After premiums paid: A question for GSIS

This is in connection with my letter, “Waiting for GSIS to reply” (Opinion, 7/24/14). My thanks to the Inquirer.

I found out, among other things, that to avail oneself of Government Service Insurance System retirement benefits:

1.  Under Republic Act No. 8291, an applicant must satisfy at least two things: a) The age requirement—he or she must be at least 60 years old upon retirement; and b) the employment requirement—he or she must have at least 15 years of service.

2. Under RA 660, the applicant’s employment status in government must be permanent.

3. Under RA 1616, regardless of age or employment status, an applicant must have been at least 20 years in government service.

4. Only those who were in government after May 31, 1977, but prior to June 24, 1997, can avail themselves of the benefits under RA 1146.

5. An applicant who has left government service to work in the private sector but has made contributions to the Social Security System can qualify for the benefits under RA 7699.

I found out that I cannot satisfy all the requirements of any of the aforementioned laws.

My question now is: “What happens to the GSIS contributions of those who were not able to satisfy any or all of the requirements of the laws mentioned above?”

—RAMON MAYUGA,

ramon.mayuga49@gmail.com