The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) has implemented several reforms for 2025 that will affect pensioners, survivors, and active government employees. These changes aim to update long-standing policies and improve service delivery, both in benefits and in digital access. 

Before the reform, surviving spouses were entitled to 50 percent of the deceased member’s or pensioner’s basic monthly pension, but only up to a maximum limit—the equivalent of the salary of a government Undersecretary at Step 8, under the Salary Standardization Law. This ceiling meant that some surviving spouses, especially of high-ranking officials, received less than the intended 50 percent share. 

Starting September 2025, GSIS has removed this cap. Surviving spouses will now receive the full 50 percent of the deceased’s basic pension, regardless of rank or position. This change corrects a long-standing limitation that affected some survivors, particularly those whose loved ones had higher pension bases. 

However, this policy adjustment also raises an important question: who benefits the most from the lifting of the cap? In reality, the old ceiling rarely affected ordinary government workers because their pensions were already below the Undersecretary Step 8 limit. The reform, therefore, primarily benefits survivors of high-ranking officials, such as generals, justices, and senior executives, whose pensions are significantly higher. 

Supporters say the move is fair because it simply enforces what the law provides—a surviving spouse’s entitlement to half of the pension, without artificial limits. Critics, however, view it as a policy that extends greater financial gain to those already receiving larger pensions. For GSIS, the challenge will be to keep the fund sustainable while balancing fairness and fiscal responsibility. 

Another important policy change is the abolition of the cohabitation rule. Previously, GSIS could suspend survivorship benefits if a beneficiary was living with another partner, even without marriage. Under the new rule, the survivorship pension will only stop once the beneficiary legally remarries. This adjustment aims to make implementation more practical and less intrusive on personal circumstances. 

GSIS has also relaxed the rules for the Annual Pensioners’ Information Revalidation (APIR). Pensioners who miss the April deadline will no longer lose their right to the Christmas Cash Gift. As long as they eventually complete the APIR, they will still receive the benefit. This is especially helpful to elderly retirees who may have difficulty revalidating on time. 

The agency has also digitized its services through the GSIS Touch mobile app, allowing retirees to apply for pensions and loans without visiting an office. It also introduced the Digital Ginhawa Loan, which lets active members borrow up to ₱60,000 to buy gadgets—helpful for remote work or online learning. 

Pensioners who have been receiving their pensions for at least five years will continue to get regular increases. As of January 2025, a 1.5 percent annual pension increase has been implemented. 

Overall, these 2025 updates reflect a broader effort to modernize GSIS operations and adjust outdated rules. While some reforms favor specific groups, the changes move toward a more consistent and transparent pension system for all members.