SSS sets calamity assistance package for earthquake victims in Abra, Mountain Province

The state-run Social Security System (SSS) is offering a calamity assistance package to members and pensioners affected by last month’s magnitude 7 earthquake in Abra and Mountain Province.

In a statement Thursday, SSS president and chief executive Michael Regino said the calamity loan assistance program for members as well as the three-month advance pension for retirees would be made available up to Nov. 14 of this year.

“Through this SSS calamity assistance package, we can offer immediate financial aid to our members and pensioners as they try to recover from the effects of the recent earthquake,” Regino said.

Regino noted that the following Abra towns were placed under a state of calamity following the strong quake: Bangued, Boliney, Bucay, Bucloc, Daguioman, Danglas, Dolores, Lacub, Lagangilang, Lagayan, Langiden, La Paz, Licuan, Luba, Malicbong, Manabo, Penarrubia, Pidigan, Pilar, Sallapadan, San Isidro, San Juan, San Quintin, Tayum, Tineg, Tubo, as well as Villaviciosa.

Two municipalities in Mountain Province — Bauko and Besao — were also declared under a state of calamity due to the earthquake.

“Members and pensioners residing in other earthquake-affected areas which could be declared under a state of calamity by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) or the Sangguniang Bayan, Panlunsod, or Panlalawigan can also avail themselves of the said assistance package,” Regino said.

For members’ calamity loan, Regino said “qualified members can avail themselves of a loan equivalent to their one-month salary credit (MSC) computed based on the average of their last 12 MSCs or the amount they applied for, whichever is lower.”

As for the three-month advance pension, Regino said “retirement, disability, and survivor pensioners under the social security (SS) program and disability and survivor pensioners under the employees’ compensation (EC) program may apply.”

“Interested SS and EC pensioners must be residents of the earthquake-stricken areas declared under the state of calamity. To apply for the three-month advance pension, they should submit the following to any SSS branch: accomplished application for assistance due to calamity/disaster form certified by the barangay chairman; and in case the form is not certified by the barangay chairman, they can submit the form with a certification from either the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) or the NDRRMC,” Regino said.

“However, retirement pensioners who have existing loans under the pension loan program cannot avail of the three-month advance pension,” Regino added.