GSIS releases PHP 3.93B Christmas cash gift to pensioners

The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) disbursed PHP 3.93 billion in Christmas cash gifts on Dec. 4 to 411,692 eligible pensioners, expanding its annual benefit to include two additional groups for the first time: pro-rata pensioners and those who retired under the Portability Law (Republic Act 7699).

The move marks a significant policy shift by the state-run pension fund, which previously excluded these categories from the holiday cash benefit. An estimated 14,992 additional pensioners are now covered under the new policy.

“We want our pensioners to feel valued and supported, especially during the Christmas season,” said GSIS President and General Manager Wick Veloso.

“That is why we expanded the coverage of the Christmas cash gift to include an additional 14,992 pro-rata and Portability Law pensioners, who were previously excluded from this annual benefit.”

Pro-rata pensioners are individuals who have at least 15 years of government service but less than 15 years of paid premiums.

Portability Law pensioners are those whose contributions to both the GSIS and the Social Security System (SSS) were combined to meet the minimum qualification requirements for social insurance benefits.

Eligible pensioners include old-age, retirement, and disability pensioners under RA 8291, RA 660, RA 7699, and Presidential Decree 1146, who are in active status, receiving their regular or pro-rata monthly pension, and are confirmed alive as of Nov. 30, 2025.

Each qualified pensioner will receive a cash gift equivalent to one month’s pension or PHP 10,000—whichever amount is lower.

To further support pensioners during the holidays, GSIS has advanced the crediting of the December monthly pension to Dec. 5, ahead of its usual release date of Dec. 8.

All Christmas cash gifts are automatically credited to the GSIS ATM accounts of eligible recipients.

The pension fund also reminded pensioners to complete their Annual Pensioners’ Information Revalidation (APIR). Pensioners whose accounts are suspended due to non-compliance as of Dec. 31, 2025 may still claim their Christmas cash gift once their pension status is reactivated.

GSIS said APIR can be conveniently completed anytime through the facial recognition feature of the GSIS Touch mobile app.

Not eligible for the 2025 Christmas cash gift are survivorship and dependent pensioners; those who availed of the five-year lump sum and will resume monthly pensions after Dec. 31, 2025; and retirees from 2021 to 2025 under RA 8291 who chose the 18× cash payment plus immediate life pension (eligible after five years).

Also excluded are members who were separated from service between 2006 and 2025 before age 60 and started receiving regular pension between 2021 and 2025—they, too, become eligible only after five years as regular pensioners.