRESSURE FROM ADULT CHILDREN AND CHILDREN IN LAW
According to a survey done by Hindustan Times, 49 percent of elderly living in Delhi with children separate or having same kitchen are facing some kind of tension over inheritance or division of property while alive in the form of selling property or/of transfer ownership and are subjected to various types of abuse, if they refuse.
The other common trigger for abuse is to preference among some to live off their parents or grand parents wealth. In these, seniors are relentlessly pastured for money to support their children for life style.One has to be careful from these young persons even when they are relatives because experience shows that such persons can kill these senior persons also for money. As per HT Survey, dependency factor emerges very strongly in property disputes as most of these persons are dependant on their children . Those who are able to support themselves are also empowered enough to turn around and quash such demands or to report to Police Station against such persons even if they their are children.
SECURING ELDERS SAFETY
SENIORS CAN BE AS SECURE AS THEY WISH TO BE . They have to be proactively security conscious . Police can not be with every senior citizen all the time and every time and every where. Most injuries/death are caused by friendly entry in flat/house i.e. friends, relatives, domestic servants, plumbers, electricians, courier etc. Keep domestic keys away from the preying eyes of servants. Be not trustworthy of everyone and anyone yes anyone. Get police verification of domestic servants particularly full-time. One can also do same thing by sending registered AD/courier letter to the address given by the domestic servant. If undelivered and letters comes back, address given is wrong. Avoid employing full-time foreigners. In case of discharge of domestic servant, pay them immediately. Keep dependant contractors and take a list of names and address of working persons.
Take special care while crossing roads – adage better late than never. Be careful in bathroom. Many senior citizens fall in bathrooms and ultimately,unfortunately, die in hospital. These accidents are avoidable.
Before sleeping at night, check all the doors whether duly secured and closed. In few cases, it has been found that domestic servants have deliberately left side door open for friendly entry of hostile person for theft, murder etc. Keep one light of one room on. It may minimise the hostile entry in the flat/house.
If helpless and children harassing, take courage and report to Police, though difficult in India. Take help of AGEWELL, dignity dialogue, SENIOR CITIZENS organisations, even Women Commission or district or State. Remember Police Control No. 100.
If alone and not too old, find a spouse from the matrimonial column of newspaper or from the Internet website , there may again be someone waiting for you even at this age. One may encounter opposition from the children . it is again your life and you have to decide for yourself. Don’t worry for criticism of relatives and neighbourhood because
KUCH TO LOG KAHENGA
LOGO KA KAAM HAI KAHNA
ACTION TO BE TAKEN ON DEATH OF PROPERTY HOLDER
Procure immediately 20 original death certificates from Municipal Corporation/Committee of the city in which dead person was living ensuring that the name of the dead person is correctly mentioned. It takes about a week.In case bank account is joint one, before informing bank, it is advisable to withdraw money up to certain extent. In the meantime collect all information about the banks, FD,Mutual Funds, Shares etc where name of the dead person is first name and meet the respective managers and tell them of the death of the account holder. Also collect different forms required to be filled for transferring the money to widow and/or any other person and take immediate action to fill forms , affidavits ,etc so that same could be submitted immediately on receipt of death certificates. There is no need to be lethargic in this respect. If any property of the dead person on rent , immediately tell the tenant with the request to send rent to his successor etc.
In case there is a REGISTERED WILL, problems of transfer of funds are minimised otherwise PSU banks take lot of time to transfer the funds of dead person to legal heirs.
ASSET REGISTER
Last but not least, start an ASSET REGISTER which should have information about bank accounts, locker number and bank, shares, mutual funds, property deed and other connected papers, passport number, PF account, PPF Account and bank site, election card No , PAN Number etc and where these documents have been placed. Otherwise spouse , relatives, spend months/years searching and listing assets.
Please do not part with your original /photocopies of WILL and any other property documents in any circumstances because hostile person can destroy or make copies of same. Original documents should be kept in locker and only photo copies with you.
PLEASE DONT KEEP ANY ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS IN YOUR OFFICE DRAWER OR WITH YOUR PA. These are more safe in your home.
HELPFUL PERSON
After the death of head of family, widow is woefully lonely . It will be helpful if name of a person is mentioned who would be helpful to the widow to get things sorted out.
FAITH IN GOD
SMALL FAITH TAKES YOU TO HEAVEN
GREAT FAITH BRINGS HEAVEN TO YOU
REMEMBER
YOU CAN WRITE/REWRITE WILL/CHANGE NOMINEE
BUT DON’T FORGET
YOU CAN NOT REVOKE GIFT/RELINQUISHMENT DEED
DON’T GIVE MONEY, PROPERTY
AND
POWER OF ATTORNEY
TO
TO ANYONE INCLUDING CHILDREN WHEN ALIVE
BETTER LEARN TO SAY SO
Courtesy RREWA and thanks to
N AHUJA
MA.,LLB, P.G.Dip (Manchester Business School, , AIPM (London)
Management Consultant & Advocate
Mob: 9312234825
Aging is a time of multiple illnesses and general disability. Besides an increased level of illness, the aging process itself leads to certain disabilities such as low vision and blindness resulting from cataracts, deafness resulting from nerve impairment, loss of mobility from arthritis and a general inability to care for oneself.
Furthermore, aging is inevitable and thus of concern to each of us. We present here the beginnings of an ever-growing database of information that would be of use to our elder citizens and also for the persons who care for them.
For more information CLICK HERE
e-Forum for CSIR/ NAL Retirees 
