After turning 60 years old last April 22, 2010, I realized that it’s time to get back whatever benefits I could out of the SSS monthly contributions I paid since 1968. Although, not dutifully paying monthly contributions, I thought knowing how SSS would be of assistance to a retiree will be much of a learning experience that I can share to active and younger SSS members.
I started working for my SSS retirement pension last June 2010, in Lucena City as voluntary contributor (OFW). To be eligible, I must have accrued at least 125 monthly contributions. Since I didn’t keep all my SSS payment receipts, SSS Lucena will request SSS San Pablo City for a copy of Adjustment/overpayment/underpayment of contributions. The copy shall be mailed to my home address. I have to wait for approximately 45 days.
Unfortunately, I didn’t receive any mail from SSS San Pablo during the 45-day period due to mailing problem. I decided to follow-up at SSS Lucena in September whereby I was informed and requested to settle an underpayment, which I did. I was requested to return after a month.
On October 1, 2010, I visited SSS Lucena. Copy of my Adjustment/overpayment/underpayment contributions was made available for me. The copy came from SSS San Pablo. I was requested to pay an amount equivalent to 2-month contributions to complete my 125 monthly contributions. I paid the said amount after a week.
During the last visit I remember I was told by a fellow retiree, that SSS processing is done on quarterly basis, e.g. if you submit a document in Jan, Feb, Mar, the result will be made available in the next quarter. Since my last SSS transaction fell in October 2010, I have to return by January 2011. I was not surprise when I was requested by SSS Lucena to return in January 2011.
Between January-February 2011, I visited SSS Lucena twice. In February, an application form for retirement benefits was given to me for completion and where some requirements are needed. Included in the requirements is to open a savings account with a bank accredited by SSS. Through SSS letter of introduction I got a savings account with initial deposit of P100.00 only.
On April 4, I submitted the application with the required supporting documents. After checking the documents, SSS Lucena advice me to deposit an amount in my bank account to avoid closure since a cheque will be mailed to me instead of remitting the pension amount to the bank. I can follow up if I did not receive the cheque within a month.
After a month, restless to receive the cheque by mail I decided to visit SSS Lucena on May 19. I was told that on April 25, they requested SSS San Pablo for confirmation of my contributions. And that SSS San Pablo will mail the reply to me within 45 days. I was totally shocked! After all the documentation, time consumed and the belief of accomplishing a task, SSS Lucena didn’t bother to communicate with me the glitch in processing my retirement benefit. They kept me waiting for something that will not happen.
Giving SSS Lucena the benefit of the doubt, I decided to visit SSS San Pablo for a follow up and to avoid possible mailing problem. I found out that SSS Lucena request is under process and will be available sometime July 2011. If I don’t receive the reply by mail during that period, I can get a copy in my next visit.
Can you guess for me for how long this process will last? Is this the existing SSS bureaucracy? I think SSS management should device a documentation program/training to complete processing from minimum of 30 days to maximum of 60 days. Or to posts additional document specialist. I hope that document processing for other SSS benefits are much faster.
