Following the adoption of House Resolution No. 1047 of the House of Representatives’ Special Committee on Senior Citizens, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will release the social pension of indigent senior citizens every three months, instead of the current schedule of every six months, starting next year.
In 2022, beneficiaries of the Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens will receive their P500-monthly stipend on a quarterly basis with a total amount of P1,500 pursuant to the DSWD Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 16 series of 2021
The Department issued MC No. 16 to amend the schedule of distribution and some of the provisions of the ‘Omnibus Guidelines in the implementation of the Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens’. The social pension will be released to the beneficiaries through cash pay-out every January-March, April-June, July-September and October-December of each year. The payout will be facilitated by the DSWD’s Special Disbursing Officers in coordination with the respective local government units (LGUs).
Considering the current health crisis, social pension beneficiaries who are affected by the restrictions imposed by their respective LGUs are advised to send their authorized representatives to claim their stipend, provided that the representative will present the necessary documents. These include the original and photocopy of his/her valid ID; pensioner’s valid ID; authorization letter, indicating the representative’s legal name; and certification from the barangay that they are in a lockdown during the quarterly payout.
Moreover, the DSWD continues to explore other modes of delivery, such as cash cards, to fast-track the release of the social pension to the beneficiaries.
Likewise, the DSWD is currently coordinating with the Land Bank of the Philippines regarding the application, production and actual implementation of cash cards to make the release of the stipends more convenient for the senior citizens. Furthermore, the DSWD intends to engage with other service providers or payment facilities as another means of delivery of the social pension to the beneficiaries.
Meanwhile, the DSWD continues to efficiently implement the program despite the challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. As of September 2021, the Department has released the pension to more than 3.07 million beneficiaries or 80.19% of its total target of social pension beneficiaries for the year 2021.
The Department continues to support senior citizens to augment their daily subsistence and other medical needs, pursuant to Republic Act No. 9994 or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act. (DSWD)
