State pension fund Government Service Insurance System has expanded benefits for retired government workers, including higher funeral assistance and uncapped survivorship pensions, while preparing to offer pensioners loans of up to ₱500,000 for residential solar systems.
GSIS said its funeral benefit had been raised to ₱50,000 from ₱30,000 for qualified members and pensioners whose deaths occur on or after July 13, 2026.
The state fund has also removed the cap on survivorship pensions, allowing qualified surviving spouses to receive the full benefit equivalent to 50% of the deceased member or pensioner’s pension.
Cohabitation is no longer grounds for stopping the benefit, although remarriage will still result in its termination.
The changes form part of GSIS’ Ginhawa for All Grand package, which covers old-age and survivorship pensions, pension increases, cash gifts, milestone and funeral benefits, as well as loans for qualified retirees and surviving spouses.
GSIS will further expand its lending program on Sept. 30 with the rollout of the Ginhawa Solar Energy Loan for qualified pensioners.
Retirees may borrow up to ₱500,000 to purchase and install residential solar systems, payable over as long as five years at 5% annual interest with no service fee. The program was first launched for active government workers in March.
GSIS has also returned nearly ₱20 billion to qualified members and pensioners under its Balik Ginhawa loan moratorium and refund programs as of Sept. 21.
The refunds covered nearly 1.6 million loan contracts held by more than 700,000 members and pensioners. Applications for the current program may be filed through the GSIS Touch app until Oct. 31.
Other benefits available to qualified pensioners include emergency and pension loans, an annual Christmas cash gift, insurance products and access to selected GSIS properties through a lease-to-own program.
The Christmas cash gift was expanded in 2025 to include qualified pro-rata pensioners and those covered by the Portability Law. Eligible retirees receive one month’s pension or ₱10,000, whichever is lower.
GSIS said it was also expanding digital access to its services, allowing pensioners to complete their Annual Pensioners Information Revalidation and apply for loans through its mobile app.
GSIS president and general manager Wick Veloso said the fund would continue updating its programs to meet the changing financial and social protection needs of retirees and their families.
