Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 9) — The Social Security System disbursed ₱6.23 billion in disability benefits last year, a 12.6% decrease from 2019 as quarantine restrictions prevented other members to claim their benefits.
The government-owned pension fund said the releases covered 118,755 beneficiaries.
SSS president and chief executive officer Aurora C. Ignacio said in a statement the amount released was lower than the year earlier “due to the limited mobility of members and pensioners since March 2020” when the government started implementing lockdown rules to stem the spread of COVID-19.
While the SSS has been digitalizing its system to allow members and pensioners to tap its services online, it has yet to include disability and death benefits in the platform, the top official noted.
“We facilitated the use of the drop box system to minimize face-to-face transactions to curb the spread of the COVID-19 virus,” Ignacio said.
There are now around 25 online services available at the My.SSS portal, according to the agency.
In addition to online applications for calamity loan, pension loan, retirement benefit, unemployment benefit, and funeral claim, members may also submit their requests for member data change for simple corrections, while employers can submit sickness benefit reimbursement applications of their employees.
SSS members can also view their membership information, list of PRN (personal reference number) payments, addresses of SSS branches; file for salary loans; submit maternity notifications (for self-employed, voluntary, and overseas Filipino worker members); generate PRNs for contributions; and update their contact information through the My.SSS Portal and SSS Mobile App.
