1) The short legal answer

In general, an SSS retirement (or disability/survivorship) pensioner is not qualified to receive the national “social pension” for senior citizens, because the national senior citizen pension is intended for indigent seniors—typically those not receiving any regular pension (whether from SSS, GSIS, AFP retirement systems, or similar sources).

However, there are important nuances:

If what you mean by “senior citizen pension” is a local government cash assistance program (city/municipal/provincial senior cash aid), some LGUs allow this even if you have an SSS pension, depending on the local ordinance.
If you are not receiving your SSS pension for some reason (e.g., suspended, stopped, not yet granted), your circumstances may change—but eligibility still depends on the “indigent” rules and actual receipt of pension/income, not labels.

This article explains what the “senior citizen pension” is, what “indigent” means in practice, and how the rules apply to SSS pensioners in the Philippines.

2) Identify the benefit: “Senior citizen pension” can mean different things

People commonly refer to at least three different “pensions” for seniors:

A. National Social Pension (DSWD Social Pension)

This is the national program commonly called the “senior citizen pension”:

Implemented by DSWD.
Intended for indigent senior citizens.
Paid as a cash stipend (amount has been adjusted by law over time).

This is the benefit that usually raises the question: “Can I get this even if I already have SSS?”

B. LGU Senior Citizens Cash Assistance / “Pension”

Many provinces, cities, and municipalities provide a separate monthly/annual cash benefit to seniors via local ordinance. These are not the same as the national social pension.

Eligibility rules vary widely.
Some LGUs exclude seniors who already receive SSS/GSIS pensions; others do not.

C. Other pensions (GSIS, military, veterans, private retirement plans)

These are separate pension systems with their own rules and are not “senior citizen pensions,” but they matter because they often disqualify someone from being considered “indigent” under the national social pension rules.

3) The governing laws (Philippine context)

A. SSS pensions

SSS pensions arise under the Social Security law (currently the Social Security Act of 2018, as amended). SSS provides pensions such as:

Retirement pension
Disability pension
Survivor’s pension (for qualified beneficiaries)

These are contributory benefits: you receive them because contributions were paid and eligibility conditions were met.

B. National Social Pension for indigent seniors

The legal foundation is the senior citizens law (the Expanded Senior Citizens Act and subsequent amendments), which authorizes a government-funded social pension for indigent senior citizens, implemented by DSWD.

Core policy idea:

The social pension is social assistance, not an earned pension.
It is designed as a safety net for seniors with little or no reliable income support.

4) Why SSS pensioners are generally disqualified from the national social pension

A. The “indigent” requirement is the gatekeeper

The national social pension is not for all seniors. It is specifically for indigent senior citizens—commonly understood and implemented as seniors who:

Have no regular income or stable means of support, and
Are not receiving a pension from SSS/GSIS/military retirement systems (or similar),
Lack consistent family support or resources to meet basic needs.

Because an SSS pension is a regular pension benefit, an SSS pensioner typically fails the indigency criterion, even if the SSS pension is small.

B. “Small pension” vs. “indigent”

In everyday life, a small SSS pension may still feel insufficient. But legally/administratively, the social pension is usually reserved for seniors who have no pension at all (and meet the other vulnerability indicators used by DSWD and the LGU social welfare office).

So, the common outcome is:

SSS pensioner + currently receiving pension payments = not eligible for national social pension.

5) Situations where the answer can change (edge cases and common misconceptions)

Situation 1: “I’m an SSS member but not a pensioner yet.”

Being an SSS member does not automatically disqualify you. What matters is whether you are receiving a pension and whether you meet indigency.

Situation 2: “My SSS pension is approved, but I’m not receiving it (suspended/paused).”

If you are not actually receiving a pension and you otherwise meet indigency criteria, your LGU/DSWD assessment may treat you differently. In practice, however, many screening processes look at whether you are a pensioner of record and whether you have regular income support. Documentation becomes critical.

Situation 3: “I receive an SSS survivor’s pension—does that count?”

Yes, a survivor’s pension is still a pension. It will typically disqualify the recipient from the indigent social pension.

Situation 4: “I receive an LGU ‘pension’—can I still receive SSS?”

Often yes—because an LGU benefit is usually local social assistance, not a contributory pension like SSS. But eligibility depends on:

The LGU ordinance rules, and
Whether the ordinance treats SSS pensioners as excluded.

Situation 5: “I’m a senior citizen—doesn’t the law say I’m entitled to a pension?”

The national social pension is not universal. It is targeted to indigent seniors. Being a senior citizen alone does not guarantee eligibility for the national social pension.

6) How to determine what you can claim (practical legal checklist)

Step 1: Clarify which “senior pension” you mean

National social pension (administered by DSWD) → generally no, if you are an SSS pensioner receiving payments.
LGU senior cash assistance → maybe, depending on the ordinance.

Step 2: For national social pension, test “indigency”

While exact screening tools can vary by locality, expect review of:

Whether you receive SSS/GSIS/military/veterans pensions
Regular income sources
Family support situation
Overall financial vulnerability and ability to meet basic needs

Step 3: Prepare documents (typical)

Commonly requested in assessments include:

Proof of age and identity
Proof of residence
Certification related to pension/income status (requirements vary by LGU)

7) If you’re denied: rights, remedies, and risk areas

A. Denial is usually administrative, not criminal—but…

Denials often happen due to:

Being listed as a pension recipient (SSS/GSIS/etc.)
Duplicate listings
Failure to meet indigency indicators
Incomplete documentation

B. Avoid misrepresentation

Applying for an indigent-only benefit while knowingly receiving a pension can expose you to:

Disqualification
Return/refund demands
Potential administrative or legal consequences if there is fraud or falsification

C. Reassessment

If your circumstances materially change (loss of support, cessation of pension receipt, disaster impact, etc.), you can request a re-evaluation through the local social welfare office, subject to program rules.

8) Important related benefits SSS pensioners can still receive as seniors

Even if an SSS pensioner is not eligible for the national social pension, senior citizens commonly remain entitled to other senior benefits under Philippine law, such as:

Statutory discounts and VAT exemptions on qualified goods/services
Priority lanes and assistance
Certain health-related privileges, including coverage rules connected to PhilHealth (subject to eligibility category and current implementing rules)

These are separate from the indigent social pension program.

9) Conclusion

If you are an SSS pensioner actually receiving your pension, you generally cannot also receive the national senior citizen social pension, because the national benefit is targeted to indigent seniors who typically do not receive any pension.
If the “senior citizen pension” is an LGU cash assistance program, it may be possible to receive it in addition to SSS—depending on the local ordinance and screening rules.