Retirement age in the Philippines, rule by rule

There is no single retirement age in the Philippines. Each programme sets its own, and each adds conditions besides age.

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SSS retirement age in detail

RA 11199 Sec. 12-B gives a monthly pension to a member with at least 120 monthly contributions before the semester of retirement who:

• is 60 and “is already separated from employment or has ceased to be self-employed” (optional retirement). SSS’s page adds that this includes having stopped work as an OFW or household helper; or
• is 65, whether or not they are still working (technical retirement).

If you retire at 60 and go back to work or self-employment before 65, the law says your pension is suspended (Sec. 12-B(c)).

Fewer than 120 contributions. You get a lump sum instead of a monthly pension: the law says “equal to the total contributions paid”, and SSS’s page says this includes interest earned. SSS also lets you keep paying as a voluntary member until you reach 120 contributions, so you can get the monthly pension.

Different ages apply to underground and surface mineworkers (optional retirement at 50, technical at 60) and racehorse jockeys (technical at 55), as SSS’s page explains.

How the pension is worked out is on our SSS pension guide. Estimate yours with the SSS pension calculator.

Private employees and RA 7641

The Retirement Pay Law covers private-sector workers whose employer has no retirement plan or agreement. A worker who is 60 or older, but not beyond 65, and has served at least five years with the employer may retire and receive at least one-half month’s salary for every year of service. 65 is the compulsory retirement age under the law.

A company retirement plan, employment contract or collective bargaining agreement can set its own retirement age, and can give more than the law, but not less. Retail, service and agricultural businesses with not more than ten workers are exempt.

Work out the minimum with the retirement pay calculator. Read RA 7641 explained for the rules.

OFWs past 60

SSS coverage is compulsory for sea-based and land-based OFWs “Provided, That they are not over sixty (60) years of age” (RA 11199 Sec. 9-B). If you are still working abroad at 60:

• with 120 contributions, you can claim the pension once you stop working abroad, or at 65 even if you are still working;
• with fewer than 120, you can keep paying as a voluntary member to reach 120, or take the lump sum.

Check your posted contributions in your My.SSS account before you turn 60, so there is time to fill any gaps.

Retiring before 60

Before 60 there is no SSS retirement pension, and RA 7641 retirement pay starts at 60 unless your employer’s plan allows earlier. PERA allows tax-free withdrawals from 55 if you have contributed for at least five years (RA 9505 Sec. 12). What you can draw on before 60, and what it costs to stop early, is in our guide to early retirement in the Philippines.

Ages that matter after you stop working

• 60, senior citizen: RA 9994 defines a senior citizen as “any resident citizen of the Philippines at least sixty (60) years old”. Its implementing rules add that this can include dual citizens who prove their Filipino citizenship and have lived in the Philippines for at least six months. The senior citizen ID from your city or municipality’s Office for Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) unlocks the 20% discount and VAT exemption. See senior citizen discount and benefits. See the senior citizen ID guide.
• Pag-IBIG Fund: membership runs for 20 years, or ends earlier on retirement and other grounds (RA 9679 Sec. 8). The Fund’s claims page lists optional retirement at 60 and compulsory retirement at 65. See the Pag-IBIG provident claim guide for the grounds and how to claim.
• Government workers retire under GSIS: at 60 with at least 15 years of service, and compulsorily at 65 (RA 8291 Sec. 13). See gsis.gov.ph for details.