Quick answer: to get a monthly SSS retirement pension you need at least 120 monthly contributions and be either 60 and no longer working (optional retirement) or 65 (technical retirement). You file through My.SSS, and the amount comes from SSS’s three pension formulas. This guide covers the process and the rules; to see the amount, use our SSS pension calculator.
Who qualifies for the SSS retirement pension?
You qualify for the monthly pension if you have paid at least 120 monthly contributions before the semester of your retirement and you meet one of these:
- Optional retirement: you are at least 60 years old and separated from employment, or you have stopped being self-employed, an OFW or a household helper.
- Technical retirement: you are at least 65 years old, whether you are still working or not.
Members of certain occupations retire earlier. For example, underground and surface mineworkers can retire at 50 (optional) or 60 (technical), and racehorse jockeys at 55 (technical). The age rules are on SSS’s retirement benefit page.
A tip on contributions: they do not need to be consecutive, and voluntary, self-employed and OFW payments count the same as employee payments. See the contribution tables to check what each month costs.
What if I have fewer than 120 contributions?
You have two options when you reach retirement age:
- Complete the 120. SSS lets a member filing for retirement continue paying as a voluntary member until reaching 120 contributions, and then receive the monthly pension. A member aged 65 or above with fewer than 120 contributions may do this. At a minimum MSC the cost is small compared with a lifetime pension. See the voluntary contribution table.
- Take the lump sum. SSS pays a one-time benefit equal to the total contributions paid by you and on your behalf, plus interest. It is usually worth far less than a lifetime pension.
Monthly pension, lump sum or 18 months in advance
| Option | Who gets it | What you receive |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly pension | 120 or more contributions | Highest of three formulas, paid for life, plus ₱1,000 additional benefit and a 13th-month pension every December |
| Lump sum | Fewer than 120 contributions | Contributions paid by you and on your behalf, plus interest |
| 18-month advance | Qualified for a monthly pension | The first 18 monthly pensions upfront, discounted at a preferential interest rate set by SSS; monthly payments resume afterwards |
The 18-month advance must be chosen when you file the initial claim. The dependents’ pension and the 13th-month pension are not included in the advance.
What you receive on top of the basic pension
- ₱1,000 additional benefit, paid on top of the monthly pension for all retirement pensioners since January 2017.
- 13th-month pension every December.
- Dependent’s pension for each dependent child (up to five): 10% of your monthly pension or ₱250, whichever is higher. Children must be unmarried, not gainfully employed and under 21, unless incapacitated.
The 2025 to 2027 pension increase
SSS’s Pension Reform Program raises existing pensions in three yearly steps under Circular 2026-002:
| Year | Retirement and disability | Death and survivor | Effective |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 10% | 5% | 1 September 2025 (pensioners as of 31 August 2025) |
| 2026 | 10% | 5% | 1 June 2026 (pensioners as of 31 May 2026); 1 September 2026 for those retiring from 1 June to 31 August 2026 |
| 2027 | 10% | 5% | 1 September 2027 (pensioners as of 31 August 2027) |
The percentage applies to the monthly pension, defined as the regular pension plus the ₱1,000 allowance, and the dependents’ pension is adjusted too. No contribution increase is needed. Three steps add up to roughly 33% for retirement pensioners. The pension calculator lets you estimate the effect.
How to apply for the SSS retirement benefit
- Check your record. Log in to My.SSS and confirm your posted contributions and personal data (name, birth date).
- Set up your payout account. You need a UMID card enrolled as an ATM, or a disbursement account (bank, e-wallet or other options) registered through the Disbursement Account Enrollment Module (DAEM) in My.SSS.
- File online. Employees, self-employed, voluntary and land-based OFW members file the retirement claim through My.SSS.
- File at a branch only if required. For example: an outstanding educational or privatization loan, dependent children under guardianship, an incapacitated member, application of the Portability Law or a bilateral social security agreement, or an unclaimed benefit of a deceased member.
- Bring the basics if filing over the counter. A retirement claim application, your photo and signature card if you do not have a UMID card, your preferred disbursement account and valid IDs. Additional documents apply if you have five or more dependent children.
Unpaid short-term loans are deducted in full from your benefit.
After you retire
- SSS runs the Annual Confirmation of Pensioners (ACOP) to confirm that pensioners are alive and eligible.
- If you go back to work or start a business, your monthly pension is suspended until you stop; it then resumes.
- WISP/MPF savings are separate. If you contributed on an MSC above ₱20,000, the Mandatory Provident Fund pays your accumulated account value when you retire. See how the contribution splits.
Related reading
- SSS pension calculator
- SSS maternity qualifying period explained
- How to compute your SSS maternity benefit
Source: SSS Retirement Benefit, SSS Circular 2026-002 (Pension Reform Program), RA 11199 and RA 8282. Estimates only. Confirm with SSS.