Annual Confirmation of Pensioners

1. CIRCULAR NO. 2012 - 004
TO : ALL SSS PENSIONERS
(Retirement, Death and Total Disability)
SUBJECT : ANNUAL CONFIRMATION OF PENSIONERS
The Social Security Commission in its Resolution No. 350s-2011 dated March
16, 2011, approved the following Guidelines in the Conduct of the Annual
Confirmation of Pensioners (ACOP) and Medical Assessment of Total Disability
Pensioners to ensure continuous eligibility to pension in accordance with the Social
Security Law.
A. Notification
In the initial implementation of ACOP, existing pensioners shall be
notified through letter two months prior to their month of contingency.
Subsequently, the pensioner shall be informed of the next ACOP schedule
through the "Notice of Schedule" of the ACOP Form. Prospective pensioners
shall be informed of their schedule of confirmation through the check voucher or
payment notice.
B. Compliance Period of Pensioners
Pensioners shall have three (3) months from the date of SSS notification
letter up to the last day of contingency month to comply.
C. Manner of Compliance of Pensioners
1. All total disability, retiree and death pensioners shall be required to present
themselves for ACOP during their month of contingency; i.e., for total
disability pensioner, month of disability; for death pensioner, month of
member's death; for retiree pensioner, month of retirement.
a. All total disability pensioners shall report to any SSS branch.
b. All retiree and death pensioners receiving pension through the bank
shall report to their respective depository bank.
c. All retiree and death pensioners under guardianship and those receiving
pension thru check shall report to any SSS branch.

2. 2. Pensioners who are unable to report personally due to the following
conditions shall submit the required documents either through their
representatives or through mail to the nearest SSS branch:
• Pensioner is either wheelchair-borne, in respiratory
distress, with IV fluid or other debilitating conditions; or
• Pensioner is confined in institution such as retirement
home, nursing facility, hospital, correctional institution,
penitentiary, rehabilitation center; or
• Pensioner is residing abroad
a. Conduct of Fact of Pensioner's Existence (FPE) shall be mandatory for
the following local resident retiree/death pensioners whose compliance
is through representative or through mail:
• Pensioner who is 80 years old and above; or
• Pensioner with guardian.
b. Conduct of Medical Fieldwork Services (MFS) shall be done for local
resident total disability pensioners whose compliance is through
representative or through mail.
3. For pensioners who cannot sign, two persons shall be required to witness
the affixing of the pensioner’s fingerprints and shall sign on the appropriate
portion of the ACOP Form and a photocopy of the valid ID with photo and
signature of the witnesses shall be attached.
D. Required Documents
1. Pensioners who are able to report personally shall submit the following
documents to SSS or the bank where they are receiving their pension:
a. Accomplished ACOP Form; and
b. SS Card or two valid IDs, both with signature and at least one with
photo
2. Pensioners who are unable to report personally shall submit the following
documents through their representatives or through mail to the nearest SSS
branch:
a. Accomplished ACOP Form;
b. Photocopy of SS Card or two valid IDs, both with signature and at least
one with photo; and
c. Additional Documents:
c.1 Total Disability Pensioners
c.1.1 For local residents confined at home
• Sketch of residence
c.1.2 For local residents confined in institution such as
retirement home, nursing facility, hospital, correctional
institution, penitentiary, rehabilitation center.
• Certification from the applicable institution confirming
pensioner's confinement.
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3. c.1.3 For residents abroad
• Complete physical examination report done within
three months prior to the last day of compliance and
certified by a physician indicating his license number
and clinic address;
• Laboratory or other diagnostic examination results
applicable to disability; and
• Photocopy of valid passport or any valid ID issued by
host country governmental unit/agency where photo
and signature are shown.
c.2 Retiree and Death Pensioners
c.2.1 For local residents confined at home
• Sketch of residence;
• Certification of pensioner’s existence from Barangay
Chairman; and
• Medical certificate done within three months prior to
the last day of compliance and certified by a physician
indicating his license number and clinic address.
c.2.2 For residents abroad
• Photocopy of valid passport or any two valid IDs
issued by the host country governmental unit/agency
where photo and signature are shown.
c.2.3 For those confined in an institution such as retirement
home, nursing facility, hospital, correctional institution,
penitentiary, rehabilitation center.
• Certification from the applicable institution confirming
the pensioner's confinement.
E. Suspension of Pension for Non-compliance with ACOP
Non-compliance with ACOP shall result to automatic suspension of
pension a month after the month of contingency.
F. Recovery of Undue Pension Payments
1. For suspended pensions due to non-compliance to ACOP, recovery of undue
pension payments shall be three (3) months from the month of suspension.
2. For cancelled pensions, the recall of overpayments shall be done
immediately.
In the first year of ACOP implementation, the total outstanding account
balance but not to exceed the total payout including the interest shall be
recalled.
For the succeeding years, recall of pension shall be as follows:
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4. For suspended pension, total amount of pension remitted, including
interest, from the latest month of compliance up to the month of
suspension.
For cancelled pension, the total amount of pension remitted,
including interest, after the effective date of cancellation.
G. Resumption of Pension for Late Compliance
Pensions of those who complied after the required compliance period shall
be resumed and the recalled pensions from bank, if any, and all accrued pensions
shall be returned to the bank.
This supersedes Circular 15-P dated 06 April 2004.
(Original Signed)
EMILIO S. DE QUIROS, JR.
President and CEO
APPROVED BY:
SOCIAL SECURITY COMMISSION
(Original Signed)
JUAN B. SANTOS
Chairman
18 January 2012
Date
(Policies & Procedures - Benefits)
Annual Confirmation of Pensioners
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