Discounts and Benefits for Senior Citizens in the Philippines
Senior citizens are granted several benefits and privileges under Republic Act No. 9994 and Republic Act No. 10645. In order to avail of these benefits, the senior citizen or his/her authorized representative shall present a valid and original Senior Citizens’ Identification Card.
A Senior Citizens’ Identification Card is issued by the Office of Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) in the city or municipality where the senior citizen resides. The basic qualifications for this card (based on RA 9994) are:
Must be a Filipino citizen who is a resident of the Philippines.
Must be 60 years old or above.
May apply to senior citizens with dual citizenship provided that they prove their Filipino citizenship and have at least six months residency in the Philippines.
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- Note: Foreigners became entitled to a Senior Citizens card in 2018, subject to ID requirements. The senior citizen act for foreigners is a senate bill that was passed on 11th May 2018 Senate S.B. No. 2832
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Statement from Philippines Official Gazette
As provided in our Constitution, the state is duty-bound to recognize the rights of senior citizens by providing support though various social systems. Thus, senior citizens are granted benefits and privileges that range from 20% discount and VAT exemption to mandatory membership in the government’s healthcare system, Philhealth.
Benefits Include:
Twenty Percent (20%) Discount and VAT Exemption
Medical-related privileges
Domestic transportation privileges
Hotels, restaurants, recreational centers, and places of leisure, and funeral services
Recreations centers
Admission fees privilege
Funeral and burial services
Other Privileges
Income tax exemption
Exemption from training fees
Free medical and dental services in government facilities
Free vaccinations for indigent senior citizens
Educational privileges
Benefits and privileges for retirees
Privileges on granting special discounts in special programs
Express lanes privileges
SPECIAL NOTICE
Please ask new questions on a new section of this website at:
i live in las pinas iam 79 years old allready apply for senior citezen card but regarding the department by city hall, the senior citezen card is only for philipinos.
iam dutch about 8 years in the philipines with yearly an ACR card member of philhealth
Do i get 20% discounts on hotel room rates even its on promotional rate?
Hi My grandmother is a senior citizen nd received her allowance at Pangasinan but since no one will guide her on province our plan is to transfer her here in Manila..Is it possible for her to become a residence and Asenior receiving a monthly allowance from OSCa here in manila.
please help
hello, i have a senior citizen grandmother, 83 y.o. and receiving a monthly pension of 1,300 from GSIS. I just want to inquire about the “indigent senior citizen”. Can she be included in the “indigent senior citizen” program? She has no permanent source of income. Is there a range of pension (either government or private) where you can consider a senior citizen an indigent one? Or just because you have government pension you can not qualify indigent senior citizen whether it a small or big amount. Thank you.
This is from: https://www.dswd.gov.ph/only-indigent-senior-citizens-are-qualified-to-receive-social-pension-dswd/
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) reiterates that only indigent senior citizens are qualified to receive the social pension provided for by Republic Act (RA) 9994 or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010.
RA 9994 specifies that seniors qualified to receive social pension are those who are frail, sickly or with disability; without any pension from other government agencies; and without a permanent source of income or source of financial assistance/compensation to support their basic needs.
Inasmuch as DSWD would want to include all senior citizens, the budget for the SPISC is limited.
I am a foreigner resident in the Philippines for nearly 10 years with ACR card. I was denied a Sr. Discount Card locally on the basis of needing “dual citizenship”. I don’t believe that a foreigner can become a citizen of the Philippine AND the U.S. does not allow “dual citizenship” for its nationals. Reportedly, foreigners became eligible in 2018 but I cannot find the legal amendment that makes this so.
1: There are many US citizens that also hold another citizenship.
U.S. law does not mention dual nationality or require a person to choose one nationality or another. A U.S. citizen may naturalize in a foreign state without any risk to his or her U.S. citizenship. However, persons who acquire a foreign nationality after age 18 by applying for it may relinquish their U.S. nationality if they wish to do so. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/travel-legal-considerations/Advice-about-Possible-Loss-of-US-Nationality-Dual-Nationality/Dual-Nationality.html
2: A foreigner can become a Philippine Citizen, if they pass the requirements.
There are three ways by which an alien may become a citizen by naturalization: (a) administrative naturalization pursuant to RA No. 9139; (b) judicial naturalization pursuant to C.A. No. 473, as amended, and (c) legislative naturalization in the form of a law enacted by Congress bestowing Philippine citizenship to an alien (Edison So v. Republic of the Philippines, GR. No. 170603, January 29, 2007).
The senior citizen act for foreigners is a senate bill that was passed on 11 May, 2018. Senate S.B. No. 2832.
senate.gov.ph/lisdata/112729581! PDF file
Maybe take a copy of that with you next time..
Not everything, or every department, in the Philippines is updated very quickly…
I visited Makati City Hall to get Senior Citizen Card on 13 August 2019. I am Japanese.
But I was denied.
“The senior citizen act for foreigners is a senate bill that was passed on 11 May, 2018. Senate S.B. No. 2832.”
They say the above is true, but not yet President Duterte signed. So not effective yet.
Does it take so long over one year to get President signature?
I know some other cities in Metro Manila issued already SCC
to Japanese.
Does somebody know the real situation?
That Senate Bill was introduced on May 18, 2011 not May 11, 2018. Also, it was only “read”, but never passed into law. Introducing a bill is not the same as passing it into law. And so printing out a copy of the bill will do no one any good!
Very good point. Reading the date on the bill (11 May 18), is rather confusing. Seems to be misread by many people. It is being quoted as 11 May 2018 on a number of websites.
However, as you say, it was 18th May 2011, and it was NOT passed, even though the words at the bottom said: “Sec. 4. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation in the Philippines.
Approved, ”
I’m a new senior citizen. I was told that i am exempted from the number coding ban/rule. However, in an article about benefits i saw only selected cities like makati, manila and i think cebu that grant such benefit. Please enlighten me on this and if possible provide the law specifically provinding such exemption. Tnx
I’m a new senior citizen. I was told that i am exempted from the number coding ban/rule. However, in an article about benefits i saw only selected cities like makati, manila and i think cebu that grant such benefit. Please enlighten me on this and if possible provide the law specifically provinding such law. Tnx
29 JANUARY 2019
TODAY I was denied the privilege of a Senior Citizen in using the courtesy lane of DFA at Robinsons Starmills, San Fernando, Pampanga. I was directed by a security guard to see the information person named Allan who tried to explain to me: “ that COs may set a cut-off time or limit the number of applicants who could be accommodated in the courtesy lanes….” displaying on his monitor a link to visit to secure a list of requirements where this statement was mentioned..
So, DFA website was very misleading to say: ‘NO APPOINMENT IS NEEDED FOR: Senior Citizen . . . .” Their disclaimer should be placed upfront after mentioning “NO APPOINTMENT IS NEEDED, “ and not hidden in a suggested link of requirements.
Am very disappointed to have experienced this situation without a clear warning that the courtesy lane for Senior Citizens is really limited. Then, this becomes NOT a privilege but a nuisance for someone who is 70 years of age to trudge to a DFA office and be rejected just because of an unpredicated cut-off number of applicants. Then to mention: “Walk-in applications are NOT ALLOWED IN ALL DFA OFFICES, except for the following persons: a. Senior citizens…..”
I believe that the public should be warned and informed well on this matter as it defeats the purpose of granting a right but with conditions. This may suggest to improve and update the DFA website with clarity on the advantages it projects to the public.
Jose Claver N. Toledo II
I am a senior citizen. I want my car repaired and repainted. will I get the usual 20% discount on the services, and/or the VAT exemption?
It is always worthwhile asking, but looking at the rules, I am not sure if it would be compulsory.
I am a Senior citizen and I want to now what does this mean?
“20% discount and Vat exempt in purchases of goods and services through credit cards.” What are the “goods and services” that are being referred to? I tried to ask a cashier one time but she does not know and so I told her to ask the manager. Most of the time I use credit card in my purchases. Thank for considering my inquiry.
The wording is “senior citizens are granted benefits and privileges that range from 20% discount and VAT exemption”
This indicates that it can vary.
Note: The 20% discount, from the post wording, applies to these expenditures:
Medical-related privileges
Domestic transportation privileges
Hotels, restaurants, recreational centers, and places of leisure, and funeral services
Recreations centers
Admission fees privilege
Funeral and burial services
I am sure it applies whether paying by cash or credit card.