Private sector pensioners of the Social Security System will receive their 13th-month and pension benefits as early as the first week of December, SSS president and CEO Michael Regino revealed.

The pension fund will release P29.74 billion covering 3.36 million pensioners, Regino said. The release will be in two batches, with the second batch being on 4 December.

"This year, we have also pushed for the early crediting of the 13th month and December 2022 pensions so that our pensioners can withdraw them ahead of the holiday rush," he said.

Since 4 December falls on a Sunday, pensioners receiving their pensions on that day can expect that these will be credited to their accounts today, Friday, the last working day of the week.

The SSS has also requested the Philippine Postal Corp. to expedite the delivery of the checks of its pensioners who are receiving their benefits in this manner.

"Since December 1988, we have been granting our pensioners the 13th-month pension, which is equivalent to their respective monthly pensions. This additional financial assistance or Christmas gift is our way of thanking them for their support to the SSS during their working years," Regino said.

Meanwhile, the Government Service Insurance System announced it will release a total P3.35 billion in Christmas cash gifts to 328,000 old-age and disability pensioners on Tuesday, 6 December.

"We know that the Christmas cash gift is really being awaited by our GSIS pensioners. So, starting 6 December, their cash gifts shall be credited to their e-cards," GSIS president and general m anager Wick Veloso said.

Veloso said GSIS pensioners will receive an amount equivalent to their one-month pension, up to P10,000.