‘Report delayed release of benefits,’ SSS pensioners urged

THE Social Security System (SSS) is urging pensioners to immediately report to the agency the depository banks which failed to credit the initial increase of P1,000 to their accounts Friday, March 3.

SSS pensioners were expected to receive the January retroactive increase yesterday, while payments for February and this month’s differentials totaling to P2,000 are scheduled for release on March 10 and 17, respectively.

In a press statement Friday, SSS said there were reports on delayed bank crediting of the P1,000 increase of some pensioners.

Social Security Commission Chairman Dean Amado Valdez said they will validate these reports and if proven true, partner-banks may face suspension or cancellation of its accreditation with the agency.

Pensioners may report through channels like SSS Call Center: 9206446 to 55; SSS e-mail: member_relations@sss.gov.ph; or Facebook account: SSSPH.

In Negros, local branches have not yet received reports of delayed or non-release of additional benefits.

SSS Visayas West I Division senior communications analysts Janice Diaz, however, said they remain open and ready to assist pensioners for possible complaints.

Since the agency has already downloaded the amount to the pensioners’ respective bank accounts ahead of the scheduled release, delays are not on the part of SSS, Diaz reiterated.

SSS records showed that there at least 160,225 pensioners in Negros Island Region, including 51,857 in Bacolod City.

They form part of at least two million pensioners in the country who are expected to receive their initial increase yesterday.

President Rodrigo Duterte approved the P1,000 additional benefit for SSS pensioners on January 10 while the order authorizing the release was signed on February 22.

The amount is half of the initial proposal of P2,000 across-the-board pension increase.

The SSS has allocated about P2 billion for the pensioners’ January additional benefit.

For the first quarter this year, around P6.9 billion has been allotted for the release of additional P1,000 monthly pension.

The amount is on top of the P7.4 billion released per month since January 2017 for the pensioners’ regular benefits.

Due to the approved pension increase, SSS had earlier said there will be an additional contribution at least one percent higher than the current 11 percent contribution rates.

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