Incentive Scheme for Marrying a Disabled Young Man/Woman

What is the Incentive Scheme for Marrying a Disabled Young Man/Woman?

Incentive Scheme for Marrying a Disabled Young Man/Woman is a welfare scheme of the Social Welfare Department, Government of Uttarakhand that pays a one-time cash reward to a couple where at least one partner is a person with disability. The scheme is sometimes referred to locally as the divyang marriage incentive. Its purpose is to encourage the social inclusion of persons with disability by removing the financial hesitation around such marriages and helping the newly married couple set up a stable, independent home.

According to the Social Welfare Department and state press reports, the incentive was originally Rs 25,000 and was doubled to Rs 50,000 in 2026. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami announced the increase, and district administrations; including Dehradun, where the District Magistrate approved the first case under the enhanced amount, have begun sanctioning payments at the higher rate. The scheme covers a marriage in which the husband, the wife, or both are persons with disability.

The incentive is a single, one-time payment. It is not a monthly pension and is separate from the disability pension that the Social Welfare Department pays under its social security programmes. A couple can hold both benefits, the marriage incentive at the time of marriage and the disability pension if otherwise eligible.

Who is eligible for the Incentive Scheme for Marrying a Disabled Young Man/Woman?

You can apply if:

• You are part of a married couple where the husband, the wife, or both are persons with disability.
• The person with disability holds a valid disability certificate.
• The couple resides in Uttarakhand.
• You apply within the time window the scheme guidelines allow after the marriage.

You cannot apply if:

• Neither spouse is a person with disability.
• The disability cannot be evidenced by a valid certificate.
• The couple does not reside in Uttarakhand.
• The claim window set in the guidelines has already closed.

The scheme is deliberately simple: it does not require both spouses to be disabled. A marriage where even one of the two partners is a person with disability qualifies. This is the point readers most often get wrong, they assume both must have a disability, when in fact one qualifying partner is enough.

How much is the benefit and how is it paid?

The benefit is a one-time incentive of Rs 50,000 (raised from the earlier Rs 25,000). It is paid per couple, not per person, so a marriage attracts a single incentive regardless of whether one or both partners are persons with disability. The amount is transferred to the couple's bank account once the district Social Welfare office and the approving authority clear the file.

Because the figure was revised upward in 2026, older notices and third-party listings may still show Rs 25,000. Treat Rs 50,000 as the current amount, but confirm at your block office, since the sanction is issued at whatever rate is in force on the date of approval.

What documents are required?

Carry the originals for verification and submit self-attested copies. A mismatch between the names on the marriage certificate, Aadhaar and bank account is a frequent cause of delay, so check that they agree before you submit.

How to apply for the disabled marriage incentive

The scheme is applied for offline through the development block. Follow these steps:

1. Collect the application form from the Assistant Social Welfare Officer at your development block office, or from the District Social Welfare Office.
2. Fill in the form and attach the disability certificate, marriage certificate, Aadhaar of both spouses, residence proof and bank passbook.
3. Submit the completed application to the Assistant Social Welfare Officer at the development block.
4. Verification and approval. The file is verified at block and district level and approved by the District Social Welfare Officer or District Magistrate.
5. Receive the payment in the couple's bank account after sanction, and keep the acknowledgement for follow-up.

How do I check my application status?

There is no online tracker for this offline scheme. To follow up, contact the Assistant Social Welfare Officer at the block where you applied, or the District Social Welfare Office, quoting your acknowledgement. The Social Welfare Department helpline 1800-180-4236 and the state CM helpline 1905 can also record and route a query.

Why do claims get rejected, and how to avoid it?

• No valid disability certificate, the qualifying spouse must hold a current certificate; get it renewed if it has lapsed.
• Claim filed too late — apply within the window the guidelines allow after the marriage; a time-barred claim is refused.
• Name mismatch across the marriage certificate, Aadhaar and bank account, correct these before submitting.
• Residence not established: attach clear proof that the couple lives in Uttarakhand.

How does this fit with other disability benefits?

Incentive Scheme for Marrying a Disabled Young Man/Woman is one part of the Uttarakhand Social Welfare Department's wider support for persons with disability. The one-time marriage incentive does not replace, and is not deducted from, the monthly disability pension the department pays under its social security programme, nor does it affect entitlements such as the disability certificate-linked concessions, the UDID (Unique Disability ID) card benefits, or scholarships for students with disability. A couple can therefore hold the marriage incentive alongside any pension or concession for which they separately qualify.

The disability certificate that anchors this claim is the same certificate used across all these benefits, so a couple applying here often already holds it. If the certificate is old or issued in another state, get a current Uttarakhand certificate through the Chief Medical Officer's office or a designated medical board before applying, because the block office verifies the disability percentage against a valid certificate.

What are the key facts to remember?

• Amount: one-time Rs 50,000 (raised from Rs 25,000 in 2026), paid per couple, not per person.
• Who qualifies: a married couple resident in Uttarakhand where the husband, the wife, or both hold a valid disability certificate.
• Where to apply: offline, through the Assistant Social Welfare Officer at the development block; approved at district level.
• Time limit: apply within the window the current guidelines set after the marriage; confirm it locally so the claim is not rejected as time-barred.

Where do I raise a grievance?

Raise any grievance, a delayed sanction, a rejected file or a payment not credited; first with the District Social Welfare Officer, and escalate to the Directorate of Social Welfare, Government of Uttarakhand if needed. The department helpline 1800-180-4236 logs complaints. The incentive is a government payment; no fee should be paid to any agent to secure it.