SSS offers other payment option for delinquent employers

State-run Social Security System (SSS) is offering an additional payment scheme for qualified delinquent employers experiencing financial difficulties in fulfilling their outstanding obligations to the pension fund.

In a statement, Emmanuel F. Dooc, SSS president and chief executive, said yesterday that delinquent employers who have paid their principal obligations shall be entitled to a one-year period to settle their deficiencies.

Dooc said that within one-year, they can defer the payment of the penalty either in full or through installment based on the assigned monthly installment payment plan.

“As valuable partners of the pension fund, we want to help them instead of giving much burden by providing lenient ways in paying their financial obligations to SSS,” Dooc said.

Delinquent employers who are qualified for the additional settlement option are those with outstanding obligation of at least 1100,000 exclusive of penalty, with or without pending cases before the Prosecutor’s Office, courts, and Social Security Commission (SSC), and with or without subsisting approved settlement scheme.

“The additional payment option specifically caters to delinquent employers who are currently experiencing financial difficulties due to income losses, mismanagement or those who were greatly affected by natural and manmade disasters,” Dooc added.

Under the SSS Circular No. 2018008, employers who paid their principal contributions in full or within a period not exceeding 90 days from the approval of the application, shall be entitled to a one-year period to defer the payment of their accrued penalties.

“If the employers failed to settle the principal amount within the 90-day period, a three percent per month penalty shall be imposed on the balance until the principal contribution is fully paid. That’s why it is crucial for employers to strictly follow the additional guidelines to avoid penalty accruals,” Dooc explained.

After paying the principal delinquency, employers can settle the total penalty delinquency either in full or on a staggered basis in accordance with the provisions Circular No. 2011-002 or the Revised Guidelines in the Installment Payment Scheme for Employers.

“A legal interest of 6 percent per annum shall be imposed on the substituting penalty delinquency upon payment either in full or on installment after the one-year deferment period,” Dooc added.

To apply for the new payment op- tion, applicants should submit a letter of request signifying their intention to pay in full their principal delinquency based on the updated and consolidated Statement of Account (SOA) issued by the concerned branch office (BO) or Large Accounts Department (LAD), and duly-notarized promissory note or Undertaking and Collection List for processing and review of BO/LAD.