SSS OFW members hit 1.5 million

MANILA, Philippines — The overseas Filipino worker (OFW) membership of the state-owned Social Security System (SSS) reached 1.5 million as of end-December.

Data from the pension fund showed 1.48 million OFWs are covered by SSS, with 540,018 actively paying members.

“We remain committed to supporting our OFWs through innovation and resilience, no matter the circumstances,” SSS president Robert Joseph de Claro said in a statement.

In addition, SSS assured its overseas members that they can access benefits and services via digital platforms despite escalating regional conflicts.

De Claro said members can file benefit claims and loan applications uninterrupted in the My.SSS Portal.

For instance, OFWs who were involuntarily separated can avail themselves of unemployment benefit provided they meet the qualifying conditions and are certified by the Department of Migrant Workers.

“Even in these challenging times, our digital infrastructure ensures seamless service delivery,” de Claro said. “Members in the Middle East need not worry; they can manage their accounts safely from anywhere with internet access.”

In addition, the insurer said overseas pensioners can now comply with the Annual Confirmation of Pensioners online through a new facial authentication tool, reducing the need for travel in conflict zones.

“A standout innovation is the ACOP Facial Authentication with Liveness Check, enabling secure identity verification from smartphones anywhere,” he said.

He added the feature cuts fraud risks and the need for travel amid the current security situation in the Middle East.

About 2.4 million Filipinos live and work across the Middle East, with the largest concentrations in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait.