Recently, I received some feedback from our members about the timeliness of the receipt of their benefits and how grateful they were that they can receive social security benefits during these challenging times. I am happy that we are exceeding our members’ and pensioners’ expectations on how their years of contributions are working for them. As much as it is our responsibility to provide social security protection, it is also our job to make sure that our benefits are reaching the rightful beneficiaries. We implemented procedures to properly establish their respective identities, and we always make sure the recipients have accurate and updated records in our system for validation and reference purposes.
For our pensioners, we continue to implement the Annual Confirmation of Pensioners (ACOP) Program. This program requires pensioners to annually report to the SSS to ensure the continuous payment of their benefits under the Social Security Law.
From March 2020 until September 30, 2021, due to strict nationwide quarantine protocols, we suspended its implementation. It is worth mentioning that even with the program’s suspension, some pensioners still sent in their compliance by leaving them at the dropboxes located nationwide or even sending them through mail or e-mail—this further attests to the pensioners’ readiness to comply with our guidelines despite the imposed quarantine restrictions in our respective areas.
Starting October 1, 2021 until March 31, 2022, all Retirement (residing abroad), Total Disability and Survivor Pensioners, as well as their Dependent Children (minor or incapacitated) and Guardians must now comply with ACOP as SSS has already resumed the implementation of the compliance program. The usual schedule for ACOP compliance starting April 2022 will be the following:
Retirement Pensioner residing abroad and total disability pensioner—month of birth of pensioner.
Survivor pensioner—month of birth of the deceased member.
Dependent (minor/incapacitated)—month of birth of the member/deceased member.
For survivor and dependent pensioners, you may send your compliance through the corporate e-mail address of the SSS branch office following the format below as the e-mail subject: ACOP Compliance, Pensioner’s Name (e.g., ACOP Compliance, Juan E. Dela Cruz); thru mail or courier addressed to the SSS branch office.
Scanned copies of documents to be submitted are as follows:
1. Duly accomplished ACOP Form (Pensioner’s Reply).
2. One primary ID card or at least two secondary ID cards.
3. Self-declaration Form of the Survivor Pensioner on Non-remarriage/Non-Cohabitation.
4. Additional document, whichever is applicable:
Half-body photo or snapshot of the pensioner holding a current newspaper wherein the headline and date of publication are prominently displayed or having a background of news crawler/ticker on the TV showing the current news headline and date.
Make sure that the date of newspaper/news crawler or ticker on the TV must be the same with the date of submission of ACOP compliance thru mail/courier/drop box.
Certification from institution where pensioner is confined, such as retirement home, penitentiary, nursing facility, hospital, correctional institution, rehabilitation center, etc.
For total disability pensioners, they may leave their documents at the SSS drop boxes. Put all documents in a sealed large brown envelope and write in front “ACOP Compliance” and the Pensioner’s Name. Do not write the SS Number.
Here are what you need to submit:
1. Duly accomplished ACOP Form (Pensioner’s Reply).
2. One primary ID card or at least two secondary ID cards.
3. Half-body photo or snapshot of the pensioner holding a current newspaper wherein the headline and date of publication are prominently displayed or having a background of news crawler/ticker on the TV showing the current news headline and date.
4. Recent Medical Certificate issued by his/her attending physician or by any government physician indicating complete physical examination findings and current medical status/condition.
5. Certified true copy of result of laboratory procedure done within one year from birth month (if any).
In complicated cases, they may also request for a home visit by sending a written request from the pensioner/representative via e-mail of Medical Services Section/drop box/mail of the nearest SSS branch.
For pensioners residing abroad, compliance is through video conference using MS Teams (except for total disability pensioner) by requesting for an appointment through e-mail at ofw.relations@sss.gov.ph. Wait for the SSS e-mail confirmation on the ACOP VC together with the Transaction Reference Number (TRN), requirements for ACOP VC and MS Teams Meeting Link. Present one primary ID card or at least two secondary ID cards during the video conference.
Another option is through the corporate e-mail of Foreign Representative Office or OFW-Contact Services Section at ofw.relations@sss.gov.ph with this format: ACOP Compliance, Pensioner’s Name (e.g., ACOP Compliance, Juan Dela Cruz). Just send scanned copies of the following required documents:
1. Duly accomplished ACOP Form (Pensioner’s Reply).
2. One primary ID card or at least two secondary ID cards.
3. Self-declaration form of the survivor pensioner on Non-Marriage/Non-Cohabitation.
4. Half-body photo or snapshot of the pensioner holding a current newspaper wherein the headline and date of publication are prominently displayed or having a background of news crawler/ticker on the TV showing the current news headline and date.
5. Certification from institution where pensioner is confined such as retirement home, penitentiary, nursing facility, hospital, correctional institution, rehabilitation center, etc.
They may send also send the above-mentioned documents through mail or courier addressed to: OFW Contact Services Section, International Operations Group, 11th Floor, SSS Main Office, Diliman, Quezon City 1100 or the nearest Foreign Representative Office. Addresses can be accessed from our directory found on the SSS website, www.sss.gov.ph.
For total disability pensioner, compliance may be sent through mail or courier addressed to the nearest Foreign Representative Office. Required documents are:
1. Duly accomplished ACOP Form (Pensioner’s Reply).
2. One primary ID card or at least two secondary ID cards.
3. Half-body photo or snapshot of the pensioner holding a current newspaper wherein the headline and date of publication are prominently displayed or having a background of news crawler/ticker on the TV showing the current news headline and date.
4. Recent Medical Certificate issued by his/her attending physician or by any government physician indicating complete physical examination findings and current medical status/condition.
5. Certified true copy of result of laboratory procedure done within one year from birth month (if any).
The ACOP Form (Pensioner’s Reply) may be downloaded from the SSS website (www.sss.gov.ph). Pensioners who do not comply with the resumption of ACOP until March 31, 2022 will have their pensions automatically suspended in April 2022 (effective May 2022 pension).
Starting April 1, 2022, pensioners who do not comply with the usual ACOP schedule will have suspended pensions effective May 2022.
Have a safe and healthy week everyone!
Aurora C. Ignacio is SSS president and chief executive officer.
We welcome your questions and insights on the topics that we discuss. E-mail mediaaffairs@sss.gov.ph for topics that you might want us to discuss.