In Andhra Pradesh, the biggest support for a disabled child is the NTR Bharosa Pension Scheme, run by SERP under the Panchayat Raj and Rural Development department. Under G.O.Ms.No.43 of June 2024, it pays Rs 6,000 a month to persons with disabilities, Rs 15,000 to those who are fully disabled, and Rs 10,000 for conditions such as thalassemia, sickle cell disease and severe haemophilia. Aids, scholarships, hostels and special schools sit with the Department for Welfare of Differently Abled, Transgender and Senior Citizens.
As of November 2026, almost everything runs on a SADAREM certificate showing 40% or more. New pension applications go through your Swarna Grama or Swarna Wardu office when a window opens, and free bus travel under the Divyanga Shakthi scheme is applied for on the APSRTC app or the Mana Mitra WhatsApp service. Here is how each piece works.
How disability support works in Andhra Pradesh
Pensions are sanctioned by SERP. Applications are received at Swarna Grama and Swarna Wardu offices, verified at your home by staff, recommended by the MPDO or Municipal Commissioner, and sanctioned at state level. A September 2026 government memo on the NTR Bharosa portal lays out this process.
Other schemes are handled in each district by the Assistant Director, Welfare of Differently Abled, Transgender and Senior Citizens. Aids and appliances are supplied through the A.P. Differently Abled and Senior Citizens Assistance Corporation (APDASCAC).
The certificate that unlocks state benefits is SADAREM. The 2026 pension memo asks for a "SADAREM Certificate with benchmark disability i.e. 40% and above", and APSRTC pulls disability type and percentage straight from the SADAREM database. The 40% figure comes from the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, which defines benchmark disability as not less than 40% of a specified disability. Our guides to the RPwD Act and applying for a disability certificate cover the basics.
Central schemes that apply in Andhra Pradesh too
These national schemes sit on top of the state schemes below.
- UDID card: apply on swavlambancard.gov.in. Our UDID card how-to covers each step.
- ADIP aids and appliances: 100% subsidy for families earning up to Rs 22,500 a month and 50% for Rs 22,501 to Rs 30,000, through implementing agencies or the ARJUN portal (adip.depwd.gov.in). ALIMCO's helpline is 1800 180 5129.
- Central scholarships: pre-matric (Class 9 and 10) and post-matric (Class 11 onward) for students with 40% or more disability and family income up to Rs 2.5 lakh a year, on the National Scholarship Portal.
- Niramaya health insurance from the National Trust, explained in our Niramaya walkthrough.
- Income tax deductions for parents, in tax benefits for parents of children with disabilities.
- Railway concession for some categories, in our railway concession guide.
Andhra Pradesh disability schemes for children at a glance
Amounts below are from government orders and official pages we checked, as of November 2026. Confirm at the office before you apply.
| Scheme | Who it is for | What it gives | Where to apply |
|---|---|---|---|
| NTR Bharosa disability pension | 40% or more on SADAREM, no age limit, BPL household with a rice card | Rs 6,000 a month | Swarna Grama or Swarna Wardu office |
| Fully disabled pension | Paralysis confining the person to a wheelchair or bed; severe muscular dystrophy; accident victims | Rs 15,000 a month | Swarna Grama or Swarna Wardu office |
| Chronic disease pension | Thalassemia, sickle cell disease, severe haemophilia, listed kidney conditions and transplants | Rs 10,000 a month | Swarna Grama or Swarna Wardu office |
| Divyanga Shakthi bus travel | Eligible by disability type and percentage on SADAREM | Zero fare or 50% concession, depending on bus type | APSRTC app, Mana Mitra WhatsApp, bus pass counter |
| Aids and appliances | Family income below Rs 1 lakh a year | Tricycles, wheelchairs, hearing aids, calipers, limbs, Daisy players, touch phones, Braille slates | APDASCAC, via the district Assistant Director |
| Pre-matric scholarship | Students with disabilities in Classes 1 to 10, parental income under Rs 1 lakh | Yearly scholarship | District Assistant Director |
| Scholarship for special school students | Children with intellectual disability in NGO special schools without government grant, parental income under Rs 1 lakh | Rs 1,000 a year | District Assistant Director |
| Inclusive education (Samagra Shiksha) | Children with special needs | Bhavitha centres, home-based education, transport and escort allowances | Your school or Mandal Education Office |
What the pension order actually says
G.O.Ms.No.43, dated 13 June 2024, doubled the disability pension from Rs 3,000 to Rs 6,000 and raised the fully disabled pension from Rs 5,000 to Rs 15,000, paid from 1 July 2024. The order lists the Rs 15,000 group as paralysis confining the person to a wheelchair or bed, and severe muscular dystrophy cases and accident victims. Thalassemia, sickle cell disease and severe haemophilia (below 2% of factor 8 or 9) stay at Rs 10,000.
One warning: the English summary on the pension portal says fully disabled persons get Rs 10,000, while its Telugu banner and the order itself say Rs 15,000. Its "About Us" page still shows the old Rs 3,000 rate. Go by the order, and ask the Welfare and Education Assistant to confirm which category your child falls in.
The portal lists the disabled pension as "minimum of 40% disability and No age limit", for BPL families holding a white ration card, living in the district and not on another pension. The 2026 memo asks for a rice card or income certificate. It excludes households with more than 2.5 acres of wet land or 5 acres of dry land, car owners and income tax payers.
New pensions open in windows
The September 2026 memo opened new applications from 7 to 16 September 2026 and says pensions will be sanctioned category-wise in phases. The pension starts from the month SERP sanctions it, not from the date you applied, so apply in the first window you can.
Free bus travel under Divyanga Shakthi
APSRTC gives zero-fare travel in City Ordinary, Pallevelugu, Ultra Pallevelugu, Metro Express and Express buses, and a 50% concession on Non-Stop, Inter-state (up to Ultra Deluxe), Sapthagiri Express and Ultra Deluxe services. An escort is allowed for 100% blind passengers and those with intellectual disability (IQ below 69), only when travelling with them. The digital pass costs Rs 100, needs the SADAREM ID, and your child must carry the original certificate.
Help at school
Under Samagra Shiksha, Bhavitha centres serve children with special needs, children with severe disabilities get home-based education, and transport, escort and home-based allowances are paid by DBT, according to the West Godavari district page. Ask your headteacher which centre serves your mandal. Our guide to IEP-style plans in Indian schools helps you ask for the right things.
How to apply in Andhra Pradesh, step by step
- Book a SADAREM assessment. Ask at your Swarna Grama or Swarna Wardu office how slots are being booked in your district this month, attend the assessment on the date given, and keep a copy of the certificate.
- Apply for the UDID card on swavlambancard.gov.in if one has not been generated, since other states recognise UDID.
- Submit the pension form at your Swarna Grama or Swarna Wardu office during an open window. The Digital Assistant registers it, checks eKYC and gives a system acknowledgement.
- Be home for the verification visit. Staff check documents at your house and pass the file to the MPDO or Municipal Commissioner, who recommends it to SERP.
- Collect the sanction order from the Welfare and Education Assistant once SERP approves it.
- Apply for the bus pass on the APSRTC app or Mana Mitra with the SADAREM ID and a photo.
- Apply for aids and scholarships through the district Assistant Director's office.
Documents to keep ready
- Aadhaar card (child and parent)
- Rice card or income certificate
- SADAREM certificate showing 40% or more
- UDID card or enrolment number, if you have one
- Birth certificate
- Bank passbook
- Recent passport-size photos
- School bonafide certificate for scholarships
The first three are the documents the 2026 memo lists for a disabled pension.
When an application gets stuck
If your pension application is rejected, the memo says you should receive an endorsement stating the reasons. Ask for it in writing; it tells you what to fix. For slow files, write to the MPDO or Municipal Commissioner with your acknowledgement number, then to the District Collector.
For a denial of rights, write to the State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, who can inquire into such cases under Section 80 of the RPwD Act. A 2025 RCI list gives the office as Rajanarendra Building, Yanamalakuduru Road, Krishna Nagar, Vijayawada (0866 2975602). If you disagree with the SADAREM percentage, Section 59 gives you a right to appeal; ask the assessing hospital which appellate board to approach.
Carely offers home-based speech, occupational and behaviour therapy in Bangalore, and many of our families hold certificates from other states. To see which central and state benefits your child's certificate may open, try our free disability benefits calculator, or read about our therapy services.
Comparing states? See our guides for Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Kerala, Delhi, West Bengal, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh.
Frequently asked questions
What is the AP disability pension amount in 2026?
Under G.O.Ms.No.43 of June 2024, it is Rs 6,000 a month for persons with disabilities, Rs 15,000 for the fully disabled categories and Rs 10,000 for listed chronic conditions. As of November 2026 we found no later order changing these. Confirm at your Swarna Grama or Swarna Wardu office.
Can a child get the NTR Bharosa disability pension?
The official portal says the disabled pension has no age limit, so a child with a SADAREM certificate of 40% or more can be considered, if the family meets the BPL and other rules. Ask the Welfare and Education Assistant how payment works for a minor.
Is SADAREM the same as UDID?
No. SADAREM is Andhra Pradesh's own assessment system, and state pensions and bus passes rely on it. UDID is the national card recognised across states. Many families end up with both, so ask at the assessment whether a UDID will be generated or apply on the portal yourself.
My child has thalassemia. Which pension applies?
Thalassemia is listed in the Rs 10,000 chronic disease category, along with sickle cell disease and severe haemophilia. Thalassemia is also a specified disability under the RPwD Act, so your child may qualify for other disability benefits too.
Does an autistic child get free APSRTC travel?
APSRTC decides eligibility from the disability type and percentage on SADAREM, and its page does not list autism separately. Escorts are allowed for intellectual disability with IQ below 69, which covers some autistic children. Check through the app or a bus pass counter.