SSS chief says members flocking for claims accommodated

The Social Security System said Sunday that it has already addressed the influx of transacting members at certain SSS branches in Metro Manila.

In a statement, the state-run social insurer said it has accommodated the crowd of members that poured into SSS offices in the National Capital Region to transact, especially at the Diliman Branch.

“We have accommodated all the transacting members who flocked in several of our SSS branches. We are in 100% operation capacity since all our employees are reporting in the office,” SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Aurora Ignacio said.

On Friday, members flocked to various SSS branches to process their claims, after the government relaxed COVID-19 restrictions, and the influx of members "surprised" the agency.

Crowds of members braved the heat, and hunger, while many others camped out near SSS offices to get to the head of the line at the start of business hours, GMA News reported Friday.

In the statement, Ignacio said they will continue to monitor the influx of members in SSS branches. “We will evaluate the situation to determine if there is a need to extend its servicing hours and extend its daily operations until Saturday.”

Likewise, SSS renews its call for members, claimants, and the transacting public to use the agency’s online facilities such as My.SSS and SSS Mobile App for their various SSS transactions.

“We urge them to fully maximize its online facilities, especially the My.SSS portal. There are more than 30 member services available on My.SSS. They can even access some of these services on the SSS Mobile App,” Ignacio said.

Ignacio pointed out that there is an existing online branch appointment system that members can use the appointment system to indicate the preferred date and time that they want to be accommodated in their chosen SSS branch.

Further, she clarified the misconception that processing of claim and loan applications is faster at the SSS Diliman Branch than in other branches, adding processing time depends on the completeness of the documents being submitted.

The “File Anywhere” policy is still in effect so they can transact at the nearest branch of their choice. Currently, there are 58 branches in NCR, about 135 branches in Luzon, 44 branches in Visayas, and 44 branches in Mindanao, according to the SSS statement. —LBG, GMA news