GSIS to release P3.3 billion cash gifts

MANILA, Philippines — The state-run Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) will release starting tomorrow a total of P3.3 billion in Christmas cash gifts to qualified pensioners.

In a statement issued over the weekend, GSIS president and general manager Rolando Macasaet said there are 330,496 old-age and disability pensioners who can expect to benefit from the bonus.

“Every year, our pensioners look forward to receiving the cash gift, which they call their Christmas bonus. Thus, we made sure that the cash gift will be credited to their electronic card (eCard) before Christmas this year, to somehow relieve them of the additional financial expenses during the Christmas season,” Macasaet pointed out.

According to GSIS, qualified pensioners who received a Christmas cash gift of P10,000 in 2019 will be granted an amount equivalent to their one-month pension, but not more than P10,000.

As for those who received above P10,000 last year, they will receive a cash gift equivalent to their one-month pension, up to a maximum of P12,600.

“Pensioners who resumed their regular monthly pension after Dec. 31, 2019 (after the five-year guaranteed period) will be given a one-month pension up to a maximum of P10,000,” the GSIS said.

Eligible to receive the Christmas cash gift are old-age and disability pensioners as defined in Republic Act 8291, Presidential Decree 1146 and RA 660, who are receiving their regular monthly pensions and still living as of Nov. 30, 2020.

The GSIS said members whose pensions were suspended before the Annual Pensioners Information Revalidation (APIR) requirement was temporarily lifted in March 2020 and are still on suspended status as of Dec. 1, 2020 will also receive the cash gift, provided they activate their status on or before June 30, 2021.

Survivorship pensioners, dependent pensioners, pensioners under RA 7699 (Portability Law), and those receiving pro-rata pension are not qualified for the Christmas cash gift.

Those who availed themselves of a five-year lump sum and will resume their regular monthly pension after Dec. 31, 2020 are also not eligible for the benefit.

“New pensioners from 2016 to 2020 who availed of immediate pension under RA 8291 are also not yet entitled to receive the cash gift. They will start receiving their Christmas cash gift five years after their retirement date,” the GSIS said.

Likewise, the GSIS said members who resigned or separated from government service before reaching 60 years old and started receiving their pension between 2016 and 2020 will only receive the cash gift five years after regularly receiving their pension.