SSS adds to cut-off dates for contribution, loans

STATE-RUN Social Security System (SSS) has expanded the range of cut-off dates for contribution and loan remittances of members and employers to eliminate long queues during payment deadlines.

Emilio de Quiros Jr., SSS president, said in a statement that the new deadlines will be spread out from the 10th day for employees and the 20th day for self-employed and voluntary members to five different deadlines based on the employer and social security number.

“The new deadlines would take effect starting with payments for the applicable month or quarter ending on June 30,” de Quiros said.

The revised deadlines are based on the 10th digit of the 13-digit employer number and the last digit of the 10-digit social security number of household employers, self-employed workers and voluntary members.

If the 10th digit of the employer number (for regular employers) or SSS number (for household employers, the self-employed and voluntary members) is “1” or “2,” contributions and loan payments fall on or before the 10th day after the applicable month or quarter.

The deadline would be the 15th day of the following month for numbers “3” and “4;” the 20th day for numbers “5” and “6;” the 25th day for numbers “7” and “8;” and the last day of the succeeding month for numbers “9” and “0.”

De Quiros said the new deadlines would apply to over-the-counter payments at SSS branch tellers, banks, Bayad Centers and SM Business Centers.

“Members and employers flock to SSS on the day of the deadline, which results in long lines and congestion. The new policy aims to address this situation,” he said.

Payment deadlines of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), who have more flexible cut off dates, are unaffected by the new policy, he said.

“Payments through Auto-Debit Arrangements and BancNet Online are also excluded from the change in deadlines,” he said.

OFWs, who are considered voluntary members, can remit contributions for January to September on or before December 31 of the same year, while their premiums for October to December are accepted until January 31 of the following year. –KATRINA MENNEN A. VALDEZ, Manila Times