Armed Forces Flag Day Fund - Mobility Equipment Grant

What is the AFFDF mobility equipment grant?

The Armed Forces Flag Day Fund mobility equipment grant is a welfare payment made by the Kendriya Sainik Board (KSB) to help a disabled ex-serviceman buy mobility equipment, most commonly a modified scooter, but also wheelchairs, crutches and similar aids. According to the Kendriya Sainik Board scheme page, the assistance is provided from the AFFD Fund up to a maximum of Rs 1 lakh per ex-serviceman with effect from 1 April 2022, revised from the earlier ceiling of Rs 57,000.

The defining feature of this grant is who it is for. It covers disability sustained after retirement, through an accident or illness in civilian life — not disability attributable to service. Ex-servicemen disabled in service are covered by Army, Navy and Air Force schemes and by disability pension, and an applicant already covered under a similar Service scheme is excluded here.

Main features

• Open to ex-servicemen of all ranks, unlike several RMEWF grants that stop at Havildar and equivalent.
• Paid as a 100 per cent advance, not a reimbursement. An unusual design among KSB grants.
• Requires a post-dated cheque as security, encashed if the purchase is not documented.
• Equipment life is fixed at 10 years before a repeat claim is allowed.
• Routed through the Zila Sainik Board and Regional Sainik Board to the KSB Secretariat.

Who is eligible for the AFFDF mobility equipment grant?

You can apply if:

• You are an ex-serviceman of any rank who became disabled after retirement from service, whether through an accident or illness.
• Your disability is 50 per cent or more, certified by an Armed Forces Medical Authority or a government hospital, with the certificate stating the nature of the disability and recommending the procurement of mobility equipment.
• You are not covered under a similar scheme of the Army, Navy or Air Force.
• You are capable of personally using the equipment being sought.
• Your application is recommended by your Zila Sainik Board.

You cannot apply if:

• You are a serving soldier, or a dependant of an ex-serviceman rather than the ex-serviceman.
• Your disability is below 50 per cent, or is certified by a private practitioner rather than an Armed Forces Medical Authority or government hospital.
• You are already covered under a similar Army, Navy or Air Force scheme for the same equipment.
• You received the same grant within the last 10 years, since the equipment is treated as having a 10-year life.
• You cannot personally operate the equipment being sought.

What documents are required?

All copies must be attested by the Zila Sainik Welfare Officer.

How to apply for the AFFDF mobility equipment grant

1. Obtain a disability certificate from an Armed Forces Medical Authority or a government hospital stating the nature of your disability, confirming that it is 50 per cent or more, and recommending the procurement of mobility equipment.
2. Get a financial estimate with specifications from an authorised dealer for the modified scooter or equipment you intend to buy.
3. Register or log in on ksb.gov.in and fill the online application for financial assistance for procuring mobility equipment, then note the system-generated application number.
4. Submit the printed application with attested copies of your Discharge Book, ESM identity card, disability certificate, evidence of how the disability was sustained, the dealer's estimate, and your PNB or SBI account details, at your Zila Sainik Board.
5. The Zila Sainik Welfare Officer verifies the originals and forwards the application with a recommendation, through the Regional Sainik Board, to the KSB Secretariat.
6. On approval by the Secretary, KSB, submit the required post-dated cheque and certificate, after which the full Rs 1,00,000 advance is transferred to your bank account.
7. Buy the equipment within 60 days and submit the dealer's receipt, a copy of the vehicle registration certificate, and a photograph of yourself with the scooter attested by an independent witness, through your Zila Sainik Welfare Officer.

Failure to complete step 7 within the permitted window results in the post-dated cheque being encashed to recover the advance.

Common reasons applications are rejected

• The disability is below 50 per cent, or the certificate does not specifically recommend mobility equipment.
• The disability is attributable to service, so the applicant should be covered by a Service scheme or disability pension instead.
• The applicant is already covered under a similar Army, Navy or Air Force scheme.
• The Discharge Book pages are incomplete, out of sequence or unattested.
• The dealer's estimate is missing specifications, or is from an unauthorised dealer.
• Bank details are not in PNB or SBI, or the IFSC is wrong.
• A previous grant was drawn less than 10 years ago.
• Purchase documents were not submitted within 60 days of receiving the advance, leading to recovery.

Help and grievance redressal

• JD (Welfare), KSB Secretariat: 011-20862446, jdwelfare-ksb@desw.gov.in
• KSB grievances: Post Grievance and Track Grievance options on ksb.gov.in
• Postal address: Secretary, Kendriya Sainik Board, West Block-IV, Wing-VII, RK Puram, New Delhi 110066
• Local help: your Zila Sainik Welfare Office

There is no fee for this grant and no agent is required. The related AFFDF serious disease treatment grant and the home loan interest subsidy are separate claims with their own eligibility, and both follow the same Zila Sainik Board route.