Migrant retirees have problems with SSS and GSIS pensions

CALIFORNIA, United States—An immigrant residing in California recently contacted our office to express her disgust over her inability to obtain her retirement benefits from the Social Security System. Her letter reads:

“I have been a registered contributing member of the SSS since July 1966. In January 1990, I retired early from my job at the United States facility in Subic Bay to migrate to the US. Now that I’m old, I asked my son to apply for my retirement benefits, but the SSS branch in Olongapo City is giving us a hard time. They even said my name was no longer in their system.

“I’m only claiming what is duly mine. Any amount will be very helpful for my family and relatives in the Philippines. And it is my plan to spend my remaining years in our homeland. What should I do?”

The same grievance was also expressed by the daughter of a long-time US immigrant for GSIS benefits. She said her 80-year-old mother went back to the Philippines to personally attend to her application for retirement. She was asked to go to Manila just to find out that her benefits were reportedly being paid to a “third party” unrelated to her. Mrs. T returned to the US frustrated.

Further inquiries with the Philippine consulate office revealed that Mrs. T was reported as a deceased claimant and so an unscrupulous individual had taken her survivor’s benefits.

Many Filipinos, beneficiaries of petitions from their children, migrate in the sunset of their lives after they have already rendered many years of public or private service in the Philippines.

When migrant retirees become eligible for retirement, claims for their benefits from the SSS or GSIS should not be a struggle. Their desire is to be able to claim only what is “due” to them. This is in the same context as the Filipino World War II veterans who fought so hard during the war, and are claiming their veterans’ benefits. But veterans are claiming benefits from the US, while the SSS and GSIS retirees are given a hard time in their own homeland.

How do we address the difficulties encountered by immigrants who live abroad in obtaining their pensions? When will all these difficulties and fraudulent transactions be put to a stop, and the government institutions be made more sensitive to the rights of their members?

Immigrants deserve better

Addressing the concerns of immigrant senior citizens in the US is a big challenge, especially when they express their emotional outrage on the matter. When Mrs. T, the retired teacher, heard the news that she had been declared “deceased,” she almost suffered a heart attack. She is still fuming at the “fraudulent” claim on benefits due her.

The letter-sender seeking assistance in seeking her SSS benefits says the amount she expects will not even be for herself but for her relatives in the Philippines who are more in need. Hence, the amount involved is not the significant factor. Immigrants in their senior years also plan to return someday and want to remain vested in the homeland. Their receipt of even a meager pension signifies more than the amount to be received.

Listening to P-Noy’s State of the Nation Address gave us a sense of hope. When he said we could dream “again,” we took it to heart that this new leader was including all of us who remain connected to the homeland despite our being overseas.

The GSIS or SSS, however, were not among the institutions that were put on the spot during P-Noy’s speech. However, it is public knowledge that there is rampant corruption and red tape in these institutions as well. It becomes more challenging because they are tasked to deal with claims of seniors and immigrants—overseas Filipinos who send billions of dollars in remittances every month. They deserve better.

Tancinco may be reached at law@tancinco.com or at 887 7177.  –Lourdes Santos Tancinco, Philippine Daily Inquirer