SSS offers advanced pension, loans, payment break to quake survivors

The Social Security System (SSS), starting on Nov. 18, will make available calamity loans, advanced pension and moratorium on loan payments to members in areas stricken by a series of quakes in Mindanao.

In a Nov. 8 circular, SSS president and CEO Aurora C. Ignacio said members in these areas could avail themselves of calamity loans, three months’ worth of pension and a suspension of payment on loans that would be used to repair houses damaged by the quake.

The Calamity Loan Assistance Program, or Clap, would benefit members in areas where a state of calamity had been declared by the government.

The advanced pension would be for SSS members already receiving pensions.

The SSS said members in these areas are outright qualified: Bansalan and Matanao towns in Davao del Sur, Kidapawan City and the towns of Makilala and Tulunan in North Cotabato.

Members in other areas that would be covered by declarations of state of calamity would be qualified, too, the SSS said.

Calamity loans and advanced pensions could be availed of starting on Monday, Nov. 18, until Feb. 17, 2020.

Loans incurred for home repairs would be exempt from payments for one year upon issuance of SSS guidelines./TSB