SSS offers calamity loan, 3-month advance pension for members, pensioners in Karding-hit areas

State-run private sector workers’ pension fund Social Security System (SSS) on Thursday said it will open two programs to extend financial assistance to its members and pensioners in areas affected by Super Typhoon Karding.

In a statement, SSS president and CEO Michael Regino said the two programs are the Calamity Loan Assistance Program (CLAP) for members, and the Three-Month Advance Pension for Social Security (SS) and Employees’ Compensation (EC) pensioners.

Under the CLAP, members may avail of a loan equivalent to the average of their last 12 monthly salary credit or the amount they applied for, whichever is lower.

For the Three-Month Advance Pension, the proceeds will be based on the amount of the pensioner’s monthly pension.

“In response to the devastation brought about by Super Typhoon Karding, we will offer these two programs in the areas to be declared under a state of calamity by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC),” Regino said.

“We are finalizing the guidelines for these programs, and we shall release them through our website and social media channels once available,” he added.

The SSS chief urged members to enroll in the My.SSS Portal of the SSS website as applications for the CLAP will be coursed through this channel.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported that 640,963 people or 176,337 families were affected by Karding in 1,372 barangays in Ilocos, Cagayan, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, and Cordillera.

Of the affected population, 25,177 people or 6,435 families are staying inside 391 evacuation centers, while 15,286 individuals or  3,482 families are taking shelter in other places.

Also, a total of 23,151 families or 91,169 people were pre-emptively evacuated.

A total of 20,628 houses sustained damage—18,110 partially and 2,518 totally—in Ilocos, Cagayan, Central Luzon, and Cordillera due to Karding. —NB, GMA News