State pension fund Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) President and General Manager Rolando Ledesma Macasaet announced today that GSIS now allows online reporting of pensioners as an alternative method to the yearly personal appearance requirement or Annual Pensioners Information Revalidation (APIR).
“Pensioners may report to GSIS through Viber, Facebook (FB) 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.
Online APIR, according to Macasaet, 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. At present, however, home visit is 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 (UMID) 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. Surviving spouses, however, have to email a self-declaration that they have not remarried or cohabited with another person. The form is downloadable in our website, www.gsis.gov.ph. In the same manner, permanent disability pensioners must submit the original copy of the annual Medical Progress Report,” Macasaet explained.
Pensioners must email the documents to the designated email address of the handling GSIS office. The list of email addresses of the main and branch offices are listed in the GSIS website (www.gsis.gov.ph). Three days after receiving the request, GSIS will email an acknowledgement letter to the pensioner. GSIS will also inform the pensioner of the details of the interview including the date, time and social media application or video conferencing software to be used in the ensuing interview with GSIS. Pensioners are given the option to choose the videoconferencing mode they prefer — Viber, FB Messenger, Skype or Zoom.
Pensioners who are qualified for milestone benefits — Php20,000 on their 90th birthday; Php30,000 on their 95th birthday; and Php50,000 on their 100th birthday – may also apply for this benefit online.
Online APIR is similarly recommended for pensioners who were previously being home-visited yearly due to advanced age (80 years old and above), sickness, disability or other health issues affecting their mobility.
“We are constantly finding ways to harness technology to make transacting with GSIS convenient and safe for our members and pensioners,” Macasaet said.
Pensioners and other individuals who have inquiries on online APIR may visit the GSIS website, www.gsis.gov.ph; GSIS Facebook Page, @gsis.ph; or call the GSIS Contact Center at 8847-4747 (if in Metro Manila) or 1-800-8-847-4747 (for Globe and TM subscribers) and 1-800-10-847-4747 (for Smart, Sun, and Talk ‘N Text subscribers).