Prescriptive period para sa filing ng sickness benefit

by Info @Buti na lang may SSS | Nov. 17, 2024

Dear SSS, 

Magandang araw! Ako ay kasalukuyang nagtatrabaho sa isang construction firm. May tanong ako ukol sa SSS sickness benefit. May prescriptive period ba ang sickness benefit? Salamat. — Ava

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Mabuting araw sa iyo, Ava! 

Ang SSS sickness benefit ay cash allowance na ibinabayad sa miyembro para sa bawat araw na hindi siya makapagtrabaho dahil sa sakit o pagkapinsala ng katawan.

Mayroong prescriptive period ang filing ng sickness benefit. Binibigyan ng limang araw mula sa unang araw ng kanyang pagkakasakit ang isang miyembro upang abisuhan ang kanyang employer. Limang araw din ang ibinibigay sa employer para i-notify niya ang SSS sa pagkakasakit ng kanyang empleyado. 

Ngunit, kung ang miyembro ay nasa hospital confinement, binibigyan siya ng isang taon mula sa araw ng kanyang pagkakasakit o pagkapinsala ng katawan upang i-file ang kanyang sickness benefit claim. Hindi na kailangang ipagbigay-alam pa ang kanyang pagkakasakit kung ang miyembro ay naospital o nagkasakit habang nagtatrabaho sa loob ng kanyang kumpanya.

Ibinibigay ito sa mga kuwalipikadong miyembro na hindi makapagtrabaho ng hindi kukulangin sa apat na araw. Dapat nakapaghulog din siya ng hindi bababa sa tatlong buwanang kontribusyon sa loob ng huling 12 buwan bago ang semestre ng pagkakasakit o pagkapinsala ng katawan. Para naman sa mga empleyado, dapat ay nagamit na niya ang lahat ng kanyang kasalukuyang sick leaves sa kumpanya. Mahalaga rin na naabisuhan o nabigyan niya ng notipikasyon ang kanyang employer.

Halimbawa, na-confine ka sa ospital mula Mayo 25 hanggang Hunyo 2, 2024. Ang semestre ng iyong pagkakasakit ay mula Enero hanggang Hunyo 2024. Hindi natin isasama sa bilang ng komputasyon ng iyong naihulog sa SSS ang panahong ito dahil ito ang semestre ng iyong pagkakasakit. Kaya, ang huling 12 buwan bago ang semestre ng iyong pagkakasakit ay mula Enero hanggang Disyembre 2023. Sa panahong ito naman ay dapat mayroon kang hindi bababa sa tatlong buwanang kontribusyon upang maging

kuwalipikado sa benepisyong ito.

Kung ang miyembro ay isang self-employed o voluntary member, siya naman ay direktang magpa-file ng kanyang sickness benefit application sa SSS dahil wala siyang employer gamit ang kanyang My.SSS account. Kaya mahalaga na ang isang miyembro ay nakarehistro sa My.SSS Portal na matatagpuan sa SSS website, www.sss.gov.ph, at nakapag-enroll ng kanyang bank/savings account sa ilalim ng Disbursement Account Enrolment Module (DAEM) na matatagpuan din sa My.SSS Portal.

Samantala, online rin ang pagsusumite ng SSS sickness notification at Sickness Benefit Reimbursement Application gamit ang My.SSS account ng employer. 

Nakapaloob sa Republic Act 11199 o Social Security Act of 2018, pinapaunang bayaran ng employer ang kanyang empleyado ng sickness benefit. Ang employer naman ang babayaran ng SSS matapos maisumite nito ang SSS Sickness Benefit Reimbursement Application online. Magpapadala ang SSS ng notification sa empleyado upang isesertipika niya ang paunang bayad ng kanyang sickness benefit.  Kaya kung hindi pa paunang naibayad ang sickness benefit, huwag nila itong isertipika at dapat i-report ito sa SSS upang maituro sa employer ang tamang paraan ng pagbibigay ng sickness benefit.

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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.

SSS urges members to update their contact information; implements SMS-OTP in the My.SSS Portal

by Info @Brand Zone | Nov. 13, 2024

The Social Security System (SSS) today called on its members to immediately update their contact information, especially their mobile numbers as the state-run pension fund implemented Multi-Factor Authentication schemes during logins to the My.SSS Portal.

SSS Officer-in-Charge Voltaire P. Agas said that SSS took a proactive step by incorporating an authentication process whenever its members log in to their My.SSS account, adding, “It will enhance the security of the SSS online portal.”

Agas said the passcode will be sent to the member’s registered mobile numbers in the SSS records whenever they access their My.SSS accounts. He added that outdated or inactive contact information can be a hurdle when logging into the portal.

"Updating your contact info ensures you get the codes to verify your identity when you sign in to your online account." Hence, we are urging our members to update their contact information,” Agas added.

Updating via online or branch offices

Agas, who is also the SSS Executive Vice President for the Branch Operations Sector, said that members can update their contact information online or at any SSS branch offices.

"If you have an existing mobile number in the SSS database but no longer use that phone number, you can update your details online through your My.SSS account," he explained.

He said that members without a mobile number in the SSS records can update their contact information. They must submit a Member Data Change Request form to any SSS branch office nationwide.

Furthermore, he noted that members who struggle with the My.SSS Portal should visit the e-centers in the SSS branch offices. “We have established e-centers manned by SSS personnel who are ready to assist and guide you in using the My.SSS Portal.”

Authentication options

SSS Senior Vice President for Information Technology Management Maria Belinda S. San Jose said that SSS members have two options for multi-factor authentication to access their My.SSS account. These are SMS One-Time Password (SMS-OTP) and Time-based One-Time Password (TOTP).

Belinda said by default, members can use the SMS-OTP to log in to their accounts. A six-digit passcode will be sent to their SSS-registered mobile every time they log in. It will be used to verify their identity in the My.SSS Portal. Thus, this calls for immediate updating of their contact numbers.

"Members can use TOTP as their preferred authentication method. They must enter the verification code to the Google Authenticator app to access their My.SSS account," Belinda explained.

She added that implementation of these two authentication options for the My.SSS Portal bolsters the security feature of the online portal, mitigating the risks associated with unauthorized access and potential fraud.

SSS earns 6 Gold and 5 Silver ARTA Awards for efficient and transparent services

by Info @Brand Zone | Nov. 11, 2024

The Social Security System (SSS), particularly 11 of its branch offices, recently received multiple recognitions from the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) for outstanding commitment to provide efficient, transparent, and accessible services as well as deliver responsible governance.

Among the 860 government agencies evaluated for the 2023 Report Card Survey (RCS) 2.0 Batch 1 Cycle, SSS branches in Congressional, Pasay-CCP Complex, Sta. Cruz, Naga, Cebu-NRA, and Kalibo were given the prestigious ARTA RCS Gold Awards for achieving excellent ratings in a ceremony held on October 30, 2024, at Hotel Conrad Manila.

Meanwhile, presented with the ARTA RCS Silver Plaques of Recognition for obtaining very satisfactory ratings were the pension fund’s branches in Diliman, Navotas, Manila, Bacoor, and Tabaco.

SSS Officer-in-Charge and Executive Vice President for Branch Operations Sector Atty. Voltaire P. Agas expressed the institution’s deep gratitude for having received six gold and five silver awards from ARTA.

“We thank ARTA, led by Director General and Secretary Ernesto V. Perez, for acknowledging our efforts to promote ease of doing business and efficient service delivery. This recognition is a testament to our dedication to optimizing our processes and ensuring that we provide better services to all SSS stakeholders,” Agas said.

“These awards will certainly push us to always go above and beyond, and to work toward excellence. In addition, we plan to work on long-term solutions such as continuously digitizing our services to make it easier for our members to transact with us,” he added.

The RCS 2.0 is an important tool for evaluating the effectiveness of the Citizen's Charter in streamlining regulatory processes and improving government service delivery in accordance with Republic Act No. 11032, also known as the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018.

In 2023, the SSS garnered a satisfaction rating of 92.2% in ARTA’s Harmonized Client Satisfaction Measurement (HCSM) Survey, well above the passing rate of 80%. The HCSM Survey was conducted among members and employers who transacted with SSS either online or in-person at their branches in 2023.