State-run Social Security System (SSS) has resumed the implementation of the annual confirmation requirement for pensioners, but it will no longer require personal appearance at the pension fund.
In a statement, Aurora C. Ignacio, SSS president and chief executive officer announced the resumption of the annual confirmation of pensioners (ACOP) program starting this month until March 31, 2022.
Ignacio, however, said that pension fund has “various alternative ways” to ensure pensioners’ safe compliance with ACOP, a scheme that makes sure that only the rightful beneficiaries will continue to enjoy the SSS benefit.
“We want to remind our pensioners that it is important to comply with ACOP so they can continue to receive their monthly pensions. Non-compliance with the yearly reporting will lead to the suspension of their monthly pensions,” Ignacio said.
If pensioners fail to comply with ACOP, SSS will temporarily suspend their monthly pensions, starting with the May 2022 pensions.
“However, if the pensioners have already complied with their yearly reporting for 2021, they are no longer required to re-submit their duly accomplished ACOP form and other required documents,” Ignacio said.
Since the onset of the pandemic last year, SSS temporarily suspended the pensioners’ yearly reporting to SSS for “humanitarian consideration” and to keep SSS pensioners safe from COVID-19.
“Considering that we are currently in a pandemic, we have adopted safer ways of conducting ACOP that will not require personal appearances from SSS pensioners or their beneficiaries,” Ignacio said.
The first option is video conference via Microsoft Teams, which is only available for pensioners residing abroad.
The pensioners can send a request for an appointment to [email protected] and wait for an e-mail confirmation from SSS that contains their transaction reference number (TRN) and the link to the Microsoft Teams.
The second option is to send the required documents to the e-mail address of the nearest SSS branch or foreign office.
Pensioners can check the SSS website for a list of SSS branch and foreign offices with their respective e-mail addresses. This method is applicable for survivor pensioners, dependent children and their guardians, and pensioners residing in the Philippines.
In submitting their ACOP compliance, they should follow this format in their e-mail subject: ACOP Compliance, Pensioner’s Name, SS number. An example of this format is ACOP Compliance, Juan de la Cruz, 01-2345678-9.
The third option is to send the required documents through mail or courier service. Survivor pensioners, and dependent children and their guardians can send it to the nearest SSS branch office.
Meanwhile, pensioners residing abroad can send it to the SSS OFW-Contact Services Section, SSS Main Office, Quezon City, or the nearest SSS foreign office.
As of July 2021, SSS has more than 2.9 million pensioners, wherein 1.8 million are retirement pensioners, 1.05 million are death pensioners, and 74,418 are disability pensioners.