SSS approves over 4k applications for unemployment benefits

The Social Security System (SSS) has approved more than 4,300 unemployment benefit applications which were filed online since the state pension fund announced the procedure.

“From June 22 to July 6, 2020, we already released an initial P59.80 million worth of unemployment benefits to 4,392 qualified members who submitted their online application through their My.SSS accounts," SSS president and CEO Aurora Ignacio said in a statement.

"We expect that these figures will continue to increase as more companies announce retrenchment and closure of businesses due to the pandemic crisis,” she added.

The highest number of online applicants came from Luzon with 1,697, followed by the National Capital Region with 972 applicants, Visayas with 894, and Mindanao with 822, according to the SSS.

In terms of the mode of disbursement, 99% of the members received their cash benefits through their savings accounts, it said.

The remaining 1% received their unemployment benefits through their Unified Multipurpose Identification (UMID) Card enrolled as ATM or through remittance transfer companies (RTC)/ cash payout outlets (CPO).

Unemployment benefit is equivalent to half of their average monthly salary credit (AMSC) for a maximum of two months.

The cash benefit ranges from the minimum amount of P1,200 up to the maximum amount of P16,800, if involuntary separated in July 2020.

“As part of our digital transformation efforts, SSS aside from shifting its transactions online is also geared towards a checkless payment system,” Ignacio said.

The pension fund said that before submitting their unemployment benefit application online, members should have their own My.SSS account through registration at the SSS website.

The disbursement account should also be registered in their My.SSS accounts through Bank Enrollment Module (BEM) and proceed to the E-services tab and click Bank Enrollment, it said.

From there, members can select their preferred PESONet participating bank, e-wallet, or RTC/CPO and enter their correct bank account number or mobile number, the SSS added.

The agency noted that upon successful registration, members should log in to My.SSS account and click “apply for the unemployment benefit claim” under the E-Services tab.

Members must provide all the information such as their active savings account enrolled in the Bank Enrollment Module (BEM), employment category, date and reason of involuntary separation, and the employer’s name where they were separated.

Online applicants should read the certification carefully before clicking the “Submit” box to agree and proceed with the application.

The SSS said it will send a notification through email.

“Members must reply to the notification by attaching the scanned copies of the certification issued by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) or by the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) and the Notice of Termination from the Employer or Affidavit of Termination from Employment, whichever is applicable,” it said.

“Member-applicant will receive a confirmation email from SSS regarding their successful application,” it added.

Members were also reminded that the Department of Labor and Employment(DOLE), through its regional offices and Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO), is now issuing electronic copies of the certification that established the nature and date of involuntary separation.

Our branch personnel will verify the authenticity of the submitted DOLE certification through the issuing DOLE offices, according to the SSS. -NB, GMA News