Recognizing the impact of COVID-19 to millions of Filipino, the Social Security System has opened its Calamity Loan Assistance Program for members who are greatly affected by the pandemic. According to SSS President and CEO Aurora Ignacio, an estimated amount of 1.74 million members of SSS can apply for this program.
What’s with the Calamity Loan Assistance Program?
Depending on the monthly salary credit for the last 12 months, SSS members may apply for a loan which may reach up to P20,000. Payment terms are also adjusted up to 27 months (instead of 24 months), inclusive of the three-month moratorium period and the interest rate has been lessened to six percent per annum (instead of the regular 10 percent).
The loan amortization for COVID-19 calamity loans will start on the fourth month of the approval date of the loan and no advance interest will be charged. Instead a service fee of one percent will be charged and thereby deducted from the loan proceeds.
Those who can’t pay the loan on the scheduled due date will only bear a one percent penalty per month.
How to qualify for the SSS Calamity Loan Assistance Program?
In order to qualify for the SSS Calamity Loan Assistance Program, members must be able to comply the following qualifications:
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Must have at least 36 monthly contributions wherein six of which has been posted within the last 12 months before the application
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Have a work or home address within the Philippines as reflected in the SSS database
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Have not been granted any final benefit – such as total permanent disability or retirement
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Have no outstanding loans under the Loan Restructuring Program or previous Calamity Loan
How to apply for the SSS Calamity Loan Assistance Program?
If you think you are qualified to apply for the loan, simply register to My.SSS web portal on the official SSS website in order to apply: www.sss.gov.ph. This online facility has been developed in order to reduce face-to-face transactions in all branches of the SSS given that the threat of COVID-19 pandemic is likely to remain in the coming months.
Once approved, member-borrowers may choose to receive their calamity loan using their respective Unified Multi-Purpose Identification cards enrolled as an ATM, Union Bank of the Philippines Quick Card, or through the checks sent to their preferred mailing address.
Deadline of application for SSS Calamity Loan Assistance Program is until September 14, 2020.