SSS to ensure social security protection of SK members, barangay workers in Taguig City

by Info @Brand Zone | May 14, 2024

The Social Security System (SSS) on Tuesday signed multiple agreements with barangay officials in Taguig City for the social security coverage of 4,000 Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials and members and barangay workers in the city.

SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Rolando Ledesma Macasaet said SSS will facilitate the issuance of social security (SS) numbers for 3,800 SK officers and members from the 38 barangays of Taguig City through a formal agreement with the Taguig City SK Federation to initiate their SSS membership.

Macasaet said that once these SK officials and members have their SS numbers, they can start paying their monthly contributions and automatically receive social security coverage from SSS.

“By starting to save for retirement at a young age, these youth leaders are taking control of their financial future. The earlier they begin, the more time they have to grow their retirement fund,” Macasaet said.

Macasaet underscored that these SK officials and members are setting a commendable example for their peers in Taguig City by encouraging them to start building their retirement funds with SSS early.

“When you are in your late teens or in your 20s, you have your whole life ahead of you, and saving for your retirement is the least of your priorities. But why should you put off saving for tomorrow when you can start today? Believe me, the best time to save for your retirement is now while you are young,” he explained.

Macasaet urged the youth to start their SSS contributions today, assuring them that it is the most affordable and accessible pension scheme in the country. “With seven kinds of benefit programs and various loan privileges, it provides a safety net for their future,” Macasaet noted.

Macasaet will also lead the signing of Memoranda of Agreement (MOA) for the implementation of the KaSSSangga Collect Program that will provide social security protection to 70 job order (JO) workers of the Science Education Institute, a service institute under the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and 60 barangay workers of Barangay North Signal Village in Taguig City and Barangay Pinagkaisahan in Makati City.

Moreover, SSS will sign a deal with officials of Barangays South Signal Village, Upper Bicutan, and Napindan in Taguig, Barangay Pinagkaisahan in Makati, and Barangay Don Bosco in Parañaque to establish localized SSS e-center in their barangay offices, as well as agreements to set up SSS e-centers in TCGI Engineers and Medical Doctors, Inc.

SSS Senior Vice President for National Capital Region (NCR) Maria Rita S. Aguja explained SSS E-Center sa Barangay is a partnership between SSS and the LGUs wherein SSS sets up localized E-Center at the barangay level which is manned by barangay personnel trained to assist their kabarangay in using the My.SSS Portal.

Aguja emphasized that the SSS E-Center sa Barangay was a significant step towards empowering barangay officials by enabling them to assist people in their respective communities in accessing SSS’ online services conveniently from the comfort of their barangay halls, thereby reducing the need for physical visits to SSS offices.

In addition, Aguja said SSS will welcome the Makati Development Corporation (MDC) as the newest partner under the Contribution Subsidy Provider Program (CSPP), wherein MDC will subsidize the SSS contributions of spouses of its 10 foremen for six months.

Furthermore, SSS will meet with employers, human resources representatives, cooperatives, and the general public during the Stakeholder’s Forum at the New City Hall Building, Taguig City. The forum will focus on discussing the value of SSS membership and will address various queries on SSS benefits and loan privileges.

SSS pushes for social security protection of seafarers

by Info @Brand Zone | May 9, 2024

Social Security System (SSS) President and Chief Executive Officer Rolando Ledesma Macasaet (right) signs the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the creation of the Maritime Industry Tripartite Council organized by the Department of Migrant Workers. Also, in the photo (from left) are Transportation Secretary Jaime J. Bautista and Labor Secretary Bienvenido E. Laguesma.

The Social Security System (SSS) on Friday assured the social security coverage of all Filipino seafarers and maritime professionals as labor groups, manning agencies, ship owners, and government agencies formed the Maritime Industry Tripartite Council (MITC) during a pact signing ceremony in Intramuros, Manila.

SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Rolando Ledesma Macasaet emphasized the collective effort as SSS joined as one of the members of the newly created Maritime Industry Tripartite Council, representing the government sector.

Macasaet lauded the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) led by its newly appointed Secretary, Hans Leo J. Cacdac, for spearheading the creation of the Council.

Macasaet stressed that the Council was a testament to the unified commitment to address maritime employment concerns and advance the protection of Filipino seafarers.

“With this agreement, SSS commits itself to promoting the welfare of Filipino seafarers and their families by providing them with financial assistance during contingencies such as disability, sickness, maternity, unemployment, old age, funeral and death,” Macasaet said.

Macasaet urged all Filipino seafarers to become SSS members, underlining the significant benefits of having social security protection for themselves and their families, which is a crucial step towards ensuring a secure future.

Records showed that around 350,000 seafarers are members of SSS.

SSS benefits for seafarers

Macasaet told seafarers to strive to pay at least 120 monthly SSS contributions so they can receive a lifetime monthly pension once they have retired.

“Contributing to the SSS is one way of investing in their future. Aside from retirement benefits, employed SSS members like seafarers are entitled to sickness, maternity, disability, unemployment, funeral, and death benefits,” he said.

Macasaet added that they can also take advantage of various SSS loan programs, such as salary and calamity, and get additional coverage from the Employees’ Compensation (EC) Program for work-related sickness or injury resulting to disability, or death.

“Since seafarers are contributing to the regular SSS program with a Monthly Salary Credit (MSC) that exceeds P20,000, they are automatically enrolled in the Workers’ Investment and Savings Program (WISP),” he said.

Under this compulsory provident fund scheme, he said each contributing member will have an account wherein SSS will place their contributions and investment earnings. Members pay their WISP contributions together with their regular SSS contributions.

He added that seafarers would get their total contributions and investment income at the time of their retirement, which they may opt to receive as a monthly annuity if their WISP savings exceed P100,000.

“Seafarers can receive it as a lump sum if their contributions and investment income are less than P100,000. If it is P100,000 or more, they can receive it as combination of lump sum and monthly pension or a fixed monthly annuity which will be released together with their regular monthly pension,” he said.

Likewise, Macasaet urged seafarers to consider their financial future and save their hard-earned money in WISP Plus, the SSS voluntary retirement savings program. He highlighted this as an additional benefit, giving seafarers the power to choose and plan for their retirement, in addition to the retirement pension from the regular social security program and annuity from the WISP.

Macasaet explained that members can contribute as little as P500 per payment whenever they want to receive this additional layer of social security protection.

He noted the members’ pooled contributions under WISP Plus would generate investment earnings, which would be credited to their individual accounts tax-free.

Members of the Council

The DMW will serve as the Maritime Industry Tripartite Council Chairperson, leading the efforts to ensure the welfare and protection of seafarers. Members from the government sector include SSS, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Transportation (DOTr), Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Commission on Higher Education, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG Fund), and National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).

Members representing the labor sector include the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP), the Associated Marine Officers’ and Seamen’s Union of the Philippines (AMOSUP), the International Seamen’s Mutual Labor Association, the Mariners and Allied Transport Employees Union, Associated Philippine Seafarers Unions, Porty Workers Union of the Philippines, Federation of Free Workers, and United Filipino Seafarers.

Meanwhile, the management sector is represented by the Conference of Maritime Manning Agencies, Filipino Shipowners Association, Filipino Association for Mariners Employment, Inc., International Maritime Association of the Philippines, International Maritime Employers’ Council Ltd., Philippine Chamber of Arrastre and Stevedoring Operators, Inc., Philippine Interisland Shipping Association, Philippine-Japan Manning Consultative Council, Inc., ALMA Maritime Group, and Ship Manager Association of the Philippines.

Loan penalty condonation program, bukas para sa lahat ng SSS member

@Buti na lang may SSS | May 5, 2024

Dear SSS, 

Magandang araw! Mayroon akong SSS salary loan sa previous employer ko at hindi ko ito naipakaltas sa aking kasalukuyang employer. Dahil dito, hindi ko nabayaran ang aking loan mula noong 2018. Kaya nag-aalala ako na baka malaki na ang penalty nito. Mayroon bang condonation program ang SSS ngayon? Salamat.  — Sally, Quezon City 

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Mabuting araw sa iyo, Sally!

Patuloy pa ring 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) upang 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.

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.

Samantala, Sally, ang babayaran mo na lamang ay ang prinsipal at interes kung saan maaari itong bayaran nang buo o one-time full payment, o kaya’y bayaran kahit 10% nito bilang down payment at ang natitirang balanse sa pamamagitan ng installment sa loob ng hanggang 60 buwan o limang taon, depende sa halaga ng iyong pagkakautang.

Para sa kapakanan ng ating mga miyembro heto ang talaan ng halaga ng pagkakautang at haba o payment terms na kinakailangang sundin para sa pagbabayad ng kanilang mga loan:

Consolidated Loan Remaining Balance	Maximum Term
Above P5,000 to P10,000	6 months
P10,001 to P18,000	12 months
P18,001 to P36,000	24 months
P36,001 to P54,000	36 months
P54,001 to P72,000	48 months
More than P72,000	60 months

Kinakailangan lamang Sally, na matugunan mo ang mga sumusunod na kondisyon:

• mayroon kang hindi nabayarang short-term member loan hanggang sa araw ng iyong aplikasyon sa nasabing programa;

• hindi ka pa nabibigyan ng final benefit claim tulad ng permanent total disability o retirement benefit;

• hindi ka na-disqualify dahil sa panloloko o fraud laban sa SSS; at

• mayroon kang aktibong account sa My.SSS.

Hindi mo na rin kailangang magtungo sa sangay ng SSS sa pag-file nito sapagkat maaari mo na itong gawing online gamit ang iyong account sa My.SSS. Kaya dapat tiyakin mong may account kang nakarehistro na sa My.SSS.

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.