Facing mounting social security obligations, the government has raised the minimum age for the elderly allowance to 70 years, up from the current threshold of 68.
At present, senior citizens aged 68 and above receive a monthly stipend of Rs 4,000.
The change was announced by Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel while presenting the budget for fiscal year 2025/26 in a joint session of the Federal Parliament on Thursday, May 29.
Read: Government Faces Rs 300 Billion Burden for Pensions and Elderly Allowances
The adjustment aligns with recommendations from the High-Level Economic Reform Advisory Commission, chaired by former Finance Secretary Rameshore Khanal. The commission's report served as a foundation for the government’s broader economic reform agenda.
Despite the shift in the general age requirement, the government has opted to preserve existing provisions for vulnerable groups. Dalit senior citizens and those living in designated remote regions will continue to be eligible for the monthly allowance from the age of 60. These groups currently receive Rs 2,660 per month.
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