The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) reiterated on Monday (June 30) the criteria to qualify for the agency’s Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens Program or SocPen.
“Ulitin po natin na tanging mga senior citizen na mahihirap, may sakit, mahina, o may kapansanan at walang tinatanggap na pension, tulong mula sa kapamilya, o permanenteng pinagkakakitaan para masuportahan ang kanyang pang-araw araw na pangangailangan ang maaaring tumanggap ng buwanang pension sa ilalim ng Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens mula sa DSWD,” Assistant Secretary Ada Colico of the DSWD’s Protective Programs said.
Asst. Secretary Colico said the SocPen is a program under Republic Act No. 9994 or the “Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010” which provides a monthly stipend amounting to Php500 to indigent senior citizens to augment their daily subsistence and medical needs.
With the enactment of Republic Act No. 11916 also known as “An Act Increasing the Social Pension of Senior Citizens,” which lapsed into law in July 2022, eligible indigent senior citizens now receive a monthly stipend of Php1,000 from the previous Php500 per month starting January 2024. The amount is distributed to the beneficiaries on a monthly, bi-monthly, or quarterly basis.
“In a May 2024 DSWD memorandum circular to all regional directors, it was emphasized that if monthly releasing of stipend is not feasible, the allowed frequency of payment shall only include bi-monthly and quarterly releasing,” Asst. Secretary Colico pointed out.
The law, which is currently being implemented by the DSWD, covers a total of 4,085,066 qualified “indigent” senior citizens and not yet to all senior citizens in the country which is considered the “universal coverage”.
“We would like to explain that the DSWD’s SocPen program is different from the Universal Social Pension Bill,” Asst. Secretary Colico said.
The DSWD official advised the public to disregard social media contents mentioning that all Filipino seniors, rich or poor, are entitled to receive social pension because these are not true.
“Some posts contain information that may mislead the public, especially the vulnerable. Again, the DSWD would like to reiterate to only refer to our official social media accounts and website,” Asst. Secretary Colico said. (MBM/YADP)