SSS releases over P32B 13th month and December pensions to 3.6M pensioners

by Info @Brand Zone | Dec. 9, 2024

The Social Security System (SSS) today said that it has released the 13th month and December pensions worth P32.19 billion to over 3.6 million pensioners which was given as early as November 29.

SSS Officer-in-Charge Voltaire P. Agas said that SSS pushed for the early crediting of the 13th month and December 2024 pensions as a pre-Christmas gift to SSS and Employees’ Compensation (EC) pensioners.

“We are also aware of the plight of our pensioners who were not spared by the recent tropical cyclones that lashed the country in less than a month. The early crediting of these pensions can help address some of their financial needs as they try to rebuild their lives after a series of calamities struck the country,” Agas said.

Agas explained that the first batch of the 13th month and December pensions were distributed to 2.09 million pensioners worth P17.9 billion on November 29, covering pensioners with dates of contingency within the first to the 15th day of the month.

Meanwhile, he said that the second batch was released on December 4 which benefitted 1.52 million pensioners amounting to P14.3 billion. These pensioners have dates of contingency within the 16th up to the last day of the month.

Likewise, Agas said the SSS has released around P41.6 million worth of 13th month and December pensions to more than 6,000 pensioners through non-PESONet participating banks and checks.

“Pensioners in non-PESONet participating banks got their pensions on December 4, meanwhile we have asked the Philippine Postal Corporation to expedite the delivery of the checks of our pensioners in their home address,” Agas noted.

He added that pensioners who availed of the advance 18-month pensions for their initial benefit received their 13th month pensions on December 4.

A tradition since 1988

Since December 1988, SSS has been granting the 13th month pension to SSS and EC pensioners, which is equivalent to their respective monthly pensions. The giving of the 13th month pension has been an annual tradition for the last 36 years to enhance pensioners’ benefits and as a way of recognizing the latter’s contributions to the country during their productive years.

Agas explained that retirement and survivor pensioners get a 13th month pension equivalent to their regular monthly pensions, while total disability pensioners receive a 13th month pension equal to their monthly pensions without the medical allowance.

“Member’s children receiving dependent’s pensions are also entitled to the 13th month pension and partial disability pensioners can receive it if they have a pension duration of at least 12 months,” he added.

He concluded that every 13th month pension provided to SSS pensioners shows how the pension fund gives importance to its pensioners.

SSS maternity benefit, paano ang computation?

by Info @Buti na lang may SSS | Dec. 8, 2024

Dear SSS,

Magandang araw! Nais ko sanang malaman kung paano ang computation ng SSS maternity benefit. Magkano naman po ang benefit na maaari kong makuha para rito? Salamat — Thelma

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Mabuting araw sa iyo, Thelma!

Ang SSS Maternity Benefit ay cash allowance na ibinabayad ng SSS sa mga kababaihang miyembro nito para sa bawat araw na hindi siya makapagtrabaho dahil sa panganganak. Sa ilalim ng Republic Act 11210 o mas kilala sa Expanded Maternity Leave Law (EMLL), 105 araw na ang ibinabayad na maternity leave sa miyembro ng SSS, maging ito ay normal o caesarian delivery simula Marso 11, 2019. Samantala, binibigyan naman ng 60 araw na bayad na maternity leave ang mga kababaihan na nakunan o sumailalim sa emergency termination of pregnancy (ETP). 

Samantala, pinapayagan din sa programang ito na i-allocate o ilipat ng babaeng miyembro ang maximum na pitong araw mula sa kanyang 105 days maternity leave sa tatay ng kanyang anak, kasal man sila o hindi gayundin sa kanyang alternate caregiver na kamag-anak o partner na kasamang naninirahan sa iisang bahay. Dagdag pa rito, may option na i-extend ng kababaihang miyembro lalo na ang mga single mother ng karagdagang 15 days na walang bayad ang kanilang maternity leave.  

Paano nga ba maging kuwalipikado sa programang ito? Una, Thelma, dapat alamin natin ang semestre ng iyong panganganak. Ang semestre ay binubuo ng dalawang magkasunod na kuwarter o katumbas ng anim na buwan at nagtatapos sa kuwarter kung saan nakapaloob ang buwan ng panganganak. Kapag alam na natin ang semestre ng iyong panganganak, tingnan ang 12-month period matapos ang semestre at alamin kung may hindi bababa sa tatlong buwanang hulog ka sa iyong records. Kung mayroon kang tatlong hulog (o higit pa) sa loob ng 12-month period na ito, qualified kang makakuha sa maternity benefit.

Sunod, alamin mo ang iyong average daily salary credit. Kinukuwenta ang average daily salary credit (ADSC) sa pamamagitan ng pagpili ng anim na pinakamatataas na monthly salary credit sa loob ng 12-month period. Kunin mo ang kabuuang halaga ng anim na MSC na ito at i-divide sa 180 (constant divisor). Anumang halaga na makuwenta rito ay ang iyong average daily salary credit. 

Panghuli, i-multiply ang average daily salary credit sa 105 kung normal o caesarian delivery o kaya sa 60 kung nakunan o ETP upang makuha kung magkano ang maternity benefit na iyong matatanggap. 

Halimbawa, ang isang miyembro ay nanganak noong Hunyo 26, 2024 at sumusuweldo ng P20,000 kada buwan. Ang semester of contingency niya ay mula Enero hanggang Hunyo 2024. Kaya ang 12-month period niya ay magsisimula sa Enero 2023 hanggang Disyembre 2023. Dito pipiliin ang anim na pinakamataas na monthly salary credit. Sa kanyang nakatalang MSC na P20,000, kukunin natin ang total ng anim na napiling MSC at makukuha natin ang 120,000, matapos nito ay i-divide ang 120,000 sa 180. Ang lalabas na average daily salary credit ay P666.67. Ang P666.67 ay imu-multiply sa 105 days, kung normal o caesarian delivery at ang makukuha niyang benefit ay nagkakahalaga ng P70,000. 

Subalit kung nakunan o sumailalim sa ETP, i-multiply ang P666.67 sa 60 at ang makukuha niyang benefit ay nagkakahalaga ng P40,000.

Dapat palaging siguruhin ng miyembro na updated ang kanyang kontribusyon sa SSS upang maging kuwalipikado sa maternity benefit program. Samantala, wala ng kaukulang limit sa pagdadalang-tao ng miyembro simula noong ipatupad ang EMLL. May prescriptive period of filing naman na sinusunod ang SSS kung saan maaaring i-file ang maternity benefit claims sa loob lamang ng 10 taon mula sa araw ng kanilang panganganak.

Maaari nang i-file ang Maternity Benefit Application online sa pamamagitan ng My.SSS portal na matatagpuan sa SSS website (www.sss.gov.ph).

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Patuloy na tumatanggap ng aplikasyon ang SSS para sa loan penalty condonation program nito.  Inilunsad ang Consolidation of Past Due Short-Term Member Loans with Condonation of Penalty Program (Conso Loan) para tulungan ang mga miyembro na mayroong past-due loans sa SSS. Sa ilalim ng programa, hindi na sisingilin ang kaukulang penalties o multa ng kanilang past-due loans. Sa halip, ang tangi na lamang nilang babayaran ay ang orihinal o principal amount at interes nito.

Maaaring bayaran ang prinsipal at interes sa pamamagitan ng one-time full payment, o kaya’y bayaran kahit 10% nito bilang down payment at ang natitirang balanse ay babayaran nang hulugan sa loob ng hanggang 60 buwan o limang taon, depende sa halaga ng kanilang pagkakautang.

Sakop ng Conso Loan ang salary loan, calamity loan, Salary Loan Early Renewal Program (SLERP), emergency loan, at restructured loans gaya ng Loan Restructuring Program (LRP) noong mga nakaraang taon.

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Upang makapagrehistro sa My.SSS, maaari kang magtungo sa SSS website (www.sss.gov.ph) at magparehistro sa Member portal. Kailangang punan mo ang lahat ng kinakailangang impormasyon. Tandaan na ang irerehistrong e-mail address ay kailangang aktibo at nagagamit pa dahil dito ipadadala ng SSS ang link para i-activate at magamit mo ang iyong My.SSS account. 

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Para sa tamang impormasyon at updates sa mga programa at benepisyo ng SSS, bisitahin at i-follow ang opisyal na Facebook page ng SSS sa “Philippine Social Security System - SSS” o sa X, ang dating Twitter, sa @PHLSSS. Maaari ring mag-subscribe sa YouTube channel sa “MYSSSPH”, at sumali sa SSS Viber Community, “MYSSSPH Updates”. Maaari kayong magpadala ng inyong concerns at katanungan sa usssaptayo@sss.gov.ph.

Typhoon-hit pensioners urged to avail of advance pensions

by Info @Brand Zone | Dec. 6, 2024

The Social Security System (SSS) today encouraged its pensioners affected by recent tropical cyclones Kristine, Marce, Nika, Ofel, and Pepito to apply at their nearest SSS branch office for a three-month advance pension. Applications will be accepted until 21 December 2024.

SSS Officer-in-Charge Voltaire P. Agas said that the three-month advance pension is a financial assistance given to SSS and Employees’ Compensation (EC) pensioners in towns and cities badly hit by the multiple tropical cyclones that barreled through the country, especially Luzon, in less than a month.

“We have experienced a very unusual event wherein a string of storms swept the country with only several days apart, bringing massive destruction to areas within its path. At SSS, we are aware that among those affected by the storms are our pensioners who now need immediate help,” Agas remarked.

He said that it is imperative for SSS to extend its full support and assistance not only to SSS members but also to SSS and EC pensioners who need financial aid as they try to recovery from the aftermath of the tropical cyclones.

Pensioners in areas declared under state of calamity by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) can apply for the three-month advance pension.

Areas under state of calamity due to TC Kristine are Dagupan, Bani and Anda in Pangasinan; Ilagan and Roxas in Isabela; Provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas and Quezon; Cardona and Binangonan, Rizal; Puerto Galera, Naujan, Victoria, Pola, Socorro, Pinamalayan, Mansalay, Bulalacao (San Pedro) in Oriental Mindoro; Paluan and Looc in Occidental Mindoro; Provinces of Albay, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, and Sorsogon; Naga City; Cataingan and San Fernando in Masbate; Calbayog, Samar; Jipapad, Arteche, San Policarpio, Oras, Masilog, Dolores, Can-avid, Taft, Sulat, San Julian, Borongan and Mayodolong in Eastern Samar; Magnet, Cotabato; Alfono Lista (Potia), Ifugao; and Quezon City in National Capital Region (NCR).  

Meanwhile, Quirino and Mountain Province; Santiago and Cabagan in Isabela; Baggao, Cagayan; Dilasag, Aurora; and Aguinaldo, Ifugao were also declared under state of calamity due to TCs Nika, Ofel, and Pepito.  

Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte; including Buguey, Gonzaga, Sanchez-Mira, Aparri, and Claveria in Cagayan were also included in the list of declared calamity areas due to TC Marce.

To avail of this aid, interested pensioners should be:

• Living or residing in the declared calamity area; and

• Have no existing pension loan for SSS retirement pensioners.

Agas noted that SSS and EC pensioners who have received advance pensions from previous calamity assistance program and whose pensions are still suspended can still apply for this advance pension.

“Existing partial disability pensioners can also avail of the advance pension for the remaining months of their partial disability pension or for the three-month period, whichever is lower,” he said.    

Interested pensioners must submit the Application for Assistance Due to Calamity/Disaster Form certified by their Barangay Chairman, adding that if the form is not certified by their Barangay Chairman, they can submit the form with a certification from either the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) or the NDRRMC.

“Pensioners can pick-up the benefit checks at the SSS branch where the application was filed within 10 working days. Otherwise, the check shall be mailed to their registered mailing address,” Agas said.  

After the three-month period, the pensioner’s monthly pension will automatically resume on the fourth month.

Pensioners urged to apply for pension loan

Agas noted that SSS retirement pensioners can also borrow under the SSS Pension Loan Program (PLP) equivalent to three, six, nine, or 12 times their monthly pension, inclusive of the P1,000 additional benefit or up to P200,000.  

To qualify for the PLP, however, Agas clarified that retirement pensioners should have no existing advance pension under the previous SSS Calamity Assistance Package. Furthermore, the pensioner-borrower must:

• Be 85 years of age or below at the end of the month of the loan repayment term;

• Have no deductions from their monthly pension (such as for outstanding loan balance, benefit overpayment payable to SSS, and the like);

• Be receiving their regular monthly pension for at least one month, and the status of pension is “active”; and

• Have updated contact information (cellular/mobile number, email, and mailing address).

Qualified pensioners can file their loan applications online via My.SSS Portal (www.sss.gov.ph) or they can submit their applications at the nearest SSS branch office.  

Once approved, pension loan proceeds would be credited to their nominated bank account or UnionBank quick card, within three working days for online applications and five working days if filed over-the-counter through the SSS branch office.

He explained that the SSS pension loan has a low interest of 10 percent per annum based on the loan’s diminishing principal balance. Their monthly loan amortization would be automatically deducted from their monthly pensions. However, SSS will ensure that the retirement pensioners would still have a Net Take Home of at least 47.25 percent of their monthly pension.  

“We offer flexible payment terms for the PLP, ranging from six to 24 months, depending on the loan amount. We hope that the SSS pension loan can help our calamity-stricken pensioners to rebuild their lives after the storms,” Agas concluded. #