Claimants rush to SSS offices as COVID-19 restrictions eased

People flocked to various branches of the Social Security System (SSS) to process their claims after the government relaxed COVID-19 restrictions, surprising the agency.

Many endured the heat and hunger, while others camped near SSS offices to get ahead of the line at the start of business hours, GMA News' Victoria Tulad said in a report on "24 Oras" on Friday.

Long lines formed as early as dawn at SSS Caloocan on Monday, while senior citizens waited outside the SSS main branch on East Avenue in Quezon City on Friday.

Carol Soriano said that she had spent the previous three days going back and forth to the SSS office in Caloocan to process the death benefits of her father.

"Kagabi pumunta ako dito ng 10:30. Humihingi na ako ng number para may number na akong hawak; ang problema hindi ako binigyan," she said.

"Dumating ako 5:30 [a.m.], ang haba na ng pila namin doon. Wala na kaming number. May hypertension ako, baka naman himatayin ako dito ngayon."

(I came here at 10:30 last night. I asked for a queue number but received none. I returned at 5:30 a.m., but the line had grown so long that we were unable to obtain a ticket. I have hypertension. I'm afraid I'm going to pass out right now.)

Salvacion Sagada, who is claiming her child's death benefits, broke down in tears as she expressed her dissatisfaction with the situation.

"Pabalik-balik na lang ako tatlong taon na, itong sa anak ko. Nahirapan na ako lumakad. Hindi pa binibigay," she said.

(For the past three years, I've been following up on this. I couldn't walk properly anymore. They haven't released her death benefits yet.)

The queues at the SSS branch on Congressional Avenue in Quezon City were shorter, but still moving slowly.

Many applicants also visited SSS branches in Baguio and Laoag.

SSS spokesperson Fernan Nicolas said that the agency did not expect a surge in walk-in applications as a result of the easing of mobility restrictions.

"Don't you worry po kasi 'yun namang ating workforce is 100%. Full operational kami kaya maseserbisyuhan naman po lahat na 'yan," he said.

(Don't worry, we're fully staffed. We are ready to serve everyone.)

Some SSS branches in Metro Manila will be open on Saturday to accommodate more applicants, even as the state-run pension fund urged the public to conduct their transactions online.

Over 30 areas across the country, including the National Capital Region, were placed under the lowest COVID-19 alert level (1) from March 1 to 15.— VBL, GMA News