SSS extends proof-of-life compliance deadline to June 30

MANILA, Philippines—The state-run pension fund Social Security System (SSS) has extended the deadline to comply with the proof-of-life scheme covering some pensioner-beneficiaries by three more months.

Instead of today’s (March 31) deadline, the cut-off date for 2021 compliance with the annual confirmation of pensioners’ program (Acop) was moved to June 30, SSS president and chief executive Michael Regino said in a statement.

“The extension aims to give those who have not yet complied with Acop more time to do so for them to avoid the suspension of their monthly pensions,” Regino said. Prior to this extended deadline, the SSS had warned that non-compliance with Acop would lead to temporary suspension of pensioners’ benefits starting May this year.

Acop covers retirement pensioners who live overseas, total disability pensioners, survivor (death) pensioners, and dependent (minor or incapacitated) pensioners.

Since 2017, retirement pensioners living in the Philippines had been exempted from complying with Acop, which was started in 2012 to ensure that the SSS’s pensioner-beneficiaries were still alive and enjoying their benefits.

Before the pandemic, pensioners had been required to show up at SSS branches during their birth month. But with the “new normal” wrought by COVID-19, the SSS now allows complying with Acop online or through home visits for those with disability.

“Originally, we have given covered pensioners a period of six months from October 1 of last year to comply with Acop for calendar year 2021. But in view of the restrictions that were implemented at some point earlier this year due to the Omicron variant along with other considerations, we decided to extend the deadline for another three months or until June 30,” Regino said.

“We urge those who have not yet complied with the program to submit their compliance immediately for them to not miss the new deadline. We have various methods for compliance that we developed with the utmost consideration for their safety and convenience,” Regino added.

TSB