The online filing and registration of new employees as members of the Social Security System (SSS) along with the submission of most forms and benefit claims have been made mandatory as of July 15, in compliance with the directive of Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III to this pension fund to shift to digital technology to further improve its services.
In a report to Dominguez, the SSS said the release of loans and benefits to members, except for unbanked pensioners, have also been made “cheque-less” through the use of PesoNet and other electronic payment systems as of July this year.
SSS President-CEO Aurora Cruz Ignacio said the state-run firm is targeting to include unbanked pensioners in the “cheque-less” release of benefits by October this year.
She said that since July 15, the submission of the Maternity Notification Form for pregnant female SSS members and the Sickness Notification Form were required by the SSS to be done online, along with the Retirement Benefit Claim of members who are at least 65 years old and the application for Unemployment Insurance Benefit (UIB).
The online filing of the applications for the Calamity Loan and Salary Loan were made mandatory by the SSS a month earlier on June 15, while the filing of the Sickness Benefit Reimbursement Claim of employers was required to be done online as of July 1 this year.
The online enrollment of bank accounts in the My.SSS or SSS online portal is already mandatory for members since June 2020 and for employers starting August 2020.
This online enrollment will enable the SSS to automatically deposit benefits to the member’s and employer’s enrolled bank account.
Dominguez, who is also the ex-officio chairman of the Social Security Commission (SSC), urged the SSS early last year to use digital tools to make it easier for its members to access its services.
The Finance chief said modernizing the SSS’ system will also help cut overhead costs for the pension fund.
He said the SSS needs to be prudent in managing its expenses, given that its task involves taking care of the hard-earned savings of Filipino workers.
“We have to do some serious investments in technology because it will not only save us money, but will also save time for the transacting public. Online transactions are easier and more convenient,” said Dominguez last year when he directed the SSS to hasten its switch to the digital processes.
The SSS has also made mandatory the online filing of applications for the COVID-19 Calamity Loan Assistance Package (CLAP) since the program was launched last June 15.
Online filing of Funeral Benefit Claims for SSS member-claimants was made available starting July and will be mandatory by August, Ignacio said.
The online filing of the Retirement Benefit Claim of OFW and voluntary members who are 60 to 64 year old has also been made mandatory starting August.
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