Can both spouses who are government employees claim HRA? Finance Ministry clarifies

The Centre has clarified that House Rent Allowance (HRA) is not admissible where both spouses are Central Government employees stationed at the same station and either is allotted Government accommodation.

The clarification came in a written reply by Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Choudhary to an unstarred question in the Rajya Sabha on August 4.

Rajya Sabha MP Sumitra Balmik sought to know:

(a) the rationale underlying the existing policy whereby House Rent Allowance is deducted from both the spouses when both are Government servants and are residing together in accommodation allotted by the Government;

(b) whether the Government has received any representations from Government employees or their service associations seeking reconsideration of this policy, and if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government proposes to review the policy so as to make it more equitable for couples where both spouses are in Government service; and

(d) if so, the details thereof.

Replying to the question, Choudhary said, "House Rent Allowance is granted to Central Government employees who are not provided with Government accommodation, to compensate them for expenditure incurred on hiring residential accommodation."

He further said, "Where both spouses are Government employees stationed at the same station and either is allotted Government accommodation, the family is considered to have been provided with Government accommodation. Consequently, no expenditure is incurred by the other spouse on accommodation. Hence, the HRA is not admissible to them."

On whether the Government has received any representations from Government employees or their service associations seeking reconsideration of this policy, the minister replied, "No."

On whether the Government proposes to review the policy so as to make it more equitable for couples where both spouses are in Government service, Choudhary replied, "No."

In reply to whether the Government had received any representations from Government employees or their service associations seeking reconsideration of the policy, the minister said, "No."