GSIS Reduces Documentary Requirements for Retirement Process

Those who are set to retire from government service will no longer face a tedious process of submitting a number of documents to be able to  process their claims for retirement benefits.

Vilma Fuentes, branch manager of GSIS-Cebu, said imminent retirees should notify their office one to three months in advance before their scheduled retirement and reconcile their records to avoid hitches by the time of application.

Fuentes said they have already reduced the number of documentary requirements needed in filing for retirement claims since two years ago.

“What we only require are two documents which are the filled-up application form and the ‘Declaration of No Pending Case’ certificate duly notarized or sign by the head of the agency,” said Fuentes during the forum of the Association of Government Information Officers- Philippine Information Agency (AGIO-PIA7) that highlighted the priority programs and services of the state pension fund.

In his first State-of-the-Nation Address, President Rodrigo Duterte ordered all government agencies to streamline documentary requirements and lessen processing time to 72 hours as part of efficient public service doing away with public inconvenience.

Fuentes said even before the president’s call, GSIS has already implemented reforms to ensure that its members are not given a difficult time in processing their retirement benefits.

Unlike in previous years, GSIS required clearance from the Civil Service Commission and the Ombudsman as well as an admin clearance from the agency as part of the requirements for submission in processing retirement benefits.

“We are easing the requirements for the benefit of the members so they can immediately enjoy their retirement benefits,” said Fuentes.

As for loan privileges, Fuentes said the processing time usually takes only one to two days, which is lesser than the required period of the President.

But for the retirement process, Fuentes said this is given a 90-day maximum period to resolve a pending case if the member faces one.

And if the case is not resolve within 90 days, Fuentes said the agency is duty bound to release the retirement benefits of the member.

“Without a verdict and as required under RA 10154, we need to release immediately the retirement benefits of the member after the 90-day period has lapsed,” said Fuentes.

RA 10154 passed in 2010 is an Act requiring all concerned government agencies to ensure the early release of the retirement pay, pension, gratuities and other benefits of retiring government employees.

Fuentes, however, said that a member who already received his retirement benefits and later found guilty is required to return the money.

Failure to return the full amount of retirement benefits received would incur interest while the case would then be elevated to the GSIS Legal Division in Manila, said Fuentes.

Death of the member, on the other hand, will not remove the obligation to return the money by the surviving spouse or heir, said Fuentes. (rmn/fcr/PIA7)