The Social Security System (SSS) is urging pensioners affected by typhoons “Kristine,” “Marce,” “Nika,” “Ofel” and “Pepito” to go ahead and avail of a three-month advance on their pensions before December 21.
SSS officer in charge Voltaire Agas said on Friday that the advanced payment of pensions is a financial assistance given to SSS and Employees’ Compensation (EC) pensioners in towns and cities hit recently by consecutive tropical cyclones.
“We have experienced a very unusual event wherein a string of storms swept the country only several days apart, bringing massive destruction to areas within its path. At SSS, we are aware that among those affected by the storms are our pensioners who now need immediate help,” he said.
“It is imperative for SSS to extend its full support and assistance not only to SSS members but also to SSS and EC pensioners who need financial aid as they try to recovery from the aftermath of the tropical cyclones,” Agas added.
Pensioners in areas placed under a state of calamity by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council are qualified to apply for the three-month advanced pension.
Agas clarified that SSS and EC pensioners who have received advance pensions from previous calamity assistance programs and whose pensions are still suspended can still apply for this advance pension.
“Existing partial disability pensioners can also avail of the advance pension for the remaining months of their partial disability pension or the three-month period, whichever is lower,” he explained further.
After the three-month period, the pensioner’s monthly pension will automatically resume on the fourth month.
SSS retirement pensioners can also borrow under the SSS Pension Loan Program equivalent to three, six, nine or 12 times their monthly pension, inclusive of the P1,000 additional benefit or up to P200,000.
“We offer flexible payment terms for the PLP, ranging from six to 24 months, depending on the loan amount. We hope that the SSS pension loan can help our calamity-stricken pensioners rebuild their lives after the storms,” Agas stressed.
