Dear PAO,

Our neighbor, who turned 60 a couple of months ago, is allegedly receiving a monthly pension of P1,000 as a senior citizen. My father, who is already 64, would like to avail himself of the same benefits as a senior citizen. However, since our neighbor is already bedridden, we could not get any specific information from his niece. According to our neighbor’s niece, her sister registered our neighbor in the local social welfare office. What are the specific requirements to avail of this benefit. Moreover, is this benefit applicable to all senior citizens?

Jude

Dear Jude,

With the enactment of Republic Act (RA) 11916, otherwise known as the “Act Increasing the Social Pension of Indigent Senior Citizens,” indigent senior citizens are granted a government assistance in the form of social pension in an amount not less than P1,000. To be certain, Section 5 of RA 11916 states:

“Section 5. Government Assistance. – The government shall provide the following:

“x x x

“(h) Additional Government Assistance

“(1) Mandatory Social Pension Indigent senior citizens shall be entitled to a monthly stipend amounting to not less than One thousand pesos (P1,000.00) to augment the daily subsistence and other medical needs of senior citizens.

“The DSWD shall, subject to the approval of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), in consultation with other stakeholders, review and, when necessary, adjust the amount of the social pension every two (2) years after the effectivity of this Act, taking into account the present consumer price index as published by the PSA and relevant economic indicators, as reported and published by pertinent government agencies and authorities. x x x” (Emphasis supplied)

As abovementioned, not all senior citizens are entitled to this social pension. This benefit is only intended for indigent senior citizens. Nevertheless, the grant is applicable nationwide. Section 4 of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA 11916 defines who are indigent senior citizens, and Section 7 provides the scope of the pension:

“SECTION 4. Definition of Terms. – For purposes of these Rules, the terms are defined as follows:

“x x x

“c) Indigent Senior Citizen – refers to any elderly/older person who is frail, sickly, or with disability, and without any pension or permanent source of income, compensation or financial assistance from his/her relatives to support his/her basic needs, as determined by the NCSC or, pending transfer of the Social Pension Program to the latter, by the DSWD, in consultation with the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

“x x x

“SECTION 7. Scope and Coverage. – The revised Social Pension for indigent senior citizens shall be implemented nationwide and shall consider the priorities, conditions and eligibility criteria of senior citizens and subject to the funds to be allocated and disbursed by the Department of Budget Management (DBM).” (Emphasis supplied)

Accordingly, your father may only avail of the social pension if, apart from being 60 years old or above, he is frail, sickly, or with a disability, and he does not receive any pension or permanent source of income, compensation,, or financial assistance from his relatives to support his basic needs.

We hope that we were able to answer your queries. This advice is based solely on the facts you have narrated and our appreciation of the same. Our opinion may vary when other facts are changed or elaborated.

Editor’s note: Dear PAO is a daily column of the Public Attorney’s Office. Questions for Chief Acosta may be sent to [email protected]