When children do not look after you: maintenance and protection
When children or relatives do not look after you: who to call in danger, how to ask the Maintenance Tribunal at the RDO or Sub-Collector's office for a monthly allowance, and how to appeal to the Collector.
About this guidePending verification
Published on 12-11-2026. Not every fact has been checked against its official source yet: confirm at the office.
For whom: Senior citizens (60 or older) in Andhra Pradesh, parents of any age whose children do not look after them, and people helping them.
In an emergency, call at once
112In danger now: emergency helpline (police), toll free100Police14567Elderline: national helpline for senior citizens (toll-free)Answer the questions below first. Then the documents and steps open.
1Your situation
We show only what your answers need.
- What do you need?
- Who is applying?
Your answers stay on this phone.
Each step below says who it is for. Confirm yours at the office, then change your answer here.
2Documents you need
Tick the ones you have. They are kept in this browser.
Details
Your name, father's name, age, address and phone; the names, relationship and addresses of the children or relatives you claim from; the help you want; whether you want an interim order until the decision; the facts in order, in short; a list of the papers you attach (in duplicate). It ends with a signed declaration.
If you don't have it: Ask at the RDO or Sub-Collector's office. The rules tell the Collector to keep the forms available online or at offices people commonly go to, such as panchayat, post, mandal parishad, tahsildar, RDO and Collector's offices and police stations.
Sources: 2
Details
If the senior citizen cannot apply themself, a person they authorise or a registered voluntary organisation can apply. Their name, address and phone go in part 2 of the form.
Not confirmed: We found no set form for the authorisation in the Act or the rules; ask the RDO office what it should say.
Sources: 1, 2
Details
For example, the gift or settlement deed you made.
Not confirmed: The Act and rules do not list the papers to attach; the form only asks for a list of what you attach. This is our pointer; ask at the office.
Sources: 1, 2
Nothing to get ready before these steps.
3Your steps
· Do them in order. Tick each one when it is done.
- Do this now
Call Elderline on 14567 and tell them your problem.
It is the central government's toll-free national helpline for senior citizens.
Not confirmed
Central government replies in Parliament say Elderline gives free information, guidance and emotional support, and field help in cases of abuse; they do not give its hours. An Andhra Pradesh order of March 2026 names "Help Age India (Elder line), Andhra Pradesh". If the number does not connect, follow the steps below: they do not depend on it.
Sources: 9, 10, 11, 5
- Do this now
If your children or carers abandon you anywhere, threaten you or beat you, give a complaint at the nearest police station.
Someone who has the care of a senior citizen and leaves them somewhere, intending to abandon them for good, commits an offence under the Act (up to three months' prison, a fine up to ₹5,000, or both). The rules say the police must take steps to protect senior citizens' life and property, keep a list of senior citizens in their area, above all those living alone, and visit them regularly.
Sources: 1, 2
- Do this nowIf: A monthly allowance from my children or relatives / I gave them property on the condition they look after me, and they do not
Go to the RDO or Sub-Collector's office of your revenue division.
The Maintenance Tribunal sits there, with the RDO presiding. Get the application form (Form A). You can apply for maintenance if you cannot maintain yourself from your own earnings or property. If you could also claim maintenance through a court (Chapter IX of the Code of Criminal Procedure), you may claim under one law, not both; the form asks you to declare that no case on this is pending elsewhere.
Sources: 3, 2, 1
- Do this nowIf: A monthly allowance from my children or relatives / I gave them property on the condition they look after me, and they do not
Fill in the form: your details, the details of those you claim from, the help you need and what happened.
If you want a monthly interim allowance until the decision, ask for it in the same form; no separate application is needed. You can claim against more than one child together. In the Act, "maintenance" includes food, clothing, a place to live and medical care. "Children" here means adult sons, daughters, grandsons and granddaughters. A senior citizen without children can claim from a relative: an adult legal heir who holds their property or would inherit it.
Sources: 2, 1
- Do this nowIf: I gave them property on the condition they look after me, and they do not
In the form, also ask the Tribunal to declare void the transfer of property you made on the condition that they look after you.
Under the Act, if that condition is not kept, such a transfer is treated as made by fraud, and the Tribunal can declare it void if you ask. The Act gives this to senior citizens (60 or older), and only for transfers made after the Act came into force in the State (28 April 2008).
Not confirmed
The rules do not say whether the same Form A is used to cancel a property transfer; ask the RDO office.
Sources: 1, 2
- Do this nowIf: Someone else, or an organisation, on their behalf
If the senior citizen cannot apply themself, a person they authorise or a registered voluntary organisation can apply.
Write your name, address and phone in part 2 of the form and sign at the end as well.
Sources: 1, 2
- Do this nowIf: I gave them property on the condition they look after me, and they do notIf: Someone else, or an organisation, on their behalf
For cancelling a property transfer, the Act names only a registered voluntary organisation as able to act for a senior citizen who cannot.
Not confirmed
The rules we read do not say whether a person the senior citizen authorises may ask for this; ask the RDO office.
Sources: 1, 2
- Do this nowIf: A monthly allowance from my children or relatives / I gave them property on the condition they look after me, and they do not
Give the filled form to the Tribunal: in person, by registered post or by email.
You can file it in the district where you live (or last lived) or where the children live. Take the receipt (Form B) with the application number.
Not confirmed
Neither the Act nor the rules we read name a fee for the application; ask at the office. We did not find the Tribunals' email addresses; ask the RDO office.
Sources: 1, 2
- Do this nowIf: A monthly allowance from my children or relatives / I gave them property on the condition they look after me, and they do not
If the application is in order, the Tribunal sends the children a notice (Form C) within 7 working days and tells you the hearing date (Form D).
Attend on that day. Neither side may bring a lawyer; if you wish, the district Assistant Director for the Welfare of Differently Abled, Transgender and Senior Citizens (the Maintenance Officer) speaks for you. If both sides agree, the case goes to a Conciliation Officer, who tries to settle it within a month.
Sources: 2, 1, 5
- Do this nowIf: A monthly allowance from my children or relatives / I gave them property on the condition they look after me, and they do not
Wait for the order.
It is due within 90 days of the notice reaching the children; it can be extended once, by at most 30 days, in exceptional cases, with reasons written down. The monthly allowance is at most ₹10,000, and no more than the other side's monthly income divided by the number of people in their family (counting you). Interest (5% to 18%) can also be ordered. You get a copy of the order free. The children must deposit the amount within 30 days.
Not confirmed
The ₹10,000 ceiling is in the Act (section 9) and in rule 14 of Andhra Pradesh's 2011 rules; we found no amendment of the rules on Andhra Pradesh's government orders site. A Bill of 2019 would remove the ₹10,000 ceiling; we found no official record that it became law, and a February 2026 reply in Parliament describes the Act unchanged.
Sources: 1, 2, 12, 9
- Do this nowIf: They ill-treat me at home, or have turned me out of the house
If you are ill-treated at home or turned out of the house, tell the police and Elderline as above.
"Maintenance" includes a place to live, so if you cannot support yourself from your own earnings or property, you can apply to the Tribunal for maintenance from your children (choose "a monthly allowance" in the first question to see those steps).
Not confirmed
The Andhra Pradesh rules we read have no procedure for evicting children from a senior citizen's house, and we found no such amendment among Andhra Pradesh's orders. Ask the RDO office or the District Legal Services Authority what can be done.
Sources: 1, 2
- Do this now
For legal advice, contact the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) in your district court complex or the Mandal Legal Services Committee, or call 15100 (the NALSA helpline).
Not confirmed
The Legal Services Authority gives free legal aid to the weaker sections; ask them whether you qualify for free help.
Sources: 8
If something goes wrong
If it is rejectedIf you are not satisfied with the Tribunal's order, appeal within 60 days of the order to the Appellate Tribunal, headed by the District Collector.
If you are not satisfied with the Tribunal's order, appeal within 60 days of the order to the Appellate Tribunal, headed by the District Collector. Attach a copy of the order to the appeal form (Form I); you get a receipt with the appeal number (Form J). A late appeal can be taken if there was good reason. While the appeal goes on, the children must keep paying. The Appellate Tribunal is to try to decide within a month of receiving the appeal.
Appellate Tribunal (District Collector), Collectorate
Sources: 1, 2, 4
If it is lateIf there is no order 90 days after the notice (30 days more if extended), ask the RDO office why it is late.
If there is no order 90 days after the notice (30 days more if extended), ask the RDO office why it is late. Contact the district Assistant Director for the Welfare of Differently Abled, Transgender and Senior Citizens (the Maintenance Officer); the rules make the District Collector responsible for seeing that Tribunals decide cases in time. You can also tell Elderline on 14567.
Elderline
Sources: 1, 2, 5, 10
AlsoIf the children do not pay after the order, apply to the Tribunal within three months of the amount falling due.
If the children do not pay after the order, apply to the Tribunal within three months of the amount falling due. The Tribunal can issue a warrant to recover it, and can jail them for up to a month if they still do not pay.
Maintenance Tribunal, RDO / Sub-Collector office
Sources: 1
Related guides
The 12 official pages and papers this guide is written from
- The Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 (No. 56 of 2007)Ministry of Law and Justice (Legislative Department); copy on the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment's website, Sections 2(a), (b), (d), (g), (h); 4(1), (4); 5(1), (2), (4), (5), (8); 6(1), (6); 7(2); 9; 11(1); 12; 13; 14; 15(2); 16(1), (6); 17; 18; 23(1), (3); 24; 25(1) (29-12-2007) · read on 01-11-2026
- G.O.Ms.No.49, Dept. for WCD&SC (DW), 28-12-2011: the Andhra Pradesh Maintenance of Parents and Senior Citizens Rules, 2011Department for Women, Children, Disabled and Senior Citizens (DW), Government of Andhra Pradesh (A.P. Government Orders Issue Register; still in force: see G.O.Ms.No.9 of 2026), Rules 3, 4(1), 4(2)(b), 4(4), 4(6), 6(1)-(3), 10-11, 13(4), 14, 15, 16, 18, 20(2)(ii), 20(2)(ix), 21(1)-(2), 24; Forms A, B, I, J; Form A's declaration; the order's para 2 (the Act in force from 28-04-2008, notified by G.O.Ms.No.10 of 2008) and reads (G.O.Ms.No.27 and 28 of 2008). Andhra Pradesh's own copy, read on goir.ap.gov.in through the relay (the site times out directly); a search of the site found no amendment of these rules (Department for Women, Children, Differently Abled and Senior Citizens, 2011 to 2026) (28-12-2011) · read on 01-11-2026
- G.O.Ms.No.28, WDCW&DW (DW) Dept., 19-08-2008: Constitution of Tribunals under section 7(1) of the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007Women Development, Child Welfare and Disabled Welfare (DW) Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh (A.P. Government Orders Issue Register), Notification: a Tribunal for each sub-division, headed by the Sub-Divisional Officer (RDO), with the Assistant Director, Department for the Welfare of Disabled and Senior Citizens, as Member Convener (19-08-2008) · read on 01-11-2026
- G.O.Ms.No.27, WDCW&DW (DW) Dept., 19-08-2008: Constitution of Appellate Tribunals under section 15(1) of the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007Women Development, Child Welfare and Disabled Welfare (DW) Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh (A.P. Government Orders Issue Register), Notification: an Appellate Tribunal for each district, presided over by the District Collector, with a representative of a senior citizens' association as member and the Assistant Director as convenor (19-08-2008) · read on 01-11-2026
- G.O.Ms.No.9, 24-03-2026: The Andhra Pradesh Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Rules, 2011, Rule 22: State Council of Senior Citizens, reconstitutionDepartment for Women, Children, Differently Abled and Senior Citizens (Prog.II), Government of Andhra Pradesh (A.P. Government Orders Issue Register), Read 2 and paras 2, 4 (the 2011 Rules in force; Director, Welfare of Differently Abled, Transgender & Senior Citizens, A.P., Vijayawada); notification item iii(d) ("Help Age India (Elder line), Andhra Pradesh") (24-03-2026) · read on 01-11-2026
- Andhra Pradesh State Police Services: citizen portal (page text)Andhra Pradesh Police (Government of Andhra Pradesh), citizen services portal, Header "Emergency Helpline 112"; "Call 112 (Toll Free)" (text served from the portal's files /i18n/en.json and /i18n/te.json, keys header.emergencyHelpline and home.sos.helpline112). Read through the relay: the site timed out directly · read on 01-11-2026
- HelplineGuntur District Administration, Government of Andhra Pradesh, Police 100 (page last updated 01.08.2019) · read on 01-11-2026
- Andhra Pradesh State Legal Services Authority: home pageAndhra Pradesh State Legal Services Authority, "About APSLSA" (free legal aid to the marginalised and weaker sections; 13 District Legal Services Authorities and 145 Mandal Legal Services Committees); menu "NALSA Helpline Number 15100" · read on 01-11-2026
- Long-term care infrastructure for senior citizens (Lok Sabha reply)Press Information Bureau (Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment), Paras 6-7: Elderline (14567); Maintenance Tribunals and Appellate Tribunals, section 5(4) (03-02-2026) · read on 30-10-2026
- Welfare Initiatives for Senior Citizens (Rajya Sabha reply)Press Information Bureau (Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment), Para 3: Elderline, toll-free 14567: guidance, emotional support, information, field intervention in cases of abuse and rescues, grievance redressal (03-08-2022) · read on 30-10-2026
- Parliament Question: Welfare of Senior Citizens (Lok Sabha reply)Press Information Bureau (Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment), Elderline launched 01.10.2021; 'Other Initiatives': Tribunals (section 7), maintenance orders (section 9), abandonment punishable (sections 24-25) (03-12-2024) · read on 30-10-2026
- Explainer on senior citizens' welfare (28 October 2025)Press Information Bureau, Section on the Act: describes the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens (Amendment) Bill, 2019 and the removal of the ₹10,000 ceiling (28-10-2025) · read on 30-10-2026