A proposed measure in the House of Representatives seeks to remove the indigency requirement for senior citizens to qualify for a monthly social pension under House Bill No. 1296, or the “Universal Social Pension Act,” making all seniors eligible regardless of financial status.
HB 1296 aims to amend Republic Act No. 9994, or the “Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010,” which currently requires seniors to be classified as indigent before receiving monthly pension benefits. Under the existing law, only indigent seniors—those without regular income or sufficient financial support—receive a ₱1,000 monthly allowance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
With HB 1296, all Filipinos will automatically qualify for the pension upon reaching 60 years old.
According to Section 3 of the bill, the monthly stipend will be distributed through the mode most convenient to beneficiaries, whether by cash, direct remittance, or electronic transfer.
“The monthly stipend shall be released to target beneficiaries either in cash, direct remittance, electronic transfer, or other modes of delivery, whichever is more practical and acceptable to the beneficiary,” the proposal states.
Seniors are advised to present their National ID when claiming their pension.
Section 6 of the bill also proposes transferring the implementation and distribution of the pension from the DSWD to the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC).
“The DSWD, and thereafter upon full transfer of its functions and programs to the NCSC, with the assistance of the PSA through community-based monitoring system established under Republic Act No. 11315, otherwise known as the ‘Community-Based Monitoring System Act,’ and validation by the LGUs, shall prepare the list of target beneficiaries which shall be updated and validated annually,” the bill further states.
Overall, Las Piñas City Lone District Representative Mark Anthony Santos emphasized that HB 1296 aims to ease the heavy medical and daily expenses often faced by senior citizens.