The Social Security System (SSS) has collected nearly P650,000 in contributions and loan payments of self-employed and voluntary members through the Globe GCash facility by the end of the first quarter this year. The SSS mobile payment scheme was officially rolled out in December 2015.
SSS Officer-in-Charge of the Service Delivery Department Renato N. Malto said that out of the P648,420 total GCash collections as of end-March 2016, nearly 80 percent were payments for contributions which amounted to P511,575 while the remaining P136,845 were for members’ loan amortizations.
“Enabling SSS payments through Globe GCash aims to capitalize on the widespread use of mobile phones which have penetrated even the most distant areas of the country. Instead of spending much time, money and effort to go to the nearest SSS branch or to our accredited partners, members can just use their mobile phones to pay their contributions and loans,” Malto said.
Members must be prepaid or postpaid Globe or Touch Mobile subscribers to use the GCash facility. To register, members can dial *143#, select “GCash” and key in the desired four-digit Personal Identification Number (PIN) along with their first name, last name and address.
Another way to register is by downloading the GCash mobile application, click “New to GCash? Register” and enter the desired four-digit PIN, first name, last name and address. Meanwhile, to pay, members can dial *143#, select “9” for GCash then select “5” for “Pay Bills.” They may also dial *137#, select “2” for “Nat’l Gov’t Agency” and proceed with the payment process.
SSS payments sent thru GCash have no transaction fee. GCash also offers members a safe means for paying their contributions and amortizations for salary and real estate loans, since users are required to provide their (PIN) during every transaction for added security.
“Another advantage of using GCash is that the contribution and loan payments would be immediately posted in the SSS database the following day. Members would also be informed through text message if their payment has been duly received by the GCash system,” Malto said.
Contribution payment deadlines of self-employed and voluntary members depend on the last digit of their Social Security (SS) number. The deadline is the 10th day after the applicable month or quarter if the last digit is 1 or 2, the 15th day if 3 or 4, the 20th day if 5 or 6, the 25th day if 7 or 8, and on the last day of the month if 9 or 10.
Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) can pay their January to September contributions anytime within the same year and their October to December premiums on or before January 31 of the following year. Member loans, on the other hand, must be paid monthly, with the deadline also based on the last digit of the SS number.
Malto urged self-employed and voluntary members, including those from the informal sector, to consider GCash as their SSS payment channel. Farmers, fisherfolk and OFWs are already among those who have started using GCash for their SSS contribution and loan payments.
“We also invite members who are active GCash users to help us spread the good news about this innovative facility so that more workers would likewise benefit from the ease and convenience that GCash offers. Plans are underway to add more SSS services to the GCash system,” he said.
Members can direct their queries to the GCash Customer Service Support Hotline at 739-2882, SSS Call Center at 920-6446 to 55, and SSS OFW Contact Services Unit at +632 364-7796 and +632 364-7798. Members who are Globe subscribers can also call 2882 using their mobile phones to contact the GCash Customer Service Support Hotline.
