If you are a senior citizen in the Philippines, you can enjoy many government benefits and privileges by applying for an OSCA ID or Senior Citizen ID. It is one of the many government-issued IDs at the Office of Senior Citizen Affairs (OSCA) and you need to meet the eligibility requirements to apply for it. Here you can follow the complete guide to obtaining a Phillippine OSCA ID to take advantage of your benefits.
What Is An OSCA ID or Senior Citizen ID?
In the Philippines, a Senior Citizen or OSCA (Office of Senior Citizen Affairs) is an identification card that is issued to individuals who are 60 years of age or older. This OSCA ID can be used to prove your age and eligibility. When senior citizens hold this card, they can enjoy government benefits and privileges, such as discounts on goods and services, priority in certain transactions, and access to government programs and benefits.
Is Senior Citizen ID A Valid ID?
Of course, yes. A Senior Citizen or OSCA ID is considered a valid identification card in the Philippines. Senior citizens can use it as a valid government-issued ID when applying for a Philippine passport, driver’s license, and other essential transactions. It can be recognized by government agencies and businesses.
Requirements for Senior Citizen ID
Before applying for a Senior Citizen ID, you must meet the requirements and prepare the necessary documents.
- You must be a Filipino citizen.
- You must show proof of age 60 or older. For example, you can show a valid birth certificate, passport, or any government-issued identification card that shows the date of birth.
- You must show proof of residence that demonstrates the applicant’s residence, such as utility bills and barangay clearance. You need to live in the city/municipality for at least 6 months when you apply.
- You must present a 1×1 OSCA ID photo.
- You must complete an application form that is provided by the OSCA office.
Specific OSCA ID or Senior Citizen ID requirements in the Philippines may vary slightly depending on the OSCA office. Therefore, you should request your local city or municipality or visit the website and prepare as many supporting documents as possible.
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How to Get OSCA ID online
After you have met all the requirements for a Senior Citizen ID, you can apply for an OSCA ID by visiting the official website. Here you can follow the step-by-step instructions below and complete the application for a Senior Citizen Card.
- You can visit the OSCA official website, which provides a platform for online registration of senior citizens. You must complete the Senior Citizen Registration Form and enter your personal information, such as full name, age, sex, civil status, full address and district, etc.
- Upload the supporting documents and your photograph.
- After the OSCA officer has processed your application, you can wait for the Senior Citizen ID to be issued on the same day. If not, you will receive no more than five business days from the date of application.
How to obtain a Senior Citizen ID in person
Or you can visit the OSCA’s local office in the municipality or town hall of your town to apply for your Senior Citizen ID. Here you can follow the steps below.
- Go to your local Senior Citizen Affairs Office in the municipality or town hall of your city.
- Complete the application form for the Senior Citizen ID card provided by the OSCA office.
- Submit the application form in paper and supporting documents to the OSCA office. You need to provide accurate personal information, such as name, date of birth and other information.
- Once your application is approved, you can collect your Senior Citizen ID.
Fee & Processing Time for Senior Citizen Card
If this is your first time applying for a Senior Citizen Card, you will be free of charge. However, if you lose your Senior Citizen ID, you will need to pay the replacement fee. And the charge will be different between different OSCA offices. In some cities and municipalities, you must pay a fee (PHP 100) when you request to replace a lost Senior Citizen ID. And the processing time for your senior citizen card will be a few days. Sometimes, you can even have your Senior Citizen Card on the day of application.
What to do if you lose or damage the Senior Citizen Card?
In the Philippines, if you lose or damage your Senior Citizen ID, you can get a new one from your city or municipality. Here you can follow these steps to get a new one:
- You must visit the OSCA office in your city or municipality and inform them that you have lost or damaged your Senior Citizen ID.
- You also need to present your loss affidavit and valid identification to the officers.
- You will be asked to fill out a replacement form provided by the OSCA office.
- Then you must pay the application fee for the replacement ID and you will receive an official receipt of the transaction.
- Since you have submitted the application form and all required documents to the OSCA, they will process your replacement application for your Senior Citizen ID.
- Before you visit the OSCA officer, it is recommended that you contact them to find out the exact requirements.
Senior Citizen ID Benefits
When you apply for a Senior Citizen ID, you can enjoy senior citizen benefits from the Philippine government. Here you can check the benefits below:
- Senior citizen discounts: You can enjoy senior citizen discounts on hotels, food, medicines and medical services.
- Senior Citizens’ Pension: You can receive social pensions, livelihood assistance and other social benefits.
- Health services: You can access free vaccines, regular health checks, medical services, hospitalization benefits, and necessary health interventions.
- Tax: You will be exempt or get some discounts on income tax, real estate tax, and value-added tax (VAT) on specific services.
- Transportation benefits: You will enjoy discounts on public transport fares when you take buses and domestic flights.
- Education Benefits: You can access scholarship programs and privileges if you want to pursue higher education.
- Recreation and Leisure Benefits: You can take advantage of recreational facilities and enjoy discounts on leisure activities, such as movies and concerts.
Senior Citizen Discount
When you become an OSCA Senior Citizen, you can get a 5% discount on your monthly electricity and water bills, which are registered in your name. In addition, consumption should be limited to 100 kilowatts per hour of electricity or 30 cubic meters of water per month. If you live in the Senior Citizen Centre or group home held by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), you can get more discounts on your daily bills, such as a 50% discount on electricity and water bills.
How to calculate senior citizen discounts?
If you don’t know how much you should pay for the discounted goods, you can follow the methods below and calculate your senior citizen discount.
Determine the amount of VAT Exempt Sale
Because a senior citizen is exempt from Value Added Tax (VAT), the first thing to do is to deduct the amount of VAT from the selling price.
Sales price: P1.00.00
VAT Rate:12%
Formula: VAT Exempt sales = Sales price ÷ 1.12
Computation: P1.00.00 ÷ 1.12 = P89.28
Deduct the 20% discount
Then you need to calculate the 20% discount for senior citizens from the VAT Exemption Sale.
Formula: Senior Citizen Discount = VAT Exemption Sale x 20%
Computation: P89.28 x 0.20 = P17.85
Pay the bill
Finally, you can calculate the billable amount after you have figured out the VAT Exempt Sale and Senior Citizen Discount.
Formula: Billable Amount = VAT Exempt Sale – Senior Citizen Discount
Computation: P89.28 – P17.85 = P71.43
FAQ
👉 Where can I find the OSCA ID number?
If you don’t know where to find the OSCA ID number, you can check the left corner of your OSCA ID card. It will show your ID number with 4 digits.
👉 Can foreigners avail of senior citizen discounts in the Philippines?
No. Foreigners cannot take advantage of senior citizen discounts in the Philippines even if they are over 60. Only Filipino citizens who are residents of the Philippines can enjoy the benefits of the Senior Citizen Card.
👉 Can senior citizens avail the benefits without applying for an OSCA ID?
Yes. If they do not apply for an OSCA ID, they can still get a discount as long as they can present a valid government-issued ID that shows their senior citizen age and Philippine citizenship.
👉 Does Senior Citizen ID expire in the Philippines?
No. The Senior Citizen ID is valid indefinitely, so you don’t need to renew your OSCA ID.
👉 Are senior citizens exempt from coding?
Under the MMDA, senior citizens and persons with disabilities are no longer eligible for number coding exemptions.
Conclusion
To conclude, it is recommended to apply for an OSCA ID when you have met all eligibility requirements because you can take advantage of many benefits in your life. Moreover, it is free to apply for your Senior Citizen ID for the first time. Get ready for more discounts and services.
Dolores Xiao