SSS clarifies net loss in unaudited 2021 FS; pension fund gains P28B

SOCIAL Security System (SSS) President and CEO Michael G. Regino clarified on Monday that the net loss of P843.9 billion shown in its unaudited financial statements for 2021 is a result of a change in accounting standard brought by Philippine Financial Reporting Standards (PFRS) 4.

Regino, however, assured SSS members and pensioners that the reported losses do not affect the SSS’S current cash flow and funding situation and it remains financially viable of providing benefits to its stakeholders.

In fact, he noted, SSS cash inflows composed of contribution collections and investment and other income for 2021 reached P262 billion, exceeding its cash outflows of P234 billion composed of benefit payments and operating expenses for the same year by P28 billion.

“This increase in net loss from the previous year is due to the recognition of the Margin for Adverse Deviation [MFAD] in our policy reserves. MFAD serves as a buffer for conservatism, which we have considered in our financial statements beginning 2021,” Regino explained.

Policy reserves are forwardlooking estimates of net future liabilities. These include benefit payments that will be disbursed to SSS members and their beneficiaries in the future.

“These future liabilities need to be recognized now as these provide us an accurate view of our long-term financial standing, which serves as our guide, as well as for the government in ensuring that we will be able to continuously serve our current and future members and their beneficiaries,” Regino added.

The SSS is a state-run social insurance institution that extends social security protection to Filipino workers in the private and informal sectors. Under the Social Security Act of 2018, it provides seven benefit programs, namely, Sickness, Maternity, Unemployment, Retirement, Disability, Death, and Funeral, as well as loan privileges.