SSS press release: SSS opens for business during weekend to accommodate members

Social Security System (SSS) opened its doors during the weekend to a swarm of members claiming salary loan checks to help them cope with difficulties brought about by two consecutive typhoons, a top official said.

 

SSS spokesman Joel Palacios said the pension fund has processed more than 44,700 checks amounting to over P780 million for members from the National Capital Region and Luzon, which were hard-hit by Tropical Storm Ondoy and Typhoon Pepeng.

 

"So far, SSS has approved for release a total of 38,467 checks amounting to P678.34 million for members in NCR and Rizal, and P109.83 million more for 6,263 members in other areas of Luzon," he said.

 

More than 10,000 checks had been claimed at the SSS main office in Diliman, Quezon City by members who availed of the agency's early salary loan renewal program. The Philippine National Bank branch at the ground floor of the SSS main office remained open to accommodate encashing of checks on Saturday.

 

Palacios said the pension fund has cut down the number of applications from more than 50,000 to only 6,000 within a span of one week.

 

"Members whose check numbers are 17053856 and lower would be sent out on Monday. Owners of these checks would have to claim them before 10 am," he said.

 

SSS members can find out their salary loan check numbers at the SSS website at www.sss.gov.ph. Unclaimed checks would be mailed in batches starting Monday.

 

SSS members from Luzon who are in areas outside NCR and Rizal can directly claim their checks at the branch where they filed their applications. Members can verify availability of their checks by calling the SSS hotline at 917-7777.

 

"Nobody is standing up in lines. We set up rows of seats for members waiting for their turn at the SSS main office and serve them coffee and juice to make them comfortable," Palacios said.