SSS members earning below P10k to get UPLIFT aid starting October 30 — DSWD

Social Security System (SSS) members whose monthly salary credit falls below P10,000 will now be included as beneficiaries of the United Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT) program, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said Monday.

DSWD spokesperson Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said the newly included group of beneficiaries will receive four tranches of UPLIFT assistance, amounting to P8,000, starting October 30, 2026.

“Dati, ang binibigyan lang natin ng tulong ay iyong SSS [member] na may monthly salary credit na hindi hihigit sa P20,000, ngayon, nag-include tayo. In coordination with SSS… iyon naman pong hindi hihigit sa P10,000, ang monthly salary credit ay makakatanggap na rin ng UPLIFT assistance,” Dumlao said on Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon.

(Previously, the only assistance recipients were SSS members with a monthly salary credit not exceeding P20,000. Now, we have expanded our coverage. In coordination with the SSS, those with a monthly salary credit not exceeding P10,000 will also receive UPLIFT assistance.)

Similar to other SSS members under the UPLIFT Program, the new group will also receive their cash aid via their SSS disbursement accounts.

The UPLIFT Program was expanded earlier this year to extend financial assistance to indigent Filipinos affected by rising fuel prices due to the Middle East conflict.

Prior to this announcement, the UPLIFT Program had three beneficiary categories:

1. Group 1 beneficiaries: Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and the Walang Gutom Program members
2. Group 2 beneficiaries: Poor households that are not 4Ps members, and refer to 'near-poor' households that are just slightly above or 25% above the poverty line.
3. Group 3 beneficiaries: SSS members whose monthly salary credit is P20,000 and below.

Groups 2 and 3 beneficiaries are set to receive P2,000 until December 2026, while Group 1 beneficiaries will only receive a one-time additional assistance of P2,000 as well.

According to the DSWD, the third and fourth tranches (amounting to P4,000) for Groups 2 and 3 beneficiaries will be credited to their respective accounts and modes of payment starting in November.

“Iyon pong third and fourth tranche, so that’s equivalent to P4,000, ay maiki-credit na po simula November 6 sa mga GCash account or electronic wallets… In case, na mayroon pa rin pong mga beneficiary under Group 2 na hindi pa nakapag-create ng electronic wallets, hintayin ninyo po ang abiso mula sa inyong mga local government units on the conduct or the schedule of the manual payout,” Dumlao said.

(As for the third and fourth tranches, which are equivalent to P4,000, these will be credited starting November 6 to GCash accounts or electronic wallets... In case there are still beneficiaries under Group 2 who have not yet created electronic wallets, please wait for announcements from your respective local government units regarding the schedule of manual payouts.)

Cash aid will be credited to electronic wallets starting November 6, while manual payouts will run from November 2 to November 30, according to the DSWD.

“Now, for Group 3 naman, iyong mga SSS members, ang inyong third and fourth tranche, ikatlo at ikaapat na bahagi, that’s also equivalent to P4,000, ay iki-credit na rin sa inyong SSS disbursement accounts simula November 6, so antabayanan ninyo po,” Dumlao said.

(Now, for Group 3 beneficiaries, your third and fourth tranches, which are also equivalent to 4,000 pesos, will likewise be credited to your SSS disbursement accounts starting November 6.)

The DSWD said that for the second tranche of the UPLIFT program, close to 1.5 million beneficiaries have already received their P2,000 cash aid, with payouts still ongoing in some areas. —RF, GMA News