By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has announced that senior citizens will need to present their National ID as primary identification to claim their social pension starting April 1.
However, those who haven’t secured their National ID yet can still use other government-issued IDs, such as Voter’s ID, Driver’s License, or OSCA ID.
The DSWD has clarified that alternative IDs will be accepted for beneficiaries who haven’t received their National ID. These include Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) ID, Passport, Tax Identification Number (TIN) ID, and other government-issued IDs with name, photo, and address.
This aims to ensure uninterrupted access to social pension benefits for indigent senior citizens.
The Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens provides a monthly stipend of P1,000 to elderly individuals who are frail, sickly, or without regular income or family support.
The program is part of the government’s efforts to support vulnerable senior citizens, and the DSWD has increased the budget allocation for this program to P51.8 billion in 2026.
To facilitate registration, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) will conduct home visits for bedridden seniors and set up registration booths during pension payout activities.
The DSWD encourages beneficiaries to register for their National ID to ensure efficient service.
DSWD Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao emphasized that the department remains flexible in implementing the new requirement to ensure eligible seniors receive their benefits without difficulty.
The social pension aims to help seniors meet their daily subsistence and medical needs, contributing to a more dignified life.
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