Poor seniors can now get pension monthly, bi-monthly, quarterly

Poor senior citizens can now receive monthly, bi-monthly, quarterly pension

, / 09:30 AM August 30, 2024

High-risk groups warned vs new COVID variants meralco franchise

SENIOR CITIZENS (INQUIRER file photo / NINO JESUS ORBETA)

MANILA, Philippines — Indigent senior citizens can now receive their pension monthly, bimonthly, and quarterly, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said on Thursday.

The previous schedule for the stipend distribution was semestral, or six months.

Article continues after this advertisement

“Secretary Rex Gatchalian instructed all the DSWD Field Offices (FOs), through the regional directors, to follow the new schedule of social pension payouts,” DSWD Spokesperson and Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said in a statement.

FEATURED STORIES

“This is to ensure that the social pension will be received by the beneficiaries more frequently, rather than every six months only,” she explained.

READ: DSWD gets P49.8B for allowance of 4 million poor seniors

Article continues after this advertisement

The new payout schedule is under a May 7 memorandum circular released to regional directors that states that “[i]f monthly releasing of stipend is not feasible, the allowed frequency of payment shall only include bi-monthly and quarterly [releases]. Semestral payment shall no longer be allowed effective July 1, 2024.”

Article continues after this advertisement

“Secretary Gatchalian’s memorandum also directed the FOs to amend all existing memorandum of agreement (MOA) with local government units (LGUs) bearing semestral payment of social pensions,” added Dumlao.

Article continues after this advertisement

Meanwhile, the directive stated that the new release schedule may be exempted if most senior citizens in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas and the municipality or area are declared under a state of calamity or crisis such as armed conflict and other unavoidable circumstances.

These cases are subject to approval and validation.

Article continues after this advertisement

In July, the agency disbursed P21.8 billion for the first half of 2024 to more than 3.7 million beneficiaries.

Eligible beneficiaries received P6,000 semestral pension or P1,000 monthly.

The increase in social pension from P500 to P1,000 was mandated by Republic Act No. 11916, or the Act Increasing the Social Pension of Senior Citizens.

READ: Marcos OKs P6.352 trillion National Expenditure Program for 2025

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

The Department of Budget and Management has recently allocated P49.8 billion for the Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens program under the 2025 National Expenditure Program.

TAGS: pension, senior citizens

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our newsletter!

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

© Copyright 1997-2024 INQUIRER.net | All Rights Reserved

This is an information message

We use cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more here.