SSS members earning less than P10k to receive UPLIFT aid

MANILA—Active members of the Social Security System (SSS) with monthly salary credit not exceeding P10,000 will receive financial assistance beginning October 30 as fuel prices continue to soar, the Department of Social Welfare and Development said on Monday.

DSWD Spokesperson Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said a total of P8,000 aid will be received by qualified beneficiaries through their disbursement accounts. 

“Kasi dati, ang binibigyan lang natin ng tulong ay ‘yung SSS na may monthly salary credit na hindi hihigit sa P20,000. Ngayon, nag-include tayo,” Dumlao said in an interview with state-run media PTV on Monday, October 26. 

“In coordination with SSS, nag-coordinate tayo sa kanila, at ‘yun naman pong hindi hihigit sa P10,000 ang monthly salary credit ay makakatanggap na rin ng UPLIFT assistance. Ito ay upang mapalawig pa ang ating beneficiaries,” she added. 

The cash aid is part of the Unified Package for Livelihood, Industry, Food and Transport (UPLIFT) program to 7.5 million poor and low-income Filipinos to cushion the impact of heightened tensions between the United States and Iran.

Group 3 or SSS members with monthly salary credit not exceeding P20,000 received the second tranche last October 23 and 24.

The third and fourth tranches worth P4,000 for Groups 2 or individuals considered ‘near poor’ will be credited to their electronic wallets beginning November 6. 

“Just in case na meron pa ring beneficiary under Group 2 na hindi pa nakapag-create ng electronic wallets, hintayin niyo po ang abiso mula sa inyong local government unit on the conduct or schedule of the manual payout,” the DSWD official noted. (TC FOR TVP: 12:19 on crawler) 

The manual payout will happen between November 2 and 30.

The same amount will also be credited to the SSS disbursement accounts of Group 3 beneficiaries starting November 6.