Sourced from the SSS by Tracy Cabrera
EAST AVENUE, Quezon City — Certainly welcome news in these times of financial difficulty compounded by the prevailing energy crisis, the Social Security System (SSS) has announced that it has advanced the implementation of pension reforms to help beneficiaries cope with the impact of rising living costs and higher energy prices.
According SSS president and chief executive officer Robert Joseph De Claro, the second tranche of adjustments under the Pension Reform Program (PRP) was rolled out on June 1 instead of September, allowing millions of pensioners to receive higher monthly benefits sooner.
Before this, Finance Secretary Frederick Go had ordered the release ahead of schedule to support millions of pensioners and their families, helping them meet their daily needs and enjoy greater financial security sooner.
CEO De Claro disclosed that they would release approximately ₱6 billion from June to August 2026 as a result of the accelerated rollout.
“With the early implementation, we hope to provide timely relief to our pensioners and their families as they continue to face everyday financial challenges,” he enthused.
“Around 4.1 million pensioners across various categories, including retirees, persons with disabilities and survivor beneficiaries, are expected to benefit from the higher payouts,” he added.
Under the pension hike, retirement and disability pensioners will get a 10-percent increase while death and survivor pensioners will get a 5-percent increase. Pensioners as of May 31, 2026, qualify for the increase, the SSS said.
Members, meanwhile, whose pension contingencies occur between June 1 and Aug. 31, 2026, will begin receiving the higher pensions starting Sept. 1.
“The accelerated rollout comes at a time when many Filipino households continue to grapple with elevated prices of basic goods and services as well as higher utility and energy costs,” De Claro pointed out.
“We recognize that rising prices and economic uncertainty continue to place pressure on Filipino families and businesses.
“Through the PRP, SSS ensures that our pensioners have access to timely, affordable and reliable financial support when they need it most,” he continued.
Looking back, the SSS introduced its first-ever annual pension increase in 2025, under which retirement and disability pensions would rise by 10 percent and survivor pensions would increase by 5 percent yearly up to 2027.
The agency disbursed ₱304.94 billion in pensions and benefits to 5.66 million members nationwide last year.
ia/xf
