Bayan Muna Party-list, on Thursday, March 3, filed House Resolution (HR) No. 2504 initiating a House investigation into the Social Security System’s (SSS) re-implementation of the Annual Confirmation of Pensioners (ACOP) Program.

“The reimplementation of the ACOP as it is now has only caused confusion and added burden to pensioners, the elderly specially, instead of helping them in this time when the pandemic is still ongoing,” the resolution stated.
The resolution was introduced by Bayan Muna representatives Carlos Zarate, Eufemia Cullamat, and Ferdinand Gaite.
The SSS released Circular No. 2020-005 suspending the ACOP program from March 2020 to September 2021 amid Covid-19 concerns. ACOP is the SSS’ annual program requiring pensioners to inform the SSS that they have been receiving their monthly pension.
After the program’s resumption in October 2021, the SSS released another circular stating that pensioners who do not comply with ACOP until March 31, 2022 will have their pensions suspended.
According to the resolution, pensioners fear that their pensions might be suspended, forcing them to show up physically at SSS branches.
“With the seeming inadequate, or, even lack, of wide information dissemination on the reimplementation of ACOP, pensioners who are not among those required to submit ACOP compliance documents under Circular 2021-012, still, physically show up to SSS branches for ACOP compliance for fear of suspension of their SSS pension,” reads HR 2504.
Some pensioners have also alleged that the SSS has not provided means to comply with the ACOP such as the “absence of designated drop boxes at certain SSS branches.”
The SSS has responded to the lack of dropboxes for the physical submission of documents, claiming that they have begun accepting limited walk-in appointments.
Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) resolution No. 100, mandates “alternative modes of validation for senior citizen pensioners aside from personal appearances or submission of documents requiring personal appearances before a notary public.”