SSS ID System is Only Available in San Juan and Main Branch

I just wonder why is it so that the only branches where you can apply for a SSS ID is in San Juan and Main branch? Why is it so? Instead of bringing in the service in full even to small branches and offices of the SSS it was the other way around.

If the machines were having problems or trouble why not have it repaired or else buy another one? Instead of providing free services to the people because they are needed, these services were hidden like in the recent calamity loan. The link in the website was removed two days after announcing that the said SSS calamity loan is now available for members.

Are the funds being re-channeled somewhere else? Well, if you are a member of the SSS expect worst services with the people in the government worse than their services.

Yes, as of now if you are looking to have a SSS ID, the only 2 remaining branches where you can apply for one is SSS San Juan and SSS Main Branch

SSS Calamity Loan - Interest Rate

After knowing you are qualified to avail of the SSS calamity loan and learning what loanable amount you can get out of this program by the Social Security System (SSS) in the Philippines, the next step is to know about the interest rate and how much you pay in extra for the whole duration of the program of SSS calamity loan.

According to the SSS - "A calamity loan is charged an interest of six percent a year, not deducted in advance. The interest shall be incorporated in the borrower's monthly amortization of the loan."

Knowing about these things is your best weapon against mistakes by the SSS of overcharging your or at least you know what to expect after you get the loan. Another important thing to know is the delinquency interest if in case you fail to pay on time for the whole duration of the calamity loan program. That will be mentioned in my next post so it would be easier to understand about it.

SSS Calamity Loan - Loanable Amount

After knowing if you are qualified to make or apply for SSS calamity loan, the next big step is to know how much loanable amount you can get out of this program by the Social Security System of the Philippines. Below is again a short guide to let you know how much is the loanable amount that a SSS member can get if he or she qualifies for it.

According to the official website of the SSS, below is the exact amount of calamity loan that you could possibly get provided that you are qualified and you have no outstanding previous loan balances.

• A member may avail of a calamity loan of P8,000.
• A member with an existing calamity loan may avail of another calamity loan, provided that his total calamity loan availment does not exceed P10,000. The outstanding balance of any earlier calamity loan will not be deducted from his new loan.

SSS Calamity Loan

We have been struck by calamity and the whole Metro Manila is included as well as surrounding provinces. This leaves us with no choice but to file for SSS calamity loan. Here is a quick guide for all of you looking for information on how to apply for SSS calamity loan and what are the requirements.

First off you have to know what is SSS calamity loan by definition of the Social Security System of Philippines - "It is a loan intended to meet the emergency credit needs of a member who is a victim of a natural disaster in a locality declared as a calamity area."

Who Qualifies for Calamity Loan? (Source: SSS.Gov.Ph)

1. A currently employed, self-employed or voluntary member who is a resident of a calamity area as covered by Presidential Proclamation or as declared by the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) or the concerned Local Government Unit (LGU).
   
   
2. He must have paid at least a total of 24 monthly contributions throughout his membership, including two monthly contributions within the one-year period prior to filing date.
   
   
3. He has not yet been granted a refund of contributions, retirement or total permanent disability benefits.
   
   
4. He must be up-to-date in the payment of all member loan obligations, including the following:
   

   	salary loan
   	calamity loan
   	emergency loan
   	stock investment loan
   	privatization fund loan
   	special educational loan for vocational and technical students
   	special educational loan for Y2K conversion training
   	member assistance for the development of entrepreneurship (MADE), and
   	housing loan granted through the SSS, National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation (NHMFC) and Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG).

1. The amount of calamity loan shall be granted only to the extent that the loan being applied for plus the member's total outstanding loan balance at the time of application shall not exceed P50,000, except those of member assistance for the development of entrepreneurship (MADE) and housing loans.
   
   
2. His employer, if any, must be up-to-date in contributions and loan remittances.
   
   
3. He has not been disqualified by the Social Security Commission (SSC) for having filed a fraudulent loan application with the SSS.

Social Security System (SSS) Philippines Online Inquiry

I have been asked many times by Social Security System (SSS) Philippines members regarding the SSS online inquiry. If I sum up all their questions, I would end up in a single question and that is why is the government Social Security System online inquiry so hard to understand for a simple member of the SSS?

First, I personally think that the SSS official website itself is not as user-friendly as it should be and not even designed so that members won't have a hard time to find what they are looking for. Second, I think it's about time that the government should spend some more extra money in making a new design that would present visitors (usually SSS members) a search engine friendly URL. That which is easier to understand and memorize for all remembers. The conventional design is already obsolete and should be replaced.

Second, there should be a good enough and qualified webmaster who will handle all the affairs of all government websites to make the necessary changes and make them all SEO-friendly, search engine-friendly and user-friendly. Also the webmaster can help make it easier for all users and visitors by analyzing problems from the server side to the hardware side. This way, "DOWNTIME CAN BE MINIMIZED" if not totally removed because this is the number 1 cause of anger of members. Time is gold and users and visitors grow weary of trying to log in while the website itself is not available due to server problems. There should be proper announcement when the server will be under maintenance or down and when will it resume so members know when to come back for their online inquiry.

Third, the government should use the money of the members in providing the best service that the SSS official website can give. Members don't need loan information if they are not available online because the website is not available, moreso, payment via online would not work at all if the website itself is having server problems. This is a suggestion to the authorities to help make SSS service more reliable and user-friendly. We need our money to work for us and not for anyone else, after all, it's our money. - Concern SSS Member