SSS extends payment deadline

CEBU, Philippines —  The Social Security System (SSS) has announced that it is extending the deadline for the payment of monthly contributions of its members and employers until June 1, 2020.

SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Aurora C. Ignacio said that SSS extended the payment deadline for SSS contributions after President Rodrigo Duterte placed the entire country under a state of calamity due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"For self-employed, voluntary, and non-working spouse members, they can pay their SSS contributions for the applicable months of January, February and March 2020, or the first quarter of 2020 until June 1, 2020. On the other hand, regular and household employers have until June 1, 2020 to pay for their employee's contributions from February to April May 2020 without incurring any penalties," Ignacio said.

Employers with approved installment proposals under the Contribution Penalty Condonation Program must deposit their post-dated checks due in February, March, April, and May 2020 on June 1, 2020.

Ignacio added that contributions paid retroactively by self-employed, voluntary, and non-working spouse members will not be used as eligibility for any benefit claim if the payment date falls within or after the semester of contingency.

The Social Security Commission (SSC), the highest policy-making body of the SSS, revised the deadline for the payment of contributions for the said applicable months in response to the restraint in the movement of the public, limited operations of some banks and skeletal workforces in SSS branches.

"As we all know, the entire country was placed on community quarantine and enhanced community quarantine to limit the movement of the general public. We recognize the difficulty encountered by our members and employers in paying SSS contributions since tellering services in SSS branches are temporarily suspended, and some banks are implementing limited operations. Thus, we have decided to extend the payment deadlines for SSS contributions for the mutual protection of our members and personnel," Ignacio explained.

Ignacio also reminded employers that the payment deadline for the applicable months after April 2020 should again follow the regular payment schedule. For self-employed, voluntary, and non-working spouse members, the payment deadline for the applicable months or quarters after March 2020 shall follow the regular payment schedule.

SSS urged its members and employers to use alternative online and mobile payment facilities in paying SSS contributions. For individual paying members, they can pay their contributions using the Bayad Center mobile app, Moneygment through My.SSS and PayMaya through the SSS Mobile App. On the other hand, members can pay their contributions using the internet banking facility of the Security Bank as long as they have an existing deposit account with the bank.

Meanwhile, regular and household employers can pay SSS contributions through the following bank web facilities: BPI Bizlink, Security Bank Corporation DigiBanker, and UnionBank OneHUB. Employers can also pay their SSS obligations using the eGov BancNet Online. The online payment facility includes the following banks: Asia United Bank, Bank of Commerce, China Bank, CTBC Bank, Metropolitan Bank, and Trust Company, MUFG Bank, Philippine Bank of Communication, Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation, Robinsons Bank and Standard Chartered. Employers must have an existing account with any of these banks to use their online services.

SSS added that the extension of contribution payment deadlines is part of SSS' assistance package to help members and pensioners affected by the health crisis brought by COVID-19. FPL (FREEMAN)