Old-age, widow and disability allowances: how farm families can apply

4 November 2026 · 2 min read · Krishoker Thikana desk

The Department of Social Services pays monthly allowances to older people, widows and deserted women, and people with disabilities who have little income. Many eligible people in farming villages miss out simply because nobody told them how to apply.

Who can get the old-age allowance

• Men aged 65 or over, and women aged 62 or over, proved by National ID, birth registration or SSC certificate.
• A permanent resident of the area, with low income.
• Priority goes to the oldest, to people who are sick or cannot work, to landless people (half an acre or less, not counting the homestead), and to widows, the childless and those living apart from family.
• People who already get a government pension or another regular allowance are not eligible.

Other allowances

• Widow and deserted-women allowance: for destitute widows and women abandoned by their husbands.
• Disability allowance: for people with physical or mental disabilities who lack support. A Subarna Nagorik (disability ID) card from the Department of Social Services is required.

How to apply

1. Applications open online for a set period. In 2026 the window was 1 to 31 August, on the Department of Social Services website (dss.bhata.gov.bd).
2. Apply using your permanent address.
3. You need your National ID and an active mobile number registered to that NID, or your own bank or mobile banking account details.
4. If you have no smartphone, ask a Union Digital Centre, the Union Parishad, or the Upazila Social Services Office to help you apply.
5. If you are already on the waiting list, you do not need to apply again.

Be careful

• Applying is free. Nobody may charge you money to put your name on the list.
• Never share the PIN or OTP of your mobile banking account with anyone, even someone who says they are from the government.
• If someone asks for money or your payment stops, tell the Upazila Social Services Officer or call 333.

Allowance amounts and deadlines can change each year, so check with your Upazila Social Services Office. The Wellbeing page of this site links to the application portal.