What is the Annual Confirmation of Pensioners (ACOP) Program?

The ACOP, first implemented in 2004, is a measure used by the SSS to ensure the continuous payment of benefits to the rightful pensioners, in accordance with the Social Security Law. ACOP aims to protect pensioners or their beneficiaries, as well as the SSS Fund from instances of fraud. To do this, pensioners are required to submit annually proof of their continued existence, and/or proof of non-remarriage/non-cohabitation, or proof of continued disability, whichever is applicable. Non-compliance with the ACOP will lead to the suspension of their monthly pensions.

During the COVID-19 Pandemic of 2020, the ACOP was suspended to ensure the safety of pensioners. In October 1, 2021, with the downgrading of COVID Alert Levels in the country, the ACOP was reimplemented.

How can pensioners comply with ACOP?

In previous years, SSS required its pensioners to report personally at the nearest SSS branch or depository bank, either on their birth month (for retirement and total disability pensioners), or on the birth month of the deceased member (for death survivor pensioners). However, with the onset of the COVID pandemic, SSS adopted safer ways of conducting ACOP that will not require personal appearances from pensioners. For example, through strengthened linkages and data-matching with other government agencies (e.g., Philippine Statistics Authority), retirement pensioners based in the Philippines are no longer required to comply with ACOP.

Starting October 1, 2021, those who are required to comply under the new ACOP guidelines are:

  • retirement pensioners residing abroad
  • total disability pensioners
  • survivor pensioners; and
  • dependent (minor/incapacitated) pensioners.

There are several options for pensioners to comply with ACOP. They should first download the ACOP Form (Pensioner’s Reply) from the SSS Website and accomplish it completely.

Pensioners Residing in the Philippines

Case and Type of Pensioner Manner of Compliance and Where to Comply Requirements
  • Survivor
  • Dependent (minor/incapacitated)
  • With the guardian
 Thru corporate email of the SSS branch office, following the format below as the email subject:

ACOP Compliance, Pensioner’s Name, 

(e.g., ACOP Compliance, Juan dela Cruz)

Thru mail or courier addressed to the SS branch office

 Send the scanned copy of the following required documents:

  1. Duly accomplished ACOP Pensioner’s Reply Form
  2. One primary ID card or at least two secondary ID cards. See list of accepted IDs
  3. Self-Declaration of surviving spouse on Non-Marriage/Non-Cohabitation (for survivor pensioners only)
  4. Additional document, whichever is applicable:

Note: The date of newspaper/news crawler or ticker on the TV must be the same with the date of submission of ACOP compliance thru email or must be within the same month on the date of submission of ACOP compliance thru mail/courier.

    • Certification from the institution where the pensioner is confined such as retirement home, penitentiary, nursing facility, hospital, correctional institution, rehabilitation center, etc., if pensioner is confined in an institution
Personal Compliance to the pensioner’s depository bank or Member Services Section (MSS) of any SSS branch office or service office Submit the following required documents to any SSS branch/service office:

  1. Duly accomplished ACOP Pensioner’s Reply Form
  2. One primary ID card or at least two secondary ID cards. See list of accepted IDs.
  3. Self-Declaration of surviving spouse on Non-Marriage/ Non-Cohabitation (for survivor pensioners only)
Thru Representative at the MSS of any SSS branch office or service office Submit the following required documents to any SSS branch/service office:

  1. Duly accomplished ACOP Pensioner’s Reply Form
  2. One primary ID card or at least two secondary ID cards of pensioner and representative. See list of accepted IDs.
  3. Self-Declaration of surviving spouse on Non-Marriage/Non-Cohabitation (for survivor pensioners only)
  4. Additional documents, whichever is applicable:
    • If confined at home
      • Sketch of residence of pensioner
      • Certification of pensioner’s existence from Barangay Chairman
      • Medical certificate on examination done within three (3) months of date of compliance and certified by a physician indicating his license number and clinic address
    • If confined in an institution
      • Certification from the institution where the pensioner is confined such as retirement home, penitentiary, nursing facility, hospital, correctional institution, rehabilitation center, etc.
Total disability pensioner Personal Compliance to the Medical Evaluation Section (MES)/PE Center (PEC) of any SSS branch office or service office Send copy of the following required documents:

  1. Duly accomplished ACOP Pensioner’s Reply Form
  2. One primary ID card or at least two secondary ID cards. See list of accepted IDs.
  3. Chest-level photo or snapshot of the pensioner holding a current newspaper wherein the headline and date of publication are prominently displayed or having a background of news crawler/ticker on the TV showing the current news headline and date.
  4. Recent Medical Certificate issued by his/her attending physician or by any government physician indicating complete physical examination findings and current medical status/condition.
  5. Certified true copy of result of laboratory procedure done within one (1) year from birth month (if any)
Home Visit (upon request)
  1. Written request from the member/representative thru email of Medical Services Section/mail of the nearest SSS branch.
  2. Certified true copy of their laboratory results conducted within one year from their birth month.

Pensioners Residing Abroad

Case and Type of Pensioner Manner of Compliance and Where to Comply Requirements
  • Retirement
  • Survivor
  • Dependent (minor/incapacitated)
  • With the guardian
 Thru video conference using MS Teams (except for total disability pensioner)
  1. Request an appointment thru email at ofw.relations@sss.gov.ph.
  2. Wait for SSS’ email confirmation on the ACOP-VC appointment together with the Transaction Reference Number (TRN), requirements for ACOP-VC and MS Teams Meeting Link.
  3. Present one primary ID card or at least two secondary ID cards during the video conference.
Thru corporate email of Foreign Representative Office or OFW-Contact Services Section at ofw.relations@sss.gov.ph following the format below as the email subject:

ACOP Compliance, Pensioner’s Name

(e.g., ACOP Compliance, Juan dela Cruz)

 

Thru mail or courier addressed to:

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

OR

The nearest Foreign Representative Office (addresses can be found at the SSS website)

 Send the scanned copy of the following required documents:

  1. Duly accomplished ACOP Pensioner’s Reply Form
  2. One primary ID card or at least two secondary ID cards
  3. Self-Declaration of surviving spouse on Non-Marriage/Non-Cohabitation
  4. Additional document, whichever is applicable:

Note: The date of newspaper/news crawler or ticker on the TV must be the same with the date of submission of ACOP compliance thru email or must be within the same month on the date of submission of ACOP compliance thru mail/courier.

    • Certification from the institution where the pensioner is confined such as retirement home, penitentiary, nursing facility, hospital, correctional institution, rehabilitation center, etc., if pensioner is confined in an institution.
Total disability pensioner Thru mail or courier addressed to the nearest Foreign Representative Office (addresses can be found at the SSS website) Send copy of the following required documents:

  1. Duly accomplished ACOP Form (Pensioner’s reply)
  2. One primary ID card or at least two secondary ID cards
  3. Chest-level photo or snapshot of the pensioner holding a current newspaper wherein the headline and date of publication are prominently displayed or having a background of news crawler/ticker on the TV showing the current news headline and date.
  4. Recent Medical Certificate issued by his/her attending physician or by any government physician indicating complete physical examination findings and current medical status/condition.
  5. Certified true copy of result of laboratory procedure done within one (1) year from birth month (if any)

With the current downgrading of COVID Alert Levels, how will ACOP be implemented?

Starting April 1, 2022, SSS pensioners should follow their usual compliance schedule in complying with the ACOP requirement.

TYPE OF PENSIONER SCHEDULE OF COMPLIANCE
Retirement Pensioner residing abroad Month of birth of the pensioner
Total Disability pensioner
Survivor Pensioner Month of birth of the deceased member
Dependent (minor/incapacitated)

  • With the guardian
 Month of birth of the member or deceased member, as applicable

What happens if a pensioner fails to comply with ACOP?

Failure to comply with ACOP on the right schedule will result in the suspension of the monthly pension. It will be automatically suspended two months after the month of birth of the pensioner or of the deceased member.

If a pensioner with suspended pension is finally able to comply with ACOP, how soon will their pension be resumed?

Resumption of pension shall be within two (2) months from the date of compliance of the pensioner. All recalled pensions from the pensioner’s depository bank, if any, and all accrued pensions shall be credited to the pensioner’s account.