In a landmark move, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. led the ceremonial launch of the 2025 Social Security System (SSS) Pension Reform Program, marking the first time in 11 years that SSS pensioners will receive an increase in their monthly benefits.
Speaking at the 68th SSS anniversary celebration, President Marcos Jr. announced that the pension increases officially took effect on September 1, 2025. The reforms are designed to significantly improve the lives of millions of Filipino pensioners and will be implemented without requiring additional contributions.
“For the first time in the history of the SSS, we have raised the pension under the SSS Pension Reform Program,” said President Marcos Jr.
The program introduces a tiered increase that will be rolled out in three annual tranches from September 2025 to September 2027.
Key highlights of the pension reform include:
A 10% increase for retirement and disability pensioners.
A 5% increase for survivorship pensions.
Higher benefits for dependents.
The President emphasized that the reform will benefit 3.8 million beneficiaries and is expected to release PhP93 billion over the next three years. This initiative aims to help households cover essential needs such as food and medicine while stimulating the economy.
“As a thank you to our countrymen who have served and worked for our nation their entire lives, we have raised your monthly pension starting on the first day of September of this year,” President Marcos Jr. stated.
Aligning the reform with the “Sigurado ang Ginhawa sa Bagong Pilipinas” (Certain Relief in a New Philippines) theme, the President underscored his administration’s commitment to strengthening social protection and honoring the dignity of work.
During the event, President Marcos also declared that the second week of September will now be celebrated annually as National Pensioners’ Week.
