In relation to Enhance Community Quarantine and safety of Filipinos against COVID-19, SSS will be offering online application of calamity loan starting April 24 to aid its members. You can process your application by logging in online at sss.gov.ph. 

Another good news is, SSS members who have an existing salary loan can also avail of the calamity loan, provided that the member pays his or her SSS loan dues on time. Additionally, SSS members who lost their jobs due to the enhanced community quarantine amid COVID-19, can avail of the SSS one-time payout under unemployment benefit program which pays the member P20,000 at the maximum, depending on the salary rate. SSS members who can avail of the unemployment benefit program, should have at least paid SSS contribution for 36 months.

Here’s your easy guide on applying for SSS Calamity Loan During the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ)

What is SSS Calamity Loan?

SSS Calamity Loan is a special loan that is usually being offered by SSS whenever an area is under state of calamity like typhoon, earthquake, war and any other calamity crisis such as this COVID-19. 

Who Can Apply for an SSS Calamity Loan?

The SSS calamity loan is open to any member who meets these criteria:

• Paid at least 36 monthly contributions, six of which are posted within the last 12 months before the month of loan application
• Home address or property at an area declared under the State of Calamity
• Has not availed of any of these SSS benefits: total permanent disability, retirement, or death
• Has no outstanding SSS Loan Restructuring Program or Calamity Loan Assistance Program

How much you can avail and at what interest rate?

• Amount is a one monthly salary credit (MSC) of up to PHP 20,000 or the total amount of damage, whichever is lower at 10% interest rate per annum. You can pay your loan within 24 months and monthly amortization starts on the second month after the date of the loan.

How can you apply Online?

The online application is targeted to start on April 24, 2020 to aid Filipinos on this COVID-19 crisis. You can process your online application by logging in to sss.gov.ph portal. According to SSS Head of Public Affairs and Special Division Fernan Nicolas, SSS will no longer ask for documents proving that the applicant’s area is under state of calamity since the entire country is now under calamity. Members can apply for a calamity loan worth up to PHP 20,000.

For the meantime, SSS members can apply for a calamity loan by dropping off their application in an SSS office nearby. Below are the steps.

1. Download, fill out, and print the SSS Calamity Loan application form. Ensure that your contact number and email address are up-to-date.
2. Photocopy all required supporting documents (see complete requirements below) and place these with the application form inside a long brown envelope.
3. Write down your name and the type of loan you are applying for at the front part of the envelope. Do not write down your SSS number.
4. Seal and drop the envelope in the assigned drop box in front of the SSS branch.
5. A designated SSS staff member will periodically bring in the box to retrieve the submitted documents and review/process them accordingly.

SSS Calamity Loan Requirements

• Completed Calamity Loan Assistance Application Form
• Barangay Certification
• One primary ID (UMID, driver’s license, passport, PRC card, or Seaman’s Book) or two secondary IDs (PhilHealth ID, company ID, senior citizen ID, voter’s ID, TIN card, etc.)

OFW members may assign a representative to file their SSS calamity loan application. SSS requires these additional documents from OFW-borrowers:

• Authorization letter
• Printed scanned copies of the OFW’s valid IDs plus original valid IDs of the authorized representative

You can download the SSS calamity loan form, Barangay Certification, and authorization letter on SSS website. For more information about the calamity loan, you may contact SSS through the following:

• Inquire at the nearest SSS branch
• SSS Call Center hotline: 920-6446 to 55
• Email: member_relations@sss.gov.ph

How will you know if your SSS Calamity Loan is Approved?

SSS will notify you via text or email once your loan application has been approved. This may take a few days, depending on the volume of applications received.

Final Thoughts

In this time in which the whole Philippines is under state of calamity, it's best to help one another by staying at home. An online application of calamity loan from the government allows you to borrow money at a cheap cost while staying safe at home. By that being said, it's also our responsibility to help our government by staying at home, helping flatten the cases of COVID-19.