In March 2026, the government established the Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT) framework to mitigate the effects of the Middle East conflict on the economy. As part of this framework, it launched the UPLIFT Cash Assistance Program, providing cash aid to poor, near-poor, and low-income households.
Implemented by the DSWD, the program caters to three groups of beneficiaries: 4PS and WGP members (Group 1); households identified by the 2024 Community-Based Monitoring System or CBMS (Group 2); and low-income SSS members (Group 3). This article focuses on Group 3 beneficiaries and how they can claim cash aid.
Group 3 Beneficiaries
To qualify as a beneficiary under Group 3 category, a person must:
- Be a Social Security System (SSS) member belonging to the employed sector;
- Have a Monthly Salary Credit (MSC) of PHP 20,000 or below;
- Have paid at least one SSS contribution in 2025 or 2026;
- Have an enrolled SSS disbursement account as of April 30, 2026; and
- Be included in the 2024 CBMS database of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
NOTE: Only one qualified member per household is selected. For example, if there are two or more low-income SSS members in the same household, the oldest member is chosen as the beneficiary.
No Registration Needed
According to the DSWD, registration to the UPLIFT Cash Assistance Program is not necessary, since beneficiaries have already been identified through existing databases. In the case of Group 3 beneficiaries, these databases include SSS records and the 2024 CBMS. Qualified recipients receive an official notification or email through their My.SSS account.
Payout via Direct Deposit
Under the program, Group 3 beneficiaries will receive PHP 2,000 per month for six months, from July to December 2026. The monthly payout is sent directly to their enrolled SSS disbursement account, be it a bank account, e-wallet (e.g. GCash or Maya), or cash card.
Important Reminders
Beware of any email or text message stating that you are qualified for the UPLIFT Program. Beneficiaries have already been identified, and qualified SSS members have received official notifications directly in their My.SSS account. Keep in mind that the SSS does not make calls, send links, or ask for OTPs through email, text, or other messaging apps.
For SSS members who have received confirmation about their eligibility to the program, but have not received payment — take time to update your bank information through You’re My.SSS account. Once this is corrected, any unpaid monthly grant will be credited during the next payout schedule.
Additionally, qualified SSS beneficiaries are reminded to keep their bank information updated in the My.SSS portal, to avoid any problems or delays in receiving their upcoming UPLIFT payments.
Image Credit: Department of Social Welfare and Development – DSWD / Facebook
As of August 3, 2026, more than 978,000 low-income SSS members have already received their UPLIFT Cash Assistance, the DSWD reported. Indeed, the cash aid is a big help to numerous households, as the country continues to be under a state of national energy emergency.
Meanwhile, payout to other beneficiary groups is also ongoing. For those who are part of the “near poor” category (Group 2), check out this guide on how to register an account to receive UPLIFT Cash Assistance.