SSS extends calamity assistance to Taal eruption victims

The Social Security System on Tuesday reminded its members and pensioners who were affected by the Taal Volcano eruption that they could avail of a Calamity Assistance Package (CAP) from the SSS.

The pension fund allocated over P284.92 million worth of financial assistance for its more than 28,680 affected members and pensioners, SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Aurora C. Ignacio said.

“We want to assure our members and pensioners that they can rely on SSS for their immediate financial needs during these difficult times,” she said in a statement.

Qualified regular-paying SSS members residing in calamity-stricken areas may avail of the calamity loan assistance, as well as Direct House Repair and Improvement Loans.

A member should be a resident of an area under a state of calamity, as declared by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), to be considered for SSS assistance.

The provinces of Batangas and Cavite were under states of calamity.

“Members and pensioners who are residents of other areas that may also be declared under the state of calamity are qualified to avail of the CAP once officially declared by NDRRMC,” SSS said.

The CAP includes a loan assistance program up to P20,000 depending on members’ monthly salary credit. It also offers pensioners the option to receive their pensions in advance equivalent to three months.

Pensioners may also avail of the advance three-month pension, according to SSS.

“SSS is expecting more than 10 percent of the affected paying members in the areas mentioned above to apply for the CAP thus, it allocates more than P284.92 million for the program,” SSS said.

“It is broken down into P277.5 million allotted for the calamity loan while the remaining P7.42 million are for the advance three-month pensions of qualified pensioners,” it added.

Based on the SSS Circular 2020-002, applicants are required to register on the My.SSS facility for easier facilitation of their billing letters.

“Our members and pensioners who are not yet registered on the My.SSS facility may use their mobile phones to register so they can avail of the program,” Ignacio said.

They can also seek assistance at SSS e-centers in SSS branches.

For members who still have outstanding loans under the Loan Restructuring Program (LRP) and previous CAPs, Ignacio said they were not qualified to avail of the calamity loan.

Pensioners on total permanent disability and retirement, and those who availed of the Pension Loan Program (PLP) were also not qualified.

Direct house repair and Improvement loans of up to P1 million were also available with six months moratorium in amortization and interest payments.

“The applicant must not be more than 60 years old and with at least 24 monthly contributions, of which three contributions were remitted within the last 12-month period prior to the month of filing the loan,” the SSS said.

Members and pensioners may start to file their CAP applications starting January 22 until April 21 except for the Direct House Repair and Improvement Loan which will run up to January 2021.

For more information, members and pensioners can visit the nearest SSS branch, contact the SSS Call Center hotline at 1455, or send an email to member_relations@sss.gov.ph.

Application forms are downloadable from the SSS website at www.sss.gov.ph. — Joviland Rita/DVM, GMA News