Know more about the Senior Citizen Discounts & Benefits

We might think getting old is boring and sad but hey, you might be wrong. Have you seen all the benefits the Senior Citizens are getting? Sometimes, their kids or even grandchild use their ID to get discounts or access in fast lanes. Kaya Wag ako!

They have been working hard for the past years and it’s time to enjoy and relax. We have the RA 9994 also known as the “Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010, ” defines senior citizen or elderly as any resident citizen of the Philippines at least 60 years old. Our government created this program to help especially those who needed it the most.

Discounts are very helpful especially in buying medicines since our lolos and lolas might have some illness already.

So Let’s start and help your parents, grandparents, or even yourself about your rights under the Senior Citizen Law.

Senior Citizen Discount is entitled to those Filipinos who are 60 years old and above. Senior citizens are entitled to a 20% discount and exemption from the value-added tax (VAT) on certain goods and services for their exclusive use. (Republic Act No. 9994)
Senior citizens can also get an OSCA ID and Booklet even if they are not paying or contributing to PhilHealth, Pag-IBIG, and SSS.

Senior Citizen discounts

Medicines – any medicine that is prescribed by your Doctor
Public Land Transportation – Bus, Jeep, Taxi, MRT, LRT, and PNR station.
Restaurants – Dine in or take out you can still avail your Senior Citizen Discount just show your Senior Citizen ID
Hotels – it includes the beach and mountain resort
Grocery Store – Save more, Pure Gold, SM Supermarket, etc.
Medical Supplies and Equipment – such as Needles, Syringes, Needle-holders, Medicine cups, Towels, Gauze, Compartment trays, Scissors
Medical and Dental Services (Public or Private) – Laboratory Test

Note: Always bring and show your Senior Citizen ID and Pamphlet, it is the only proof that you belong to Senior Citizenship.

Senior Citizen Benefits

Not only the 20% discount and VAT exemption, but there are also many other privileges Filipino senior citizens can enjoy.

Mandatory Insurance of PhilHealth for Senior Citizens

“All senior citizens shall be covered by the national health ins11rance program of Phi/Health. F11nds necessary to ens11re the enrollment of all senior citizens not Cllmnt!Y covered by a’!Y existing category shall be sol/reed from the National Health Ins11rance F11nd of Phi/Health from proceeds of&p11blicAct No. 10351, in accordance with the pertinent laws and reg11lations”.

Note: You still have to show any government-issued ID or register directly to PhilHealth

GSIS and SSS retirement benefits
Senior Citizen has a Maximum of 5% discount on Electricity and Water bill

As a Senior Citizen one advantage, you can have is to be in a priority lane plus a 5% discount if your name is registered to your utility bills. For the Electricity Bill, you can avail of the discount if you are not consuming more than 100kWh and 30 cubic meters in water in one month.

Senior Citizens 5% discount in the Grocery Store

As a Senior Citizen, you can avail of a 5% discount without a VAT Exemption in your weekly grocery, but only on selected items that you can see in your OSCA booklet which means not all items in the grocery store.

You can avail of the 5% discount on your weekly grocery worth of PHP 1,300. Here’s the list of goods you can buy:

- Noodles, canned sardines, and canned tuna
- Fresh milk and other dairy products
- Detergents
- Electrical supplies, light bulbs, and batteries
- Geriatric diapers
- Fresh fruits and vegetables
- Garlic and onions
- Cooking oil and salt
- Rice, bread, and corn
- Chicken, beef, and pork (fresh, canned, and processed)
- Fresh eggs
- Coffee, creamer, and sugar

Note: Always bring your OSCA ID and OSCA booklet because they are going to check or put a sticker on the item you purchased.

Senior Citizen can avail a 20% discount in Public Land Transportation and Ride-Hailing Service

LTFRB and the Department of Transportation announced the 20% discounts to all Senior Citizens in the Philippines which is mandatory. So, there is no reason for the driver or operator to have an excuse because it is required. And for the overpricing and choosy drivers, we can tell them that it is mandatory, whether they like it or not.

Note: If they are not going to obey at the LTFRB or The Department of Transportation they will be punished.

Training fee exemption

On any socio-economic programs organized by private and government subject to guidelines issued by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Agriculture, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and the Department of Science and Technology’s Technology Resource Center (DOST-TRC).

Free medical and dental services

You can avail in any government facilities

Free flu and pneumococcal vaccinations

This is for the indigent senior citizens and a monthly stipend of Php500, released every semester

Indigent elderly individuals qualified are those:

- Frail, sickly or with a disability
- Has no pension from the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), Social Security System (SSS), Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO), Armed Forces and Police Mutual Benefit Association (AFPMBAI) or other insurance companies
- No permanent income source
- No regular financial support from relatives to cover their basic needs.

Scholarships and financial assistance for seniors’ education in public and private schools
Discounts in special programs for senior citizens
Express lanes for senior citizens in all government offices and commercial establishments
Republic Act No. 10868 (Centenarians Act of 2016)

Additional privileges for centenarians: Filipinos in the country and abroad who reach 100 years old will receive Php100,000 and a letter of felicitation signed by the Philippine president.

An authorized representative may claim the 20% discount on a Senior’s behalf

If your parents or grandparents are too weak to move and buy their food and medicines on their own, you may claim the senior citizen discount on their behalf, as long as they’re the ones who will use the discounted products and services.

To be able to get the 20% discount on behalf of a senior citizen, a duly authorized representative must present these documents when paying for a purchase:

- Senior citizen ID or any government ID
- OSCA Purchase Booklet
- The representative’s government ID
- Signed authorization letter from the senior citizen
The Senior Citizen Act doesn’t allow multiple discounts
The senior citizen law states that when seniors purchase something on a promo, they can get only either of the two discounts, whichever is higher.
The same goes for elderly persons with disabilities (PWDs). They’re entitled to either the senior citizen discount or the PWD discount, but not both.

How to Compute Senior Citizen Discount

1. A senior citizen is exempted from paying Value Added Tax (VAT). To compute the VAT-exempt sales, divide the selling price by the VAT rate.

Example:

Product Price: PHP 1000
VAT Rate: 12%
Formula: Selling Price ÷ VAT Rate = VAT Exempt Sales
Solution: PHP 1000 ÷ 1.12 = PHP 892.86

2. Senior citizens are entitled to a 20% discount upon purchase of goods and services. To compute for the discount, deduct the percentage by multiplying the VAT exempt sales by 20%.

Formula: VAT Exempt Sales x 20% = Senior Citizen Discount
Solution: PHP 892.86 x 0.20 = PHP 178.57

3. To identify the billable amount, subtract the VAT exempt sales by senior citizen discount.

Formula: VAT Exempt Sales – Senior Citizen Discount = Billable Amount
Solution: PHP 892.86 – PHP 178.57 = PHP 714.29

Can Seniors avail the discount without using the Senior Citizen ID?

Seniors can still avail discounts on any transportation, restaurants, hotels, pharmacy, etc. Using the said Senior ID, but, if you forget it you should bring your Valid IDs which have an age that will prove that you belong to Senior Citizen.