P21.8-B social pension disbursed to indigent senior citizens in the first half of 2024 — DSWD
By ELLALYN DE VERA-RUIZ
Over 3.7 million indigent senior citizens nationwide have benefited from the social pension program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in the first half of the year, receiving a total disbursement of P21.8 billion, DSWD spokesperson Irene Dumlao said on Wednesday, July 17.
Starting in January, the DSWD began implementing the increased monthly pension of P1,000, up from the previous P500, as mandated by Republic Act (RA) 11916, or “An Act Increasing the Social Pension of Senior Citizens.”
The adjustment aims to alleviate the daily subsistence and medical needs of elderly Filipinos who qualify under RA 9994 or the “Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010.”
The social pension is distributed on a semestral basis, with beneficiaries receiving P6,000 every semester or P1,000 per month for six months.
“Seniors who are qualified to receive social pension are any elderly, aged 60 years old and above who are frail, sickly or with disability and without any pension from other government agencies,” Dumlao explained.
She added that senior citizens who lack a permanent source of income, financial assistance, or other forms of compensation to support their basic needs are also eligible to receive the social pension.