The “Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010,” also known as Republic Act No. 9994, establishes a system of legal protections for the elderly by increasing the amount of government aid available to them through the Social Pension Program for Indigent Senior Citizens (SPISC). The goal of this program is to help supplement the daily sustenance and other medical needs of the recipients by providing an additional Five Hundred Pesos (PhP500.00) stipend to eligible low-income senior adults each month.
Since 2011, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the country’s primary social welfare and development agency, has been implementing the SPISC through its Field Offices (FOs), to provide the stipend to its recipients most efficiently and cost-effectively possible.
What Is DSWD Social Pension Program
With the Social Pension Program for Indigent Senior Citizens (SPISC), low-income retirees can receive a monthly stipend of Five Hundred Pesos (P500.00) to help cover basic living expenses and medical costs.
Republic Act 9994, also known as the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010, established the program in 2011. Those who are elderly, disabled, or otherwise unable to work and who are not receiving a pension from a private company or the government are the program’s intended recipients.
From 2011-2014, only participants aged 77 and over were eligible for the program; in 2015, the minimum age limit was lowered to 65. In 2016, the program is available to low-income seniors aged 60 and up.
If you are a senior citizen and you do not currently receive benefits but you meet the eligibility requirements, you can apply to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) at the OSCA, the City/Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office, or the DSWD Regional Office. The Senior Citizen or his or her representative should provide his or her OSCA ID and birth certificate or other official document proving his or her date of birth. The prospective social pensioner will be evaluated using the above factors.
Benefits
- Open to all local seniors who have signed up for it
- The pension, which is paid out every six (6) months at a rate of Php 500.00, is intended to supplement the daily sustenance needs of older residents as well as other medical expenses.
- Applied on a national scale, with a focus on serving low-income residents.
- The City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) or the Office of Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) are the appropriate places to apply (OSCA).
- Assist low-income seniors who are at risk of being mistreated or going without necessities.
- Reducing the prevalence of senior hunger is a priority.
Qualifications
From 2011-2014, only participants aged 77 and over were eligible for the program; in 2015, the minimum age limit was lowered to 65. In 2016, the program is available to low-income seniors aged 60 and up.
If a senior citizen applies for the Social Pension Program but isn’t on the master list, the SPPMO will forward their information to the appropriate OSCA or DSWD FO for review.
Acceptability Conditions
Older adults aged 60 and up who are
- Weakened by illness or infirmity;
- There is no public or private pension available;
- Having no reliable means of support; and
- lacks a consistent social network to provide for his or her needs and wants.
Requirements
If a legal guardian or other authorized person is to collect the stipend, he or she will need to provide the following information:
- Completed All Required Authorization and Certification
- The Beneficiary’s Photocopied OSCA ID
- Valid photo identification of the Claimant
- Proof of Existence Certificate
The claimant must provide the following for beneficiaries who have passed away:
- Death Certificate (Original or Certified True Copy)
- Full Guarantee and Waiver of Liability
- A copy of the beneficiary’s OSCA ID
- A photocopy of the claimant’s identification
If the beneficiary were to pass away at any time during the semester, his or her designated agent would still be entitled to the full amount of the stipend for the semester.
Procedure
To get cash aid for seniors, please complete the steps outlined below.
Step 1: Seniors can get more information about this program at any of the DSWD Field Offices or City/Municipality Social Welfare Offices (C/MSWDO and Office of the Senior Citizens Affair (OSCA)). Both of these organizations are tasked with ensuring that citizens of their respective jurisdictions have access to social welfare programs.
Step 2: After reviewing the application for the city’s master list of poor old people, the applicant or their authorized representative will be notified.
Step 3: After the documentation is completed, pension recipients will be notified of the distribution date, time, and location. Pensioners or their representatives must display valid identification upon payout.
Video: The Monthly Social Pension For Poor Senior Citizens Is Set At Php 1,000.00
Here’s the video about the program.
According to the video, a monthly social pension rise of PHP 1,500.00 was advocated for and ultimately vetoed by the government a few years ago. A much-needed and positive change is the agreed increase in the monthly social pension from 500 to 1,000 pesos.
However, the gain is lower than many had hoped for. It was decided by the House of Representatives to double the monthly pension from 1,000 to 2,000 pesos. Given that these are the poorest people in our society. They will not be compensated more than this amount.
However, many of them must also earn a living and pay for their kids’ education. Therefore, the government needs to provide aid in the form of grants and scholarships for higher education.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is Social Pension?
Social Pension is a government assistance program that gives senior adults a monthly cash stipend of P500 to help them get by. The Department of Health and Human Services is in charge of its administration (DSWD).
2. What Are The Qualifications For A Senior Citizen?
Older adults aged 60 and up who are:
- The elderly, the sick, and the disabled:
- There is no public or private pension available;
- The lack of a reliable income: and
- lacks a consistent social network to provide for his or her needs and wants.
3. Who Notifies The Municipality Of The Payout?
The distribution schedule will be determined through collaboration between the DSWD Field Office and the local government’s social welfare and development department.
4. What Happens To The Beneficiary’s Payments In The Event Of His Death?
The beneficiary will get the full amount of the semester’s stipend even if he or she passes away at any time throughout the semester.
5. Can Retirees Qualify For A Social Pension?
According to the DSWD, the 2010 Republic Act on Social Pension is only applicable to the “poorest of the poor” or impoverished older citizens.
6. What Factors Establish A Person’s, Financial Standing?
Social welfare and development departments within municipal or city halls that administer the social pension scheme are crucial to a community’s economic position.
7. Is There A Database Of Older Citizens That LGUs Keep?
To better serve its senior citizens, LGUs must keep track of all of them in a central database. In addition, they should work together with long-term care facilities to ensure the database is always current.
Summary
One of the most underserved demographics, the elderly, requires unique consideration and care. Most of the time, they are abandoned by their relatives and forced to fend for themselves.
The Department of Social and Welfare Services (DSWD) runs a specific initiative to help them out. They receive monetary aid from the government, which they can use to provide for their families. If we take good care of our elderly population, they will be able to live healthy and useful lives well into their dotage. Also, this will make sure they can keep making positive contributions to the world at large and the economy.
By reading this, we hope you’ll have a better understanding of the government’s programs for the elderly. To find out more about DSWD’s program, check out their website.