SSS loans, advanced pension for ‘Glenda’ victims

MANILA, Philippines - The Social Security System (SSS) has offered a calamity relief package for members, which allows them to renew their salary loans, avail of house repair loans with easier terms and advance their pension payments following the onslaught of Typhoon Glenda.

SSS vice president May Catherine Ciriaco said the SSS calamity relief package is extended to members in areas declared under state of calamity by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), which includes the provinces of Albay, Camarines Sur, Samar, Laguna, Naga City and the town of Obando in Bulacan.

“Members can use their loan proceeds and advance pensions for food, safe water and medicine, and to pay for other expenses resulting from the damages caused by Typhoon Glenda,” Ciriaco said.

The SSS calamity relief package includes the Salary Loan Early Renewal Program (SLERP), which enables existing borrowers in affected areas to renew their salary loans ahead of the prescribed period under the regular loan guidelines. Members with sanctions on loan renewal due to their availment of the SSS Loan Penalty Condonation Program are also allowed to apply for SLERP, provided that they live or work in a declared calamity area.

“The SSS will also waive the one-percent service fee charged on salary loan applications, both for new and renewed loans,” Ciriaco said, adding that the same eligibility requirements, interest rate and repayment terms on salary loans will still apply.

The assistance package also offers qualified SSS pensioners an option to get in advance their three-month’s worth of pension.

“Pensioners should attach a certification issued by the barangay chairman, DSWD or NDRRMC that attests to their residency in the typhoon-affected area. We will only accept applications without any of these certifications if the pensioner’s given address is within an officially declared calamity area and it is the same as that in our database,” Ciriaco explained.

Aside from the SLERP and three-month advance pensions, the SSS has also reduced the interest rates for the SSS Direct House Repair and Improvement Loan to six-percent per annum. The service fee is also waived.

The deadline for submission of applications under the SSS calamity relief package is on Oct. 31, except for the Direct House Repair and Improvement Loan, which is up to one year from issuance of its SS circular. Application forms are available at SSS branches or may be downloaded from the SSS website (www.sss.gov.ph).

For SSS members residing in affected areas not yet officially declared in state of calamity, the SSS will update them through a media advisory as soon as the NDRRMC has completed its assessment of damages.