KATHMANDU: Less than a month after assuming office, Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal has introduced a new set of regulations governing the distribution of social security allowances.
The Social Security Distribution Procedure, 2025 replaces the previous 2020 directive, bringing major changes aimed at improving transparency and digital access in benefit distribution.
Under the new system, beneficiaries can now apply for and renew their social security allowances online through their respective local governments. The procedure also includes a detailed mechanism for biometric verification to ensure the accuracy of beneficiary data.
According to the Home Ministry, those currently receiving social security benefits must submit a renewal application through the ward office or verify their status via a mobile application.
A significant provision in the new directive states that women married to members of eligible castes will lose eligibility for social security benefits if their marital relationship is no longer valid.
The new guidelines also empower chief administrative officers to remove names or correct entries in the official records of beneficiaries when necessary.
In an effort to make payment distribution more systematic, the directive specifies fixed deposit deadlines for banks to credit the allowance amounts to beneficiaries’ accounts. Banks are required to deposit funds by Kartik 7 for the first quarter, Magh 7 for the second, Baisakh 7 for the third, and the end of Ashad for the fourth quarter. In the case of monthly payments, the funds must be credited by the 7th of the following month.
The procedure also establishes clear roles for the Directive Committee, District Coordination Committees, and Local Facilitation Committees to oversee the program’s implementation. Additionally, it outlines new provisions for monitoring, inspection, reporting, transparency, and accountability mechanisms.
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