GSIS to send P3.93-B cash gifts

THE Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) on Thursday disburses P3.93 billion in Christmas cash gifts to eligible pensioners, including pro-rate pensioners and retirees.

This year’s coverage has been expanded to include pro-rata pensioners and retirees under Republic Act (RA) No. 7699, the Portability Law, for the first time.

“We want our pensioners to feel valued and supported, especially during the Christmas season,” GSIS President and General Manager Jose Arnulfo “Wick” Veloso said in a statement.

“That is why we expanded the coverage of the Christmas cash gift to include an additional 14,992 pro-rata and Portability Law pensioners, who were previously excluded from this annual benefit,” he added.

Those considered pro-rata pensioners are members who have rendered at least 15 years of service but with less than 15 years of paid premiums.

Meanwhile, Portability Law pensioners are those whose contributions to GSIS and the Social Security System were combined to qualify for social insurance benefits.

The cash gift, which will be automatically credited to the GSIS ATM accounts of eligible pensioners, is equivalent to one month’s pension or P10,000, whichever is lower, the state insurer said.

To give more time for pensioners to prepare for the holidays, the GSIS will also credit the December monthly pension earlier, moving it to Dec. 5 from the regular schedule on Dec. 8.

Overall, those eligible to receive the cash gift are old-age, retirement, and disability pensioners under RA 8291, RA 660, RA 7699, and Presidential Decree 1146 who are in active status, receiving their regular or pro-rata monthly pension, and are living as of Nov. 30.

In addition, the GSIS also urges pensioners to comply with the Annual Pensioners’ Information Revalidation (APIR).

Those with suspended pensions due to APIR noncompliance as of Dec.31 may still claim their cash gift once their status is reactivated. — Aubrey Rose A. Inosante