List of Senior Citizen Benefits in the Philippines Filipinos Must Be Aware Of
SENIOR CITIZEN BENEFITS PHILIPPINES – Here is a guide on the privileges for people who are 60 years old and up in the country.
Old age comes to a lot of people. Upon hitting 60, one is considered a senior citizen in the Philippines. It is also the retirement age in the country and the government recognizes that some people may not be earning the same already after leaving the field of employment.
To help the senior citizens, several laws and programs were passed to ensure that there are a lot of privileges for the individuals who are aged 60 and above. Among these are the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010 and the DOA and DSWD Joint Administrative Order No. 10-02, s. 2010.
The senior citizen benefits include discounts, VAT exemptions, and a lot of other privileges that you can check below.
Here are the Senior Citizen benefits in the Philippines:
Under the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010
- Income tax exemption for senior citizens who are minimum wage earners
- Free flu and pneumococcal vaccinations for indigent senior citizens
- Training fee exemption on socio-economic programs
- Retirement benefits from the Social Security System (SSS Retirement Benefits), Government Service Insurance System (GSIS Retirement Benefits), and Pag-IBIG
- Free medical and dental services in government facilities
- Discounts in special programs for senior citizens
- Scholarships and financial assistance for seniors’ education in public and private schools
- Express lanes for senior citizens in all government offices and commercial establishments
20% Discount and Vat Exemption
Under the Republic Act No. 9994, individuals who are aged 60 and above are entitled to a 20% discount and a Value Added Tax (VAT) exemption on the purchase of the following in both cash and credit card payments:
- Professional fees of doctors, attending physicians and licensed health workers
- Medical supplies and equipment: Eyeglasses, wheelchairs, hearing aids, crutches, dentures, etc.
- Restaurants: Food, beverages,and other consumables for dine-in, take-out, drive-thru, and delivery orders
- Medicines: Generic and branded medicines, vitamins, and mineral supplements provided that they are prescribed by the doctor
- Medical and dental services in private facilities: Lab tests such as blood tests, x-rays, etc.
- Hotels: Accommodation and amenities in hotels, beach resorts, mountain resorts, etc.
- Public land transportation fares: Jeepneys, taxis, buses, shuttle services, MRT, LRT, PNR, etc.
- Domestic air and sea travel fares as AirAsia, Cebu Pacific, and Philippine Airlines implement the 20% senior citizen discount and VAT exemption for online bookings
- Places of leisure: Cinemas, parks, theaters, museums, concert halls, etc.
- Recreation centers: Rental and other fees for sports facilities like badminton courts, gyms, tennis courts, ballroom dancing studios, bowling lanes, etc.
- Funeral and burial services for deceased senior citizens: hospital morgue, embalming, casket or urn, cremation, etc.
Under the DOA and DSWD Joint Administrative Order No. 10-02, s. 2010
Also part of the senior citizen benefits is a special 5% without VAT exemption on selected grocery items through the joint effort of the Department of Agriculture (DOA) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development such as the purchase of the following:
- Rice, bread, and corn
- Fresh eggs
- Chicken, beef, and pork (fresh, canned, and processed)
- Fresh fruits and vegetables
- Coffee, creamer, and sugar
- Cooking oil and salt
- Garlic and onions
- Fresh milk and other dairy products
- Noodles, canned sardines, and canned tuna
- Detergents
- Geriatric diapers
- Electrical supplies, light bulbs, and batteries
Senior citizens are also granted a PhilHealth coverage in addition to the 20% discount and the VAT exemption which will be deducted first from the bill in the event of hospital confinement.
Under Republic Act No. 10868, also known as the Centenarians Act of 2016
The government also provides cash benefits for senior citizens who will reach 100 years old. Each senior citizen aged 100 is entitled to a cash incentive of ₱100,000.
Under the SSS Benefits
A Social Security System member may not only qualify to the SSS Retirement Benefit in the event of retirement from work and the SSS Death Benefit in the event of passing away but as well as the SSS Funeral Benefit. It was designed to financially assist the family in the burial expenses. It may range from Php 20,000 up to Php 40,000.
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