LEGAZPI CITY – The Social Security System (SSS) has announced that 285,161 of its active members in the Bicol Region can apply for calamity and salary loans. This initiative targets members affected by recent weather disturbances in the region, as stated by Jeanette Mapa, the spokesperson for SSS-Bicol.
Mapa specified that members from the provinces of Albay, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, Sorsogon, and the towns of Cataingan and San Fernando in Masbate are eligible. These loans, available until December 19, 2024, allow qualified members to borrow up to one month’s salary credit, with a cap at PHP20,000.
In addition to calamity loans, Mapa highlighted that salary loans are also an option for members. The application process for these loans is fully online, accessible through the My.SSS account on the SSS website. Although the exact number of applications is not yet available due to ongoing processing, Mapa encouraged eligible members to apply.
The entire procedure from application to loan disbursement is managed online, with funds being directly credited to the member’s UMID ATM card. To be eligible, members must have contributed for at least 36 months, with six contributions within the last year, and must live in a calamity-declared area. They should also have no outstanding claims or loans with SSS, and if employed, their application needs employer certification through the My.SSS platform.
Both types of loans are to be repaid over two years in 24 monthly installments, providing financial relief to those impacted by natural disasters in the region.