Group 2 UPLIFT — Poor and Near-Poor Households, CBMS Identification, Manual First Payout, and Digital Transition

Group 2 is the largest beneficiary category by payment duration, covering 2.5 million poor and near-poor households identified through the 2024 Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS). These households are not enrolled in 4Ps or the Walang Gutom Program, making UPLIFT their primary form of government cash assistance. The group also includes 'near-poor' households — those whose incomes are between the poverty threshold and 25% above it — who are at the highest risk of falling into poverty due to the energy crisis.

How Beneficiaries Were Identified

The Philippine Statistics Authority's 2024 CBMS collected detailed household-level data across all 17 regions of the Philippines. The survey captured income, expenditure, household composition, access to services, and vulnerability indicators. The DSWD, working with the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development, cross-referenced the CBMS data with the Listahanan database to exclude households already covered by 4Ps or Walang Gutom. The remaining poor and near-poor households were ranked by poverty gap index, and the top 2.5 million were selected for UPLIFT Group 2. Beneficiaries were notified through text message, barangay announcements, and public notices posted at local government unit offices.

Payout Schedule and Amount

Each Group 2 beneficiary household receives P2,000 every month for six months, from July to December 2026, totaling P12,000. The first payout (July) is conducted manually at designated payout sites nationwide. DSWD has deployed personnel to each site to handle verification, identity validation, and payment account enrollment. The manual first payout serves a dual purpose: it validates that the beneficiary is alive and still residing at the registered address, and it allows DSWD staff to enroll the beneficiary's preferred digital payment account (GCash or LandBank) for the remaining five payouts.

The Digital Transition

Starting August 2026, the remaining five monthly payouts are sent digitally through either GCash or LandBank accounts. Beneficiaries choose their preferred channel during the first manual payout. DSWD strongly encourages beneficiaries to download and register with the eGov PH mobile application before attending the payout site, as this speeds up the verification process. Beneficiaries must also possess a valid Philippine National ID (PhilSys) or at minimum a National ID registration slip. For beneficiaries without smartphones, DSWD has arranged for special assistance at payout sites, including on-the-spot GCash account creation and printed transaction receipts.

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.