Social Security System (SSS) members—both individuals and employers—don’t have to go to the agency’s branch just to inquire about their contributions records, file sickness or maternity notifications or even salary-loan applications. They can do all these transactions in the comfort of their offices or homes, for as long as they have Internet access.
Aside from viewing general SSS information through the SSS web site (www.sss.gov.ph), members and employers can transact securely through the My.SSS portal, an interactive facility that provides a convenient alternative to over-the-counter transactions. Launched in 2011, the facility allows the online submission of salary-loan applications and maternity and sickness notifications by individual members, and reports of newly hired workers, employee-maternity and -sickness notifications, contribution and loan-collection lists, and certification of employee salary-loan applications by employers.
Registration is necessary to ensure information security and prevent identity theft for both individual and employer members. They must have valid e-mail addresses where SSS can send the next phase of the registration process. Once registered, it will be easier, faster and more convenient for members and employers to do business with the SSS.
As of end-2015, some 3.5 million members have registered for the use of the My.SSS facility, while the number of registered employers reached 247,385. Total transactions through the online facility totaled 5.5 million at end-2015, and the bulk of these transactions, or 5.41 million, were from employers using the SSS web site to submit their employment, contribution and loan-collection reports, salary-loan applications of employees, and sickness and maternity notifications to facilitate the benefit applications of their workers. The rest were transactions by individual members who often use the online facility to apply for salary loans.
Last September the SSS launched the online issuance of social-security (SS) numbers. By going to the SSS web site and clicking on the number-issuance icon, new entrants to the private-sector work force can easily apply for an SS number without having to queue in SSS branches to obtain it.
SS numbers issued through the SSS web site are tagged as temporary, but can already be used for employee reporting and contribution payment by employers. To convert it to a permanent SS number to allow the availment of loans and benefits, the member would have to present any accepted supporting documents, such as his or her birth or baptismal certificate or valid passport to any SSS branch. At the end of 2015, close to 26,000 new members were issued their SS numbers online.
The SSS is looking for more ways to make it more convenient for members to do business with it. Aside from transactions through the Web, members can also use text messaging to access their own records or find out the status of their benefit or loan applications. By simply texting SSS REG to 2600, they can register to this SMS-inquiry facility for a P2.50 fee for every text message.
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For more details on SSS programs, members can drop by the nearest SSS branch, visit the SSS web site (www.sss.gov.ph), or contact the SSS Call Center at 920-6446 to 55, which accepts calls from 7 a.m. on Mondays all the way to 7 a.m. on Saturdays.
Susie G. Bugante is the vice president for public affairs and special events of the SSS. Send comments about this column to susiebugante.bmirror@gmail.com.