GSIS expands Balik Ginhawa loan refunds

The Government Service Insurance System has expanded the coverage of its Balik Ginhawa program, allowing qualified members and pensioners to receive refunds equivalent to up to six months of eligible loan amortizations.

The expanded Balik Ginhawa, or Loan Moratorium Through Refund Program, covers eligible loan payments made from December 2025 to May 2026.

GSIS said the expansion is in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to deliver more responsive and meaningful government service to Filipinos.

“Patuloy na pinalalawak ng GSIS ang mga programang nagbibigay ng tunay na ginhawa sa ating mga miyembro at pensioners. Balik Ginhawa 2 was designed to give our members and pensioners additional financial breathing room. Through the enhanced program, qualified borrowers may recover up to six months of loan amortizations and use the refunded amount for their immediate needs,” GSIS President and General Manager Wick Veloso said.

The program covers active loan accounts, including housing loans.

GSIS said loans under the GSIS Ginhawa Green Loans Program are excluded from the refund coverage.

These excluded loans are the Ginhawa Solar Energy Loan and the Ginhawa Bike and E-Mobility Loan.

Qualified members and pensioners may file applications through the GSIS Touch mobile application from July 1 to Oct. 31, 2026.

Applications will cover refunds for eligible loan payments made from December 2025 to May 2026.

GSIS said any amount previously refunded under the first phase of the Balik Ginhawa Program will be deducted from the total refundable amount.

Members who received less than the full three-month refund under Balik Ginhawa 1 may still receive the remaining eligible refund for those months.

They may also receive refunds for the three additional months under the enhanced program, subject to a maximum refund equivalent to six monthly loan amortizations.

GSIS emphasized that the refund program remains voluntary.

Members and pensioners must apply through the GSIS Touch app to avail themselves of the refund.

Refunds will be credited directly to the member’s designated GSIS bank account.

The pension fund also clarified that the absence of payments for the covered months will not be treated as arrears.

“This means that qualified members who avail themselves of the program will not be penalized simply because the refunded months will reflect as unpaid. These periods are covered by the moratorium and are not treated as loan arrears,” Veloso explained.

GSIS said several accounts and borrowers are excluded from the program.

These include loan accounts already classified as Due and Demandable, or those with unpaid amortizations equivalent to more than six months.

Fully paid or renewed loan accounts are also excluded.

Members with pending or processed retirement or separation benefit claims at the time of availment are likewise not covered.

Members without a designated GSIS bank account where the refund may be credited are also excluded.

GSIS said advance payments made before a loan’s first due date are not covered.

The pension fund said these payments are treated as direct payments to the loan principal rather than monthly loan amortizations.

Members and pensioners are encouraged to check their loan status and refund eligibility through the GSIS Touch app.

GSIS said the latest updates and information on Balik Ginhawa are available through the app.

Members may also visit the official GSIS website, Facebook, and other social media pages for more information.