1. Why the Mother’s Maiden Name Matters

Field on OSCA ID	Purpose
Mother’s Maiden Name	A unique identifier that helps distinguish people with similar names, deters fraud, and links the senior to civil-registry records. Unlike the mother’s married surname, it should never change over time, because it refers to her surname before marriage.

Mistakes arise when:

Clerical errors – misspelling, wrong middle initial, transposed letters.
Wrong surname used – the registrar wrote the mother’s married surname instead of the maiden surname.
Subsequent legitimation, adoption, or court-approved change of surname affecting the mother’s maiden surname in the senior’s birth record.

2. Legal Framework You Need to Know

Law / Rule	Key Points for This Issue
Republic Act (RA) 9994 — Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010 ✦ Implementing Rules & Regs (IRR)	• Creates the Office of Senior Citizen Affairs (OSCA) under every city/municipality, the body that issues Senior Citizen IDs. • OSCA IDs are permanent but can be replaced gratis when details are erroneous.
RA 9048 (2001) as amended by RA 10172 (2012)	• Allows administrative correction of “clerical or typographical errors” and of day/month of birth or sex in civil-registry documents without a court case. • A misspelled or obviously wrong maiden surname usually falls here.
Rule 103 & Rule 108, Rules of Court	• If the desired change is substantial (e.g., replacing the maiden surname with a married surname because the mother’s status changes later) or not a clerical error, you need a judicial petition in the Regional Trial Court.
Art. 370, Civil Code	• A married woman may: (1) use her maiden name, (2) use her maiden first name + husband’s surname, or (3) use her husband’s full name preceded by “Mrs.” But the maiden surname remains the same; marriage does not create a new maiden name.

3. Which Scenario Are You In?

Scenario	Is RA 9048 Enough?	Typical Proof
Simple misspelling / extra letter	✅ Yes	PSA-issued Birth Certificate of senior citizen, IDs of mother (if available), Affidavit of Discrepancy
Mother’s married surname was used in the ID, but PSA birth record shows maiden surname	✅ Yes (clerical error)	PSA Birth & Marriage Certificates, Affidavit
*Mother later changed surname via court decision (e.g., adoption) and senior wants the new* surname reflected**	❌ Court petition (Rule 103/108)	Court order, amended PSA birth record
Senior has two conflicting birth records	❌ Case-specific; may require Rule 108 to cancel/annotate one record	Both PSA certificates, legal advice

4. Step-by-Step Correction Process (Administrative Route)

Gather documentary evidence
- PSA-authenticated Birth Certificate of the senior citizen.
- PSA-authenticated Marriage Certificate of the mother (if the error involves married vs. maiden surname).
- Two government-issued IDs of the senior.
- Affidavit of Discrepancy or Affidavit of Two Disinterested Persons (notarized).
Petition for Correction at the Local Civil Registry (LCR)
- Fill out the Petition for Correction under RA 9048/10172 (Form No. 1).
- Pay filing fee (₱1,000 to ₱3,000, depending on the LGU; indigents may ask for a fee waiver).
- Publication is not required for RA 9048 petitions.
Wait for the LCR Decision
- Processing time: 3–6 months on average (check your LCR).
- Once approved, the LCR endorses the annotated record to the PSA for issuance of an amended birth certificate.
Apply for Replacement Senior Citizen ID
- Bring the approved LCR order or the annotated PSA Birth Certificate to the OSCA.
- Fill out OSCA ID Form (check “Replacement—Correction of Data”).
- OSCA issues the corrected ID free of charge within ~15 working days.

5. If a Judicial Petition Is Required

Hire counsel (optional but recommended); prepare a verified petition citing Rule 103 or Rule 108.
File in the RTC where the civil registry is located.
Publish the order in a newspaper once a week for three consecutive weeks (mandatory).
Attend hearing; present documentary and testimonial evidence.
Secure the court’s Decision/Order; the LCR will annotate the record; proceed to OSCA for ID replacement.
Costs & timeline: ₱20,000 – ₱60,000+ in legal fees; 8 months to 2 years.

6. Practical Tips & Common Pitfalls

Check the Birth Certificate first – OSCA follows PSA data. If the PSA record is wrong, fix that before re-applying for an ID.
Avoid using the mother’s married surname – Remember, “maiden” means her surname before she married.
Affidavits must be consistent – Minor spelling discrepancies between IDs and affidavit can delay approval.
Keep photocopies of everything, including receipts and courier tracking numbers for PSA requests.
Senior benefits remain valid – While awaiting the corrected card, the senior can still use the old OSCA ID together with the filed petition receipt.
Indigency Certificates – Seniors below the poverty line can request the social welfare office to certify indigency and waive LCR fees.

7. Frequently Asked Questions

Question	Answer (Philippine practice)
Can I just overwrite the wrong name on the card?	No. Altered IDs are invalid under RA 9994’s IRR. Follow the formal replacement process.
Does marriage automatically change the mother’s maiden name in my birth record?	No. Your birth record—and therefore your OSCA ID—should continue to show her surname at the time of her own birth.
My mother is deceased; how do I prove her maiden name?	Submit her PSA Birth or Marriage Certificate; if unavailable, use a Certificate of No Record + Joint Affidavit of Two Disinterested Persons.
How long does PSA annotation take after RA 9048 approval?	2 – 4 months on average; you can pay for “walk-in” rush endorsement in some LCRs.
Will the correction invalidate previous senior discounts I availed?	No. Benefits already enjoyed remain valid; the correction only perfects your record moving forward.

8. Recommended Document Checklist

PSA Birth Certificate of senior (original + 3 photocopies)
PSA Marriage Certificate of mother (if relevant)
Valid government ID/s of senior (e.g., PhilSys, voter’s ID)
Notarized Affidavit of Discrepancy / Affidavit of Two Disinterested Persons
RA 9048 Petition Form & official receipt
Court order (if judicial route)
Two recent 1 × 1 ID photos for OSCA re-issuance

9. Final Reminders

Corrections done outside the official channels may expose you to falsification charges under Art. 171 of the Revised Penal Code.
Always verify information with your Local Civil Registrar and OSCA, because LGUs sometimes issue supplemental guidelines.
This guide is for general information only and is not a substitute for individualized legal advice. For complex surname controversies, consult a lawyer or the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO).

Bottom Line

If the Mother’s Maiden Name on your Senior Citizen ID is wrong, first decide whether the mistake is clerical (RA 9048 fix) or substantial (court petition). Secure the corrected PSA record → present it to OSCA → receive a free replacement ID. Doing it properly keeps your senior benefits intact and avoids future headaches with banks, hospitals, and government agencies.