Group 3 UPLIFT — Low-Wage SSS Members, P20,000 Salary Credit Threshold, and Automatic Disbursement

Group 3 of the UPLIFT program covers 1.5 million low-wage workers who are members of the Social Security System. These beneficiaries are identified through a data-sharing agreement between the DSWD and SSS, which cross-references the 2024 CBMS data with the SSS member contribution database. The eligibility criteria are specifically designed to reach formal-sector workers who earn too little to absorb fuel price increases but earn too much to qualify for 4Ps or other anti-poverty programs.

Detailed Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for Group 3, a worker must satisfy all of the following conditions. Employment status: must be currently employed (private sector, government, or self-employed with SSS coverage). Income threshold: must have an SSS Monthly Salary Credit (MSC) of P20,000 or less. The MSC is not the same as gross monthly salary; it is the compensation bracket used for SSS contribution computation. An MSC of P20,000 corresponds to an actual monthly salary of approximately P20,000 to P22,499. Contribution history: must have made at least one SSS contribution in calendar year 2025 or 2026 — this ensures the worker is actively covered. CBMS validation: the worker must be included in the 2024 CBMS database as a household member. Disbursement account: must have an enrolled SSS disbursement account (LandBank, GCash, or other SSS-accredited bank) as of April 30, 2026. If multiple qualified SSS members reside in the same household, only the oldest member by age is eligible for the P2,000 monthly assistance.

Payment Amount and Duration

Each qualified household receives P2,000 monthly for six months (July to December 2026), totaling P12,000. Unlike Group 2, Group 3 does not require a manual first payout. Instead, the full six-month series is automatically credited to the beneficiary's enrolled SSS disbursement account. The first payment began during the week of July 20, 2026. Beneficiaries do not need to visit any payout site, fill out any forms, or take any action beyond ensuring their SSS disbursement account remains active.

Automatic Disbursement Mechanism

The DSWD sends the validated beneficiary list to the SSS, which cross-checks the list against its disbursement account database. The SSS then instructs the LandBank (the disbursement agent) to credit P2,000 to each beneficiary's account. For beneficiaries with GCash accounts enrolled as their SSS disbursement account, the amount is credited directly to their GCash wallet. Beneficiaries can track their payments through the SSS member portal under 'Disbursement History' or through their bank's transaction history. If a disbursement fails due to an inactive or closed account, the SSS contacts the beneficiary through the registered mobile number to update the account details, and the payment is re-processed in the next batch cycle.

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.