FALSE: A viral YouTube video claims that a Universal Social Pension for all senior citizens has been officially approved and will be distributed starting June 2025.
FACT: The National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) has clarified that the bill has not been signed into law, and no nationwide rollout is authorized.
As of May 2025, House Bill 10423 and Senate Bill 2929 both seek to expand social pension coverage to all seniors aged 60 and above. However, the Senate bill remains at the committee level and has not reached plenary debate.
Currently, under RA 9994, only indigent senior citizens—those without income, pensions, or family support—receive ₱500 monthly. The existing program remains unchanged until new legislation is enacted.
The proposed bill includes provisions for ₱1,000/month for indigent seniors and a gradual increase for non-indigent seniors, aiming for universal pension coverage. It also seeks to shift program oversight from the DSWD to the NCSC within three years.
Government agencies urge the public to disregard premature announcements and rely only on official updates from Congress, the NCSC, or the DSWD regarding pension reforms.
