Makati elderly to get mid-year cash gifts
The local government of Makati City will begin distributing mid-year cash gifts to the 84,111 Blu Card holders or senior citizens on June 10, Mayor Abigail Binay announced.
Binay said the Elderly Welfare Section of the Makati Social Welfare Department (MSWD) will conduct the distribution on scheduled dates from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., until July 15.
According to the local government, the yearly cash gift is given in two equal instalments every June and December, and varies according to specific age groups: 13,000 for those aged 60 to 69 years old, 14,000 for 70 to 79 years old, and 15,000 for those aged 80 and above. Thus, the first age group this June will receive 11,500, the second group, 12,000; and the third group, 12,500.
For 2019, the city said it has allocated 1533 million for the cash gift and centenarian incentive under the Blu Card Program.
The standard mode of distribution of the cash gift is in cash. But Blu Card holders have the option to receive their cash gift either in cash or check, subject to certain guidelines.
Beneficiaries, who are unable to come in person to claim the cash gift may send their duly authorized representative, whose name appears at the back of the BLU Card, to the Cash Division at the 3rd floor of Makati City Hall. The representative also should be able to present a medical certificate as proof of the beneficiaries’ condition, whether bedridden, disabled or confined in a hospital.
The local government said authorization forms are available at the MSWD office at the fifth floor of Makati City Hall main.
Meanwhile, senior citizens who are out-of-town or abroad during the distribution of the cash gifts are not entitled to claim the benefit, and authorization presented by a representative will not be honored by the Cash Division.
The Blu Card holder or his/her designated beneficiary shall be given five working days to claim the cash gift.
In case the cash gift is not claimed during the scheduled distribution in the barangay, the Blu Card holder/ designated beneficiary may claim it at the Cash Division. If not claimed within the given period of time, it will revert to the general fund, and be deemed forfeited.