The Government Service Insurance System has increased its funeral benefit for government workers and qualified pensioners from P30,000 to P50,000 for claims arising from deaths occurring on or after July 13, 2026.
The increase is intended to provide families with greater financial assistance for funeral expenses and allow them to focus on honoring their loved ones with dignity during a time of loss.
“Every family deserves support and dignity when they lose someone they love. Raising the funeral benefit to Php 50,000 means the GSIS stands beside our members’ families at the exact moment they need us most,” GSIS President and General Manager Wick Veloso said.
The GSIS provides funeral assistance to about 21,000 to 25,000 families nationwide each year. To sustain the expanded benefit, the state pension fund will allocate up to P1.25 billion annually.
The benefit is available to qualified active members, separated members entitled to future separation or retirement benefits, and old-age pensioners.
It also covers retirees who opted for retirement under Republic Act No. 1616 despite being of pensionable age under Republic Act No. 8291, as well as members who retired under RA 1616 before RA 8291 took effect, provided they had rendered at least 20 years of government service.
The funeral benefit is a one-time payment of P50,000 payable to a single qualified beneficiary or claimant.
The payment will be released according to the following order of priority: the deceased member’s legitimate spouse, the legitimate child who paid for the funeral expenses, or, in the absence of both, any person who can present sufficient proof that they shouldered the funeral costs.
Claimants must submit the prescribed documentary requirements, including the member’s death certificate, a valid government-issued identification card, and other supporting documents as appropriate to their relationship to the deceased.
Claimants who are not the deceased member’s spouse must also present proof of payment for the funeral expenses.
“The funeral benefit is one of the most immediate forms of assistance we give our members. Raising it to Php 50,000 shows how seriously the GSIS takes that responsibility,” Veloso said.