SSS to hike pensions by 10% yearly from Sept

The Social Security System (SSS) announced on Thursday that it will start increasing monthly payouts to pensioners starting this September as part of a three-year reform program.

Approved under Resolution No. 340-s.2025 dated July 11, the pension adjustments aim to increase pensions for retirement and disability beneficiaries by 10% annually until 2027, benefiting more than 3.8 million pensioners and injecting an estimated P92.8 billion to P117.2 billion into the economy over three years.

SSS President Robert Joseph De Claro said this is the first multi-year adjustment in the institution's nearly 70-year history and aims to uplift all pensioners without compromising fund stability.

Higher contributions will not be needed to keep monthly payouts stable, with reforms in collection efforts expected to offset any impact on the SSS fund life, which is projected to shorten by four years to 2049.

Despite the SSS's assurances, the Federation of Free Workers expressed dissatisfaction with the amount and timing of the increases, calling for a complete P1,000 hike as promised and indexing pensions to inflation to prevent retirees from falling behind due to rising prices.