The Social Security System (SSS) said that a low monthly salary credit alone does not qualify a member for UPLIFT program cash aid. Workers must meet four requirements at the same time, and missing any one of them means no payout.
SSS officials gave the explanation in a video interview posted on Facebook by Alan Domingo. The speakers were Sherwin Dan Solibaga II, Senior Communications Analyst of the SSS, who is also acting as a regional communications officer, and Eric A. Coronado, Acting Vice President of the SSS Visayas Central 1 Division.
Why many members were left out
The officials said that the most common question from members at SSS branches, and from referrals by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), is why some members did not qualify despite a low monthly salary credit (MSC).
The SSS said that its role in the program is limited to identifying low-income workers who meet all four criteria set by the national government:
- Monthly salary credit: ₱20,000 for Batch 1 and ₱10,000 for Batch 2.
- CBMS inclusion: The member must be registered in the Philippine Statistics Authority’s 2024 Community-Based Monitoring System.
- SSS contributions: The member must have at least one recorded contribution in 2025 or 2026.
- DAEM enrollment: The member must have an approved bank or single savings account enrolled in My.SSS through the Disbursement Account Enrollment Module (DAEM) before the deadline. The cut-off was April 30 for Batch 1 and June 30 for Batch 2.
The SSS officials said that many applicants met the salary, contribution, and CBMS conditions but missed the DAEM deadline. Others were not part of the 2024 CBMS.
“All four criteria must be satisfied simultaneously,” Solibaga said in the interview.
Payout amounts and schedule
The program, funded by the national government and implemented by the DSWD, gives ₱2,000 per month for six months, from July to December this year.
Batch 2 members in the ₱10,000 MSC bracket received ₱8,000 starting October 30. That amount covered July to October in one lump sum.
Batch 1 members in the ₱20,000 MSC bracket first received ₱4,000. Their next ₱4,000, covering September and October, was released on November 5 and 6.
The officials said that the government budgeted for 1.5 million beneficiaries and that the quota has not yet been fully used.
No application, one payout per household
Members do not need to apply. The SSS shares its data with the PSA and the DSWD, which cross-match records and return a validated list of qualified beneficiaries. Qualified members are notified through their My.SSS accounts, and the money is credited directly.
The SSS also said only one beneficiary per household receives the aid, even when several members qualify. That person is the eldest qualified member.
“Households should not file disputes if only one person receives the benefit,” Coronado said.
Scam warning
The SSS urged members to check their status only through My.SSS and not to contact third parties or unverified channels, which could expose them to scammers.
The program runs through December, according to the officials. Members who have not received a notification can verify their status in their My.SSS accounts.
