The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said Thursday that indigent senior citizens do not need a National ID to claim their monthly social pension. Any valid government-issued ID will do, the agency said, addressing a claim that had spread widely online.
“Nais lamang po naming klaruhin na hindi National ID lang ang tinatanggap namin tuwing payout ng social pension. Maaari pong magpresenta ng kahit anong valid government-issued ID ang ating mga lolo at lola, gaya ng senior citizen card, para matanggap nila ang kanilang pension (We would just like to clarify that the National ID is not the only ID accepted during the social pension payout. Our senior citizens may present any valid government-issued ID, such as their Senior Citizen ID, to receive their pension),” DSWD spokesperson Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said in a news release.
The statement came after a Filipino vlogger based in Australia posted a claim, since viewed widely online, that DSWD was requiring the National ID before releasing pension payouts. The post had drawn more than 246,000 reactions and 52,000 comments as of writing.
Dumlao said DSWD only encourages seniors to get a National ID so they can use it for other government transactions, not for the pension itself.
“Ine-encourage lamang po natin ang mga senior citizens na kumuha ng National ID dahil kalaunan ay ito na ang gagamitin ng iba’t ibang ahensya ng gobyerno bilang pangunahin o primary ID sa pagkuha o pag-access ng serbisyo ng ating pamahalaan (We are simply encouraging senior citizens to get their National ID, as it will eventually be used by various government agencies as the primary ID to access government services),” she said.
She asked senior citizens and their families to check official DSWD channels for accurate information on pension payouts, requirements, and schedules.
The Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens (SPISC) program serves Filipinos aged 60 and above who are frail, ill, or living with a disability and have no pension or regular income. Beneficiaries currently receive ₱1,000 a month, paid out quarterly. That rate took effect in 2022 under Republic Act 11916, which doubled the previous ₱500 monthly stipend. DSWD data puts the number of indigent senior beneficiaries at more than four million nationwide.
DSWD has not indicated any other change to SPISC documentary requirements. Beneficiaries with questions about upcoming payout schedules can coordinate with their local DSWD field office or their City or Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office.
