Christmas comes early for GSIS, SSS members through cash gifts, simpler maternity claims rules

A few days before Christmas Day, the government through two state-run pension funds will release cash gifts to retired public servants as well as ease requirements for maternity benefits being enjoyed by private employees.

In a statement on Monday, Dec. 9, the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) said P3.12 billion in Christmas cash gifts will be given beginning Dec. 15 to old-age and disability pensioners.

“We know that our 324,348 pensioners are looking forward to the GSIS Christmas cash gift which they fondly call their Christmas bonus,” said GSIS chair Rolando Macasaet.

Pensioners with cash gifts above P10,000 will get P12,000, equivalent to one month pension, to P12,600.

Pensioners with cash gifts of P10,000 and below will get one month pension of a maximum P10,000.

Macasaet, however, said the following were not qualified to get any Christmas cash gift: basic survivorship pensioners; dependent pensioners; pensioners under Republic Act No. 7699 or the Portability Law; as well as those currently receiving pro-rata pension.

The Social Security System (SSS) said in a separate statement Monday that receipt and processing of maternity benefit claims were made easier to comply with RA 11210 or the 105-Day Expanded Maternity Leave Law, under additional guidelines recently released by the state-run pension fund.

“For cesarean deliveries, additional documents indicating the type of delivery will no longer be required,” the SSS said.

Edited by TSB