Guide on Senior Citizen Discount & Benefits in the Philippines
SENIOR CITIZEN DISCOUNT & BENEFITS PHILIPPINES – Here is a guide on the discount and benefits for individuals aged 60 and up in the country.
Many Filipinos are aged 60 and up. A lot of these individuals have stopped working and rely to their monthly pension — for those who qualified for a retirement benefit, either an SSS Retirement Benefits or GSIS Retirement Benefits. Undeniably, in a lot of cases, the pension from state-run social insurance agencies may no longer fit for the month’s expenses considering the high inflation rate nowadays.
Meanwhile, in the country, there are several laws and programs that were crafted to ease the financial expenses of the senior citizens. These laws and programs provide several senior Citizen discount and benefits which you can check below.
Are you 60 years old or up now or you are living with a senior? Here is a list of the senior citizen discount and benefits in the Philippines:
Under the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010
- Free medical and dental services in government facilities
- Income tax exemption for senior citizens who are minimum wage earners
- Discounts in special programs for senior citizens
- Free flu and pneumococcal vaccinations for indigent senior citizens
- Training fee exemption on socio-economic programs
- Express lanes for senior citizens in all government offices and commercial establishments
- Retirement benefits from the Social Security System (SSS Retirement Benefits), Government Service Insurance System (GSIS Retirement Benefits), and Pag-IBIG
- Scholarships and financial assistance for seniors’ education in public and private schools
20% Discount and Vat Exemption
The Republic Act No. 9994 also provides a 20% discount and a Value Added Tax (VAT) exemption for senior citizens. These are applicable in the purchase of the following whether the payment will be made using cash or a credit card:
- Restaurants: Food, beverages,and other consumables for dine-in, take-out, drive-thru, and delivery orders
- Professional fees of doctors, attending physicians and licensed health workers
- Medicines: Generic and branded medicines, vitamins, and mineral supplements provided that they are prescribed by the doctor
- Medical supplies and equipment: Eyeglasses, wheelchairs, hearing aids, crutches, dentures, etc.
- Medical and dental services in private facilities: Lab tests such as blood tests, x-rays, etc.
- Public land transportation fares: Jeepneys, taxis, buses, shuttle services, MRT, LRT, PNR, etc.
- Hotels: Accommodation and amenities in hotels, beach resorts, mountain resorts, etc.
- Places of leisure: Cinemas, parks, theaters, museums, concert halls, etc.
- Domestic air and sea travel fares as AirAsia, Cebu Pacific, and Philippine Airlines implement the 20% senior citizen discount and VAT exemption for online bookings
- Recreation centers: Rental and other fees for sports facilities like badminton courts, gyms, tennis courts, ballroom dancing studios, bowling lanes, etc.
- Funeral and burial services for deceased senior citizens: hospital morgue, embalming, casket or urn, cremation, etc.
Under the DOA and DSWD Joint Administrative Order No. 10-02, s. 2010
The Department of Agriculture (DOA) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) also crafted the Joint Administrative Order No. 10-02, series of 2010 which provides a 5% discount without VAT exemption in the purchase of the following:
- Cooking oil and salt
- Rice, bread, and corn
- Chicken, beef, and pork (fresh, canned, and processed)
- Coffee, creamer, and sugar
- Fresh eggs
- Fresh milk and other dairy products
- Fresh fruits and vegetables
- Garlic and onions
- Noodles, canned sardines, and canned tuna
- Geriatric diapers
- Detergents
- Electrical supplies, light bulbs, and batteries
Also part of the list of the senior citizen discount and benefits is a coverage for seniors under PhilHealth apart from the 20% discount and the VAT exemption. It will be deducted first from the bill in the event of hospital confinement.
Under Republic Act No. 10868, also known as the Centenarians Act of 2016
Also part of the list of the senior citizen discount and benefits is a cash gift for seniors who will reach 100 years old. It is called the centenarian gift and it is equivalent to Php 100,000.00.
