Government Service Insurance System president and general manager Rolando Ledesma Macasaet said the pension fund now allows online reporting by pensioners as an alternative method to the yearly personal appearance requirement under the Annual Pensioners Information Revalidation.
“Pensioners may report to GSIS through Viber, Facebook Messenger, Skype or Zoom after they have emailed the requirements for APIR. This contactless method will protect them from possible COVID-19 transmission as well as ensure the continuous receipt of their pension,” Macasaet said.
Macasaet said Online APIR is in addition to the other options given to pensioners to comply with the annual reporting to GSIS. The other methods are APIR via the GWAPS kiosk, personal appearance and home visit. Home visit was suspended due to quarantine restrictions.
“Complying with online APIR is simple and easy. On their birth month, pensioners must email only two documents to GSIS: a letter requesting GSIS to activate their status and a photo of their Unified Multi-Purpose ID or temporary eCard, or, in the absence of both, two valid IDs. The letter must indicate the date of request and the pensioner’s complete name, address, contact number and signature,” said Macasaet.
Surviving spouses, however, have to email a self-declaration that they have not remarried or cohabited with another person.