Group 1 UPLIFT — 4Ps and Walang Gutom Beneficiaries, One-Time P2,000, and Crediting Mechanism

Group 1 of the UPLIFT program covers the 3.5 million households already enrolled in the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) or the Walang Gutom Program. These households receive regular government assistance: 4Ps beneficiaries get conditional cash transfers for education and health, while Walang Gutom beneficiaries receive food credits for essential nutrition. The UPLIFT payment serves as an additional one-time support during the energy emergency.

Who Is Included in Group 1

Group 1 includes two overlapping but distinct populations. First, 4Ps beneficiaries: households identified through the National Household Targeting System (Listahanan) that meet the poverty criteria and comply with conditionalities such as school attendance for children and health checkups for pregnant women and children under five. As of 2026, 4Ps covers approximately 4.4 million households nationwide, of which 3.5 million overlap with or are distinct from Walang Gutom beneficiaries. Second, Walang Gutom Program beneficiaries: households receiving food credits through the DSWD's nutrition program. Some households are enrolled in both programs, but the P2,000 UPLIFT payment is per household, not per program — meaning dual-enrolled households receive P2,000 once, not P4,000.

Payment Amount and Duration

Unlike Groups 2 and 3 who receive P2,000 monthly for six months, Group 1 receives a one-time P2,000 payment. The rationale, according to DSWD, is that Group 1 households already receive regular government assistance (4Ps grants average P2,000 to P3,000 per month, and Walang Gutom provides monthly food credits). The UPLIFT payment supplements these existing transfers without creating long-term dependency. Total disbursement for Group 1 is approximately P7 billion.

Payment Mechanism

For existing 4Ps beneficiaries with registered GCash or LandBank accounts: the P2,000 is credited directly to the same account used for regular 4Ps distributions. Beneficiaries do not need to take any action. For new 4Ps beneficiaries who have been enrolled within the last 12 months but do not yet have an account number registered: payment is made through over-the-counter payout at designated LandBank branches. The beneficiary must present a valid ID and their 4Ps household number. For Walang Gutom beneficiaries: payments are disbursed during the beneficiary's scheduled food redemption activity. The P2,000 is added to their food credit balance or distributed in cash alongside the food package, depending on the regional implementation.

Learn more: check out UPLIFT Frequently Asked Questions — Eligibility Confusion, Missed Payouts, and Deadlines Explained and Receiving UPLIFT via GCash — Account Setup, Verification, and Troubleshooting Disbursement Issues for additional information, or visit the main portal for a complete overview.