Indigent elderly Filipinos do not need a National ID to receive their social pension, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) clarified, debunking a viral online post that claimed the card was mandatory.
DSWD Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao explained that disbursing officers will honor various official government identification cards, including the senior citizen card, to distribute the monetary aid.
While the National ID is recognized as a valid credential, the department emphasized that it is not the sole acceptable document for pension release.
“Ine-encourage lamang po natin ang mga senior citizens na kumuha ng National ID dahil kalaunan ay ito na ang gagamitin ng iba’t ibang ahensya ng gobyerno bilang pangunahin o primary ID sa pagkuha o pag-access ng serbisyo ng ating pamahalaan,” Dumlao said.
Under the Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens program, eligible beneficiaries—specifically those who are sickly, disabled, frail, or lacking regular family financial aid—receive a monthly allowance of ₱1,000.
The DSWD advised the public to verify guidelines through legitimate government platforms to avoid falling for misinformation regarding welfare programs.