GSIS reminds members of annual status check

The uninterrupted receipt of the monthly pension of old-age and survivorship pensioners of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) rests on their dutiful compliance with the annual renewal of active status (ARAS) requirement of the pension fund.

This as the GSIS reminds its pensioners whose birthday falls within this May to do the ARAS, if they still have not renewed their active status this month, to avoid suspension of their pension.

To do the ARAS, pensioners must go to the nearest GSIS servicing office or the nearest government establishment installed with a GSIS Wireless Automated Processing System kiosk or G-W@PS kiosk on their birth month with their eCard Plus.

Then, they must place their eCard Plus on the card reader of the kiosk. Afterwards, they must choose the “Annual Reporting” icon using the kiosk’s touch screen and then select any pre-registered finger. Finally, they must lightly scan their finger using the fingerprint scanner of the kiosk to complete the process which takes only a few seconds to accomplish.

Pensioners can also renew their active status using any phone wherever they are through a new system called the GSIS Voice Activated Processing System or GVAPS. Pensioners can now enroll in the GVAPS in any GSIS servicing office. All they need to bring is their eCard Plus.

Once enrolled, pensioners can use any phone and call the GSIS Teleservice domestic toll free number (1-800-10-847-4747 for Smart and PLDT, and 1-800-8-847-4747 for Globe numbers) to access the GVAPS.

A voice prompt will guide the pensioner through the renewal process and advise him, accordingly, of the successful renewal of his active status as a GSIS pensioner, while at the comfort of his own home or anywhere else.

Pensioners abroad can also renew their active status using GVAPS by calling the numbers 6329-760860 or 6328-847400.

The pensioner must have his eCard Plus ready whenever he accesses the GVAPS since he will be asked by the voice prompt to say his GSIS ID number, printed below his name on his eCard Plus, whenever he uses this new system.

The GSIS is requiring all its old-age and survivorship pensioners to renew their active status every year during their birth month to ensure the continuous receipt of their monthly pension.

Earlier, the GSIS announced that pensioners will now be receiving their monthly pension on the 8th day of every month, or the next banking day in case the 8th day falls on a weekend or holiday. The new schedule of pension crediting through their eCard account started last May 8.