Social Security System (SSS) members can transact at SSS branches all over the country every Saturday, starting on October 26, 2013, as part of the agency’s thrust to make SSS services more accessible to its membership.
SSS Officer-in-Charge Edgar Solilapsi said the Social Security Commission has approved the extended branch schedule, which aims to acccommodate members who cannot transact at SSS branch offices during regular business hours on weekdays.
“Under the new schedule, SSS branches will be open to serve members from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. every Saturday, on top of their regular business hours on Mondays to Fridays,” Solilapsi said. “We encourage members, as well as regular and household employers, to take advantage of this special SSS branch schedule, which starts on October 26.”
The extended work schedule will also benefit Cebu and Bohol-based members affected by the recent earthquake covered by the SSS Calamity Relief Package. The package includes the Salary Loan Early Renewal Program (SLERP) for members with existing salary loans; the waived one percent service fee for new salary loan borrowers; advance release of three-month pensions; and the fixed six percent annual interest rate and waived application fee under the special House Repair and Improvement Loan Program.
Solilapsi said a similar calamity relief package is also on-going for members and pensioners affected by Typhoon “Santi,” which left the town of San Miguel, Bulacan in a state of calamity as declared by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council or “NDRRMC.”
The state-run pension fund has 132 branch offices nationwide that serve over 30 million members and about 871,000 registered employers. SSS plans to create additional 10 branches and increase the number of branch personnel to improve service delivery and enhance its accessibility to members and employers, especially with the continuing growth in SSS membership.
“Apart from SSS branches, members who plan to transact during the weekend can also visit SSS Service Offices in various malls nationwide, which are open from Tuesdays to Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m,” he said.
