SSS pensioners often worry that missing the Annual Confirmation of Pensioners requirement will stop their pension without warning. The key is to know whether ACOP applies to you, which birth month controls your deadline, and which compliance method fits your situation. Under current SSS rules, ACOP can be completed through facial authentication, personal appearance, video conference, email, mail, an authorized representative, or an approved home visit.

What is the SSS Annual Confirmation of Pensioners Program?

The Annual Confirmation of Pensioners, commonly called ACOP, is the SSS process for verifying each year that a pensioner is still alive and remains legally entitled to receive a monthly pension.

ACOP is not simply a “proof of life” requirement. Depending on the pension, SSS may also verify whether:

A surviving spouse has remarried;
A dependent child has married, become gainfully employed, or died;
A permanent total disability pensioner has recovered or resumed employment;
A retirement pensioner below age 65 has resumed employment or self-employment; or
The pension is being received by the proper pensioner or representative payee.

The program is governed primarily by Republic Act No. 11199, the Social Security Act of 2018, its Implementing Rules and Regulations, and SSS Circular No. 2023-013.

Who is required to comply with SSS ACOP?

The following pensioners are generally covered:

Type of pensioner	Required to comply?
Retirement pensioner residing in the Philippines, age 80 or older	Yes
Retirement pensioner residing abroad	Yes
Permanent total disability pensioner	Yes
Surviving spouse or death pensioner	Yes
Dependent minor or incapacitated child under guardianship	Yes
Retirement pensioner residing in the Philippines below age 80	Generally no, unless specifically notified by SSS

The age-80 requirement for Philippine-based retirement pensioners took effect beginning March 2024. A retirement pensioner below 80 should not assume that ACOP is required every year, but must comply when SSS sends a specific notice or requires additional verification. (Social Security System)

A pensioner’s nationality is not the deciding factor. The rules classify pensioners mainly according to the type of pension, age, residence, and continuing eligibility. Thus, a foreign national who qualified for an SSS pension generally follows the same ACOP rules applicable to the relevant pension category.

When should a pensioner comply with ACOP?

The correct schedule depends on the type of pension.

Pension type	Annual ACOP schedule
Retirement pension	Pensioner’s birth month
Permanent total disability pension	Pensioner’s birth month
Surviving spouse or death pension	Birth month of the deceased SSS member
Dependent child under guardianship	Birth month of the member or deceased member from whom the pension is derived

For example, a widow whose deceased husband was born in September normally complies in September, even when her own birthday is in February.

Initial ACOP compliance is generally due one year after approval of the retirement, disability, or death pension claim. Early compliance is allowed up to two months before the scheduled month. A pensioner scheduled in August may therefore comply as early as June.

Legal basis for suspension of an SSS pension

RA No. 11199 expressly allows suspension of certain pension benefits when continuing eligibility is no longer present.

For retirement pensioners, Section 12-B provides that the pension of a retired member below 65 may be suspended upon reemployment or resumption of self-employment. The IRR also permits suspension when a pensioner, after notice, fails to report for an interview or other SSS verification process.

For permanent total disability pensioners, Section 13-A allows suspension upon:

Reemployment or resumption of self-employment;
Recovery from permanent total disability; or
Failure to appear for the required annual examination after SSS notice.

For death or survivorship pensions, the dependent spouse remains eligible until remarriage. Eligible dependent children generally must be unmarried, not gainfully employed, and below 21, unless they became permanently incapacitated while still minors and remain incapable of self-support. (Social Security System)

This is why the ACOP forms ask questions about remarriage, cohabitation, employment, self-employment, recovery from disability, marriage of dependent children, and death of a beneficiary. These questions must be answered accurately.

SSS ACOP requirements

Choose the correct ACOP form

SSS currently uses separate forms for different pension categories:

Use one form for each type of pension. A person receiving two different pension benefits may have to submit separate compliance for each pension. The form must be signed by the pensioner or representative payee. When the person cannot sign, fingerprints may be affixed and properly witnessed as instructed on the form.

Identification requirements

The standard requirement is:

One primary identification document, or
Two secondary identification documents, both bearing the holder’s signature and at least one bearing a photograph.

Commonly accepted primary IDs include:

UMID card;
SSS card;
Philippine Identification or PhilID;
Passport, including a foreign-government passport;
Driver’s license;
Alien Certificate of Registration;
NBI clearance;
Postal ID;
Seafarer’s Identification and Record Book; and
Voter’s ID.

The 2026 SSS Citizen’s Charter states that an expired ID may still be accepted for identification when it contains the holder’s photograph and signature. A branch may nevertheless request another document when the photograph is no longer sufficient to establish identity or the information does not match SSS records. (Social Security System)

Additional documents by situation

Situation	Additional requirement normally needed
Email, mail, or representative filing	Chest-level photograph showing the pensioner with a current newspaper, or with a television news ticker showing the current headline and date
Pensioner confined in a hospital, nursing facility, retirement home, penitentiary, rehabilitation center, or similar institution	Certification from the institution
Permanent total disability pensioner	Medical document supporting the continuing disability, when required
Permanent total disability pensioner abroad	Recent medical certificate showing examination findings and current condition; certified laboratory results completed within one year, if applicable
Dependent child under guardianship	Guardian’s ID, dependent’s ID or school ID, and birth certificate when the child has no ID
Filing through a representative	Identification documents of both the pensioner and representative, signed or fingerprinted ACOP form, and current proof-of-life photograph

For proof-of-life photographs submitted by email, use a newspaper or television news date that is the same date as the email submission. For mail, courier, or representative filing, the safest practice is to take the photograph and submit the documents within three days. Some newer SSS materials refer to submission within the same month for mailed documents, but the Citizen’s Charter and underlying guidelines contain tighter three-day language in certain procedures. Using the shorter period reduces the risk of rejection. (Social Security System)

How to comply with SSS ACOP

1. Online facial authentication with liveness verification

SSS introduced online facial authentication in March 2026 for:

Philippine-based retirement pensioners age 80 or older;
Retirement pensioners residing abroad; and
Survivorship or death pensioners.

The pensioner must be registered with the Philippine Identification System or PhilSys. A My.SSS login is not required.

Go to the official SSS website.
Select Submit ACOP Compliance.
Confirm registration in the National ID System and accept the data-sharing terms.
Enter the pensioner’s SS number and date of birth.
Confirm the pensioner’s name.
For a survivorship pension, answer the question regarding remarriage truthfully.
Follow the PhilSys instructions and complete the live facial scan.
Save or print the confirmation page, transaction number, compliance date, and next ACOP schedule.

The facial scan normally takes less than a minute and updates the pensioner’s SSS record after successful validation. A camera-enabled phone, tablet, or computer is required. (Social Security System)

This facility does not currently cover every ACOP situation. In particular, disability pension compliance may be rejected by the online facial-authentication portal because medical or other verification may be required. A PhilSys mismatch also requires use of another compliance channel. (SSS Member Portal)

2. Personal compliance at an SSS office

A pensioner may personally submit the form and identification documents at:

The Member Services Section of an SSS branch or service office;
The Medical Evaluation Section or Physical Examination Center for a disability case; or
A participating pension depository bank, when that facility is available.

An appointment may be booked through My.SSS, although actual branch arrangements may vary. Bring the original form and identification documents. Personal compliance normally does not require a newspaper photograph because the SSS employee can verify the pensioner in person. (Social Security System)

3. ACOP through video conference

Video conference is useful for pensioners abroad, those far from an SSS branch, or those who cannot travel easily.

Log in to My.SSS and choose Set Appointment.
Select Compliance to Annual Confirmation of Pensioners.
Choose ACOP through video conference.
Select Microsoft Teams or the channel offered by SSS.
Choose the region, branch, date, and time.
Wait for the confirmation notice and meeting link.
Keep the ACOP form and identification documents ready during the call.

Pensioners abroad should generally choose:

Region: POEA and Foreign Offices
Branch: OFW Contact Services Section

An appointment may also be requested through the nearest SSS foreign office or by emailing ofw.relations@sss.gov.ph. Wait for an official confirmation before treating the appointment as final. (Social Security System)

4. ACOP through email

A Philippine-based pensioner may send the requirements to the corporate email address of the appropriate SSS branch. An overseas pensioner may send them to the nearest SSS foreign office or the OFW Contact Services Section.

Use this subject format:

ACOP Compliance, Full Name of Pensioner

Attach clear PDF or image copies of:

The completed and signed ACOP form;
One primary ID or two secondary IDs;
The required current proof-of-life photograph;
Medical documents or institutional certification, when applicable; and
Documents concerning the dependent or guardian, when applicable.

Do not assume that merely sending the email completes ACOP. Keep the sent email and attachments, and look for an acknowledgment or notice confirming the action taken and the next compliance schedule. (Social Security System)

5. ACOP through mail or courier

For pensioners in the Philippines, mail the documents to the branch head of an SSS branch or service office.

For pensioners abroad, documents may be mailed to the nearest SSS foreign representative office or to:

OFW-Contact Services Section International Operations Group 11th Floor, SSS Main Office East Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City 1100 Philippines

Use tracked mail or courier and keep:

The tracking number;
Proof of delivery;
A complete copy of the documents;
The proof-of-life photograph; and
Any acknowledgment received from SSS.

Mailing close to the deadline is risky because SSS may receive the documents after the scheduled month or may return an incomplete submission. (Social Security System)

6. Compliance through a representative

A representative may submit the documents at an SSS branch when the pensioner cannot personally appear.

The representative should bring:

The pensioner’s properly signed or fingerprinted ACOP form;
The pensioner’s identification document;
The representative’s identification document;
A current proof-of-life photograph; and
Medical or institutional documents, when relevant.

The standard ACOP checklist focuses on the form, identification of both persons, and proof of life. However, SSS may conduct further verification when identity, authority, guardianship, incapacity, or the pensioner’s whereabouts cannot be clearly established. (Social Security System)

7. Requesting an SSS home or institutional visit

A home or domiciliary visit may be requested for a pensioner in the Philippines who cannot comply personally because of serious illness, old age, inability to communicate, mental incapacity, or confinement in a hospital, nursing facility, rehabilitation center, or penitentiary.

Submit:

A signed letter explaining why a visit is necessary;
A copy of one primary ID or two secondary IDs of the pensioner;
A sketch or clear directions to the location; and
Supporting medical or institutional documents when available.

A home visit is not automatic upon request. SSS must evaluate and schedule it, so the request should be made well before the pensioner’s compliance month. (Social Security System)

SSS ACOP fees and processing time

SSS does not charge a standard processing fee for ACOP.

The 2026 SSS Citizen’s Charter lists indicative service times of approximately:

Method	Indicative SSS processing time
Through a representative	15 minutes
Through email	6 minutes
Video conference	15 minutes
Personal compliance	18 minutes

These figures refer to the agency’s handling time for a complete and straightforward transaction. They do not include branch queues, appointment availability, email backlog, mail delivery, document correction, medical evaluation, data matching, or investigation. (Social Security System)

There is no standard apostille or notarization requirement for an ordinary ACOP form and identification documents in the published checklist. For foreign-language IDs, follow the form’s instruction on obtaining an official English translation through a Philippine embassy or consulate. When SSS separately requests a foreign medical record, civil registry document, or guardianship order, confirm the required certification or apostille before paying for authentication because requirements may depend on the document and issuing country.

What happens if you fail to comply with ACOP?

Failure to comply on schedule normally results in automatic pension suspension one month after the applicable birth month.

Examples:

A retirement pensioner scheduled in May may face suspension beginning in June.
A surviving spouse whose deceased husband’s birth month was October may face suspension beginning in November.

If the account remains suspended for two years, SSS may automatically cancel the pension record. Cancellation after prolonged noncompliance does not necessarily mean that all entitlement is permanently lost, but resumption will require compliance and verification of continuing eligibility. (Social Security System)

The current SSS public guidance states that pension resumption may take up to two months from compliance, with recalled and accrued pensions credited to the pensioner’s disbursement account. SSS Circular No. 2023-013 provides a shorter ordinary resumption period but allows additional time when further verification or coordination with payment partners is necessary. For practical planning, a pensioner should allow up to two months and promptly follow up when no status notice is received. (Social Security System)

Common ACOP problems and how to avoid them

Using the pensioner’s birth month for a survivor pension

For a surviving spouse or dependent child, the schedule is normally based on the deceased member’s birth month, not the beneficiary’s birthday.

Submitting the wrong form

A surviving spouse should not use the retirement form. A guardian of a dependent child should use the representative-payee form. Incorrect forms may be returned without being encoded.

Sending an old or unclear proof-of-life photograph

The pensioner’s face, newspaper headline, and date must be readable. For television proof, the news ticker and date must be visible. Avoid cropped screenshots, edited images, or photographs where the date cannot be confirmed.

Assuming an email was approved

A sent email is proof of transmission, not proof of successful ACOP compliance. Save the acknowledgment or confirmation stating the action taken and the next schedule.

Name or birth-date mismatch with PhilSys

Facial authentication may fail when the name, suffix, date of birth, or other personal information differs between SSS and PhilSys records. Use another ACOP channel for the current deadline, then process the appropriate data correction separately.

Failing to report a change in eligibility

Survivors should disclose remarriage. Guardians should disclose if a dependent has married, become employed, or died. Disability pensioners should truthfully report recovery or employment. False statements or falsified documents may lead to pension cancellation, recovery of improper payments, and possible criminal liability under RA No. 11199 and other applicable laws.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do all SSS retirement pensioners need to submit ACOP?

No. Retirement pensioners residing in the Philippines who are below 80 are generally exempt unless SSS specifically notifies them. Retirement pensioners age 80 or older and retirement pensioners residing abroad are required to comply.

Can I comply with SSS ACOP online?

Yes, eligible National ID-registered retirement and survivorship pensioners may use facial authentication. Other pensioners may use video conference, email, mail, personal appearance, a representative, or an approved home visit.

Do I need a My.SSS account for facial authentication?

No. The facial-authentication facility is accessed through the SSS website and does not require a My.SSS login. The pensioner must, however, have matching PhilSys records.

Can a family member process ACOP for me?

Yes, compliance through a representative is allowed. The representative must submit the proper form, identification documents of both parties, and current proof that the pensioner is alive. Additional proof may be requested where guardianship, incapacity, or authority is unclear.

Can I submit ACOP before my birth month?

Yes. Early compliance is allowed up to two months before the scheduled birth month.

What birthday should a surviving spouse follow?

The surviving spouse normally follows the birth month of the deceased SSS member, not the surviving spouse’s own birth month.

Is there a fee for SSS ACOP?

SSS does not charge a processing fee. A pensioner may still incur private expenses for photocopies, photographs, courier services, internet access, translations, medical certificates, or authentication when separately required.

What happens to missed pension payments after late compliance?

When SSS confirms that the pensioner remained eligible, accrued or recalled pension payments are generally credited to the pensioner’s disbursement account after resumption. Additional verification may delay the release.

Can an expired passport or ID be used?

The 2026 SSS Citizen’s Charter says an expired ID may be accepted when it bears the holder’s photograph and signature. Bring another available ID when possible, especially if the photograph is old or the personal details differ from SSS records.

What should I do if online facial verification fails?

Use another accepted method before the deadline, such as personal appearance, video conference, email, mail, or representative filing. Do not repeatedly rely on the online portal when it already indicates an SSS–PhilSys mismatch.

Key Takeaways

ACOP applies mainly to Philippine-based retirement pensioners age 80 or older, retirement pensioners abroad, total disability pensioners, survivors, and dependent children under guardianship.
Retirement and disability pensioners follow their own birth month; survivors and dependent children follow the deceased or originating member’s birth month.
Early compliance is allowed up to two months before the scheduled month.
Eligible PhilSys-registered retirement and survivor pensioners may complete ACOP through online facial authentication.
Email, mail, representative, video conference, personal appearance, and home-visit options remain available.
Use the correct form, readable IDs, and a current proof-of-life photograph when filing remotely.
There is no standard SSS processing fee.
Missing ACOP may suspend the pension one month after the applicable birth month and may lead to cancellation after two years of suspension.