The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has relaxed the Children Education Allowance (CEA) claim rule for Central Government employees. It was implemented given the hardships faced by the Central Government employees due to the lockdowns during the year 2020-21.
The DoPT stated that Central Government employees would receive Rs.2,250 per month under the CEA claim rule recommended by the 7th Pay Commission. With the pandemic, lockdowns, and closing of schools, the Central Government employees could not claim CEA. There were even issues accessing their children’s results and report cards, as they were not even sent through SMS/email. Even the school fees were being deposited online.
The department has made things easier by allowing the employees to make CEA claims through self-certification or through a printed copy of the SMS or email of report card/result/fees payment receipt they have received from schools. This relaxation in policy is only applicable for academic years ending in March 2020 and March 2021.
There have been numerous queries from the employees regarding the issue of making CEA claims. The department has considered these queries and come up with a solution. Since it is sorted, the department has mentioned that the issue need not be reopened.
According to the recommendation of the 7th Pay Commission, the CEA should be paid at Rs.2,250 per month, and for hostel subsidy, it is Rs.6,750. Also, the commission has suggested that when DA increases by 50%, CEA and hostel subsidy also should increase by 25%.
The relaxation was announced when the citizens were expecting a hike in the Dearness Allowance. This is because the DA hike has been frozen for the Central Government employees since the past year. They are looking forward to the revised DA.
For any clarifications/feedback on the topic, please get in touch with the writer at apoorva.n@cleartax.in
