Quick answer
To get a monthly SSS retirement pension you need at least 120 monthly contributions before the semester you retire, and you must be 60 and separated from work, or 65. Your pension is the highest of three amounts: ₱300 + 20% of your average MSC + 2% of it for each credited year beyond 10; 40% of your average MSC; or the minimum pension (₱1,200, or ₱2,400 with 20+ credited years), plus a ₱1,000 additional benefit.
Key takeaways
- Age 60 if you have stopped working (optional retirement) or 65 (technical retirement), plus 120 posted contributions for a lifetime pension.
- With fewer than 120 contributions you get a one-time lump sum (your contributions plus interest), not a monthly pension.
- The pension is the highest of three formulas, plus a ₱1,000 additional benefit and a 13th-month pension every December.
- SSS is adding 10% to retirement pensions each year from 2025 to 2027 under its Pension Reform Program.
- More credited years and a higher average MSC are the two levers that raise your pension.
On this page
The SSS retirement pension is a lifetime monthly income, but many Filipinos only learn how it is computed when they are already close to 60. Knowing the formula early shows you exactly which choices raise it.
Who can retire under SSS?
| Type | Age | Work status | Contributions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Optional retirement | 60 to 64 | Must have stopped working (separated) or stopped self-employment | 120 for a monthly pension |
| Technical retirement | 65 | Can still be working | 120 for a monthly pension |
| Lump sum | 60 (separated) or 65 | — | Fewer than 120 |
Special rules with earlier retirement ages apply to underground and surface mineworkers and racehorse jockeys.
The 120 contributions must be paid before the semester of retirement. Contributions paid after you reach retirement age do not count.
How the monthly pension is computed
SSS computes three amounts and pays the highest:
- ₱300 + 20% of AMSC + 2% of AMSC × (credited years of service − 10)
- 40% of AMSC
- Minimum pension: ₱1,200 if you have 10 to 19 credited years; ₱2,400 if you have 20 or more
Then a ₱1,000 additional benefit is added each month.
AMSC (average monthly salary credit) is the higher of (a) your average MSC over the last 60 months before retirement, or (b) your average MSC over all your contributions. Credited years of service (CYS) count the calendar years in which you had at least six monthly contributions, starting from your first contribution.
Example 1: 20 years, AMSC ₱20,000
- Formula 1: ₱300 + ₱4,000 + (₱400 × 10) = ₱8,300
- Formula 2: 40% × ₱20,000 = ₱8,000
- Minimum: ₱2,400
- Pension: ₱8,300 + ₱1,000 = ₱9,300 a month
Example 2: 30 years, AMSC ₱20,000
- Formula 1: ₱300 + ₱4,000 + (₱400 × 20) = ₱12,300
- Pension: ₱12,300 + ₱1,000 = ₱13,300 a month
Ten more credited years add ₱4,000 a month for life.
Example 3: 15 years, AMSC ₱15,000
- Formula 1: ₱300 + ₱3,000 + (₱300 × 5) = ₱4,800
- Formula 2: 40% × ₱15,000 = ₱6,000
- Pension: ₱6,000 + ₱1,000 = ₱7,000 a month
These are the formula results. Actual payouts are higher for pensioners covered by SSS's across-the-board increases (see below). Use the retirement calculator in My.SSS to check your own figures.
Why ₱20,000 matters: the pension formula uses the regular SSS portion of your MSC, which tops out at ₱20,000. Contributions on MSC above ₱20,000 build your separate MySSS Pension Booster account, which is paid out on top of the pension. See our SSS contribution table.
The 2025–2027 pension increases
Under its Pension Reform Program, SSS is raising retirement and disability pensions by 10% a year for three years, starting in 2025. The 2026 increase was released early, from June 2026, for those already pensioners as of May 31, 2026. Death and survivor pensions get 5%. Increases are applied automatically.
Extra benefits for retirees
- 13th-month pension every December.
- Dependents' pension of 10% of the basic pension or ₱250, whichever is higher, for each minor child (up to five).
- 18-month advance: you may take the first 18 monthly pensions as a discounted lump sum at retirement, with monthly payments starting on the 19th month.
- Pension loan: pensioners can borrow against their pension, repaid through deductions.
What if you have fewer than 120 contributions?
You receive a lump sum equal to your total contributions plus interest, not a lifetime pension. If you are between 60 and 64, you can continue as a voluntary member until you reach 120 contributions. For many people, a few more years of contributions turn a one-time payout into income for life.
How to apply
- Make sure your membership records (name, birth date, civil status, beneficiaries) are correct.
- Enroll a disbursement account in My.SSS through DAEM.
- File the retirement claim online in My.SSS when you meet the age requirement. Employees retiring at 60 should file after separation from their employer.
- Submit any requested supporting documents through My.SSS or an SSS branch.
- Complete the Annual Confirmation of Pensioners each year, or your pension may be suspended.
How to increase your future pension
- Avoid gaps. Each year with fewer than six contributions doesn't count as a credited year.
- Contribute on your true income. Self-employed members who declare the minimum MSC get close to the minimum pension.
- Keep paying as a voluntary member between jobs or abroad.
- Don't rely on SSS alone. A ₱9,000 to ₱13,000 monthly pension rarely covers retirement on its own. Supplement it with Pag-IBIG MP2, a PERA account or a long-term investment plan.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the SSS pension if I contributed for 20 years?
It depends on your average MSC. With an average MSC of ₱20,000 and 20 credited years, the first formula gives ₱300 + ₱4,000 + ₱4,000 = ₱8,300, which is higher than 40% of AMSC (₱8,000). Adding the ₱1,000 additional benefit, the monthly pension is about ₱9,300 before any across-the-board increases.
Can I still get a pension if I have less than 120 contributions?
Not a monthly pension. At 60 (if separated) or 65 you receive a lump sum equal to your total contributions plus interest. If you are 60 to 64, you can keep paying as a voluntary member to reach 120 contributions and qualify for a lifetime pension.
What is the 18-month advance pension?
When you retire, you can choose to receive the first 18 monthly pensions in advance as a lump sum, discounted at a preferential rate. Your regular monthly pension then starts on the 19th month.
Can I keep working after claiming my SSS pension?
If you retired at 60 under optional retirement and go back to work as an employee before 65, your pension is suspended. After 65, you can work and continue receiving your pension.
Do I need to apply to receive the SSS pension increase?
No. Pension increases under the SSS Pension Reform Program are applied automatically to eligible retirement and disability pensioners, according to SSS.
Sources
Figures checked against these official and primary sources on October 4, 2026. Government rates and promos change, so confirm on the agency's site before you act.
- Social Security System: Retirement benefit and online application
- SSS: 2026 pension increase under the Pension Reform Program
- Republic Act No. 11199, Social Security Act of 2018
General information, not personal financial, tax or legal advice. See our editorial standards and disclaimer. Found an outdated figure? Email support@success.ph.