Minister for workers Jitendra Singh discussed the problem of family pension disbursal with officialsGovernment has actually restated that opening a joint bank account is not mandatory for receiving spouse pension.Minister for personnel, public complaints and pensions Jitendra Singh clarified this after a conference with senior officials of the pension department.He said that in case the head of office is pleased that it is not possible for the retiring government servant to open a joint account with his/her spouse, for factors beyond his or her control, then this requirement might be relaxed.All banks disbursing main federal government pension have been advised that in case the spouse (family pensioner) chooses the existing joint checking account for credit of family pension, banks should not insist on opening a new account, a declaration issued by the ministry said.A joint checking account with partner is however desirable and it is to be opened with their spouse in whose favour an authorisation for family pension exists in the Pension Payment Order (PPO), the declaration additional said.Operation in these accounts would be on previous or survivor or either or survivor basis as desired by the pensioner, the minister said.The primary reason behind opening of a joint bank account is to ensure that household pension can be begun with no hold-up and the household pensioner does not face any difficulties for opening of a new pension savings account, the declaration said.This also ensures minimum documentation for the household pensioner while sending request for beginning of family pension, it stated.