Applications for renewal of SSS pension loans available online

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO--The Social Security System (SSS) reminds qualified retireepensioners who would like to renew their loans under the Pension Loan Program (PLP) to submit their applications online through the My.SSS Member Portal.

SSS President and CEO Aurora C. Ignacio said the online facility for the PLP was added in the said portal since September 2020 to provide an easier and safer channel for SSSpensioners to benefit from the loan program.

The state pension fund said community quarantine lockdowns imposed by the government to stem the increasing infections due to COVID-19 limited the mobility of pensioner-members and affected transactions with SSS branches, including PLP applications.

SSS said it disbursed P787.27 million in pension loans to 17,585 retiree-pensioners from January to March 2021, representing a 43.8 percent and 44.1 percent decline, respectively. During the same period in 2020, PLP releases amounted to P1.4 billion for 31,467 retiree-pensioner borrowers.

“For the most part of the first quarter of 2020, those who would want to apply for the PLP can easily do so through our branches. But the first quarter of this year was a different story. Quarantine restrictions are imposed to limit the spread of COVID-19,” Ignacio said.

“We acknowledge the difficulty for those who would need to avail of the PLP. That is why we worked on developing an online channel for such pension loan applications. In September 2020, we began the initial implementation of this online service in our My.SSS member portal. At present, however, first-time availees must still submit their applications through our branches following applicable service guidelines implemented in them,” she added.

Qualified to use the online application method for PLP are SSS retiree-pensioners who met the qualifying conditions for the program. These include: 85 years of age or below at the end of the month of their loan term; no deductions (outstanding loan balance, benefit overpayment, etc.) from their monthly pension and existing advance pension under the SSS Calamity Assistance Package;

holds a Unified Multi-Purpose Identification card enrolled as an ATM card (UMIDATM) or Union Bank of the Philippines (UBP) Quick Card as disbursement accounts; and receives a regular monthly pension for at least one month, and the status of pension is “Active.”

Excluded from the PLP are retiree-pensioners under the Portability Law and those under the care and custody of a guardian.

Moreover, applicants who would use the online method must have a My.SSS account on the SSS website (www.sss.gov.ph), and a current and active mobile number registered with the SSS.

On the other hand, the old requirement for negative RT-PCR results still applies to visitors who will stay in Subic for at least four days and three nights, regardless of age and place of origin, he added.

“We have gained this additional freedom, so to speak, because we enforced safety protocols before and we’ll continue doing so to be able to open up more business in Subic,” he said.

Meanwhile, SBMA tourism manager Jem Camba said that Subic continues to be the goto destination in Central Luzon because of its beaches, rivers, mountain trails, theme parks, and shopping centers.

Camba said the new protocols already allow seniors in retail establishments, even when customer capacity is still kept at a maximum of 50 percent.

She said that as per previous guidelines, travelers 15-16 years old from MGCQ areas can enter the Freeport for leisure purposes without presenting RT-PCR tests results.

Camba said SBMA is still awaiting advice from the Regional IATF if the same would now apply to persons of all ages from MGCQ areas, she added.

She said that current health protocols in Subic still prohibit those under three years old in beaches and exercise areas, and that wearing of face mask and face shield in public places is still a must.

The SBMA previously set the fines for violation of these protocols at P1,000 for offense, P2,000 for second offense, and P5,000 for succeeding violations. (Ric Sapnu)

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