GSIS improves guidelines for total disability claims

MANILA, Philippines — State-run Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) has improved the guidelines on the evaluation and processing of permanent total disability (PTD) claims, its top official said.

“We had to refine our policies on PTD to upgrade the protection given to government workers whose job is hindered by nonwork-related illnesses or injuries,” GSIS president and general manager Jesus Clint Aranas said.

The new guidelines provides additional compensable illnesses under PTD coverage.

GSIS said members may apply for PTD benefits if their sickness or injury permanently incapacitates them to continue working, which results in loss of income.

Under the revised guidelines, PTD disabilities include complete loss of sight of both eyes; loss of two limbs at or above the ankle or wrist; permanent complete paralysis of two limbs that results in total loss of voluntary movement of legs or arms; and brain injury that lead to incurable imbecility, insanity, or physical incapacitation.

Claimants must submit their application for PTD to the state fund within four years from the date of their disability.

The processing time for PTD claims was also shortened to 15 calendar days from 60 calendar days upon submission of complete documents.

Disability pensioners must submit annually a filled-out medical progress report (MPR) to prove their status and medical condition, thus ensuring continuous This is with the exception of pensioners who are at least 60 years old and had rendered at least 15 years of service in government, who will be automatically scheduled for home visits under the GSIS annual pensioners’ information revalidation (APIR) program.

GSIS is a social insurance institution that provides insurance and loan products to government workers.

As of November 2017, earnings of GSIS jumped 52.52 percent to P84.15 billion.

Total assets rose eight percent to P1.09 trillion. About 62 percent of this are invested in financial assets, 24 percent in loans to GSIS members, six percent in investment properties, four percent in cash, and four percent in property, equipment and other assets.