GSIS announces new schedule for release of pension

MANILA, Philippines — A new schedule for the release of pensiond is being implemented by the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) to allow more pensioners to enjoy their monthly benefit. In a press statement, GSIS said that instead of the usual first banking day, monthly pensions will be credited to the eCard Plus account of pensioners on the eighth day of every month, or the next banking day, in case the eighth day falls on a weekend or holiday. The adjustment was in response to a clamor from pensioners to immediately resume the regular crediting of their pension in case their pension accounts are suspended due to their failure to renew their active status as pensioner, the statement said. “With the new schedule, those who have renewed their active status on the last week or even on the last day of the previous month will be able to receive their pension immediately the following month," it explained. “Comparatively, pension crediting on the eighth day of every month is still faster as against the old pension disbursement system through checks. Before, pensioners were forced to wait for weeks for their checks to be printed, mailed, deposited, and cleared (for three days) before they can withdraw their pension money. Pensioners likewise often fell prey to incidences of mail pilferage or lost checks. “But with their monthly pension now credited to their eCard Plus, pensioners receive their pension hassle-free. They can also use their eCard as an ATM card and withdraw their pension from any Bancnet, Megalink or Expressnet ATMs in the county," the statement said. The GSIS said it is requiring all its old-age and survivorship pensioners to renew their active status every year, during their birth month, to ensure the receipt of their monthly pension. Pensiorers renewing their active status are required to bring their eCard Plus to the nearest GSIS servicing office or the nearest government establishment installed with a GSIS Wireless Automated Processing System kiosk or G-W@PS kiosk on their birth month. “Then, they must place their eCard Plus on the card reader of the kiosk. Afterwards, they must choose the “Annual Reporting" icon using the kiosk’s touch screen and then select any pre-registered finger. Finally, they must lightly scan their finger using the fingerprint scanner of the kiosk to complete the process which takes only a few seconds to accomplish," the statement explained. GSIS pensioners can also renew their active status using any phone wherever they are through a new system called the GSIS Voice Activated Processing System or GVAPS. Pensioners can now enroll in the GVAPS in any GSIS servicing office. All they need to bring is their eCard Plus. Once enrolled, pensioners can use any phone and call the GSIS Teleservice domestic toll free number (1-800-10-847-4747 for Smart and PLDT, and 1-800-8-847-4747 for Globe numbers) to access the GVAPS. A voice prompt will guide the pensioner through the renewal process and advise him, accordingly, of the successful renewal of his active status as a GSIS pensioner, while at the comfort of his own home or anywhere else. Pensioners abroad can also renew their active status using GVAPS by calling the numbers 632-976-0860 or 632-884-7400. “The pensioner must have his eCard Plus ready whenever he accesses the GVAPS since he will be asked by the voice prompt to say his GSIS ID number, printed below his name on his eCard Plus, whenever he uses this new system," said the statement. - GMANews.TV