State-run Social Security System (SSS) is offering a three-month advance pension to pensioners residing in areas declared under a state of calamity due to the recent onslaught of typhoons Kristine, Marce, Nika, Ofel, and Pepito.
In a statement, Voltaire P. Agas, SSS officer-in-charge, said the advance pension is a financial assistance program for SSS and Employees’ Compensation (EC) pensioners residing in areas severely affected by the successive typhoons that hit the country in recent weeks.
Agas added that the assistance aims to provide immediate financial aid to pensioners who need help recovering from the storms' impact.
“We have experienced a very unusual event wherein a string of storms swept the country with only several days apart, bringing massive destruction to areas within its path," Agas said.
"At SSS, we are aware that among those affected by the storms are our pensioners who now need immediate help,” he added.
The program covers pensioners in areas declared under a state of calamity by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), including numerous locations in Luzon.
To avail of the assistance, pensioners must be living in the declared calamity area and must not have an existing pension loan for SSS retirement pensioners. Applications will be accepted at the nearest SSS branch office until Dec.21, 2024.
Agas noted that even those who have received advance pensions from previous calamity assistance programs can still apply.
Interested pensioners need to submit an Application for Assistance Due to Calamity/Disaster Form certified by their Barangay Chairman.
If certification from the Barangay Chairman is unavailable, a certification from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) or the NDRRMC will be accepted.
Pensioners can pick up the benefit checks at the SSS branch where they applied within 10 working days. After the three-month period, the pensioner’s monthly pension will automatically resume.