QUESTION AND

ANSWER PORTION
When a person has secured an SS number, does
it mean that he/she is already an SSS member
and has the right to social security benefits?

No. Securing an SS number does not

automatically mean a person is already covered
as a member. An employed worker becomes a
covered SSS member when the ER submits an
employment report and has paid at least one (1)
contribution in behalf of the EE. An SE, OFW or
NWS becomes a covered SSS member when at
least one (1) contribution has been paid.
Can a person who has secured an SS number but has
no employer yet, already pay contributions on his/her
own as a voluntary member?
No. By definition, a VM is one who already has at least
one (1) month contribution as a previous EE, SE, or
OFW member and thus, has an existing Date of
Coverage (DOC), which is essential in determining a
members eligibility for benefits. Paying initial
contributions as a VM will render them void and
subject to refund.
On the other hand, an OFW who has secured an SS
Number may already proceed with the payment of
contributions as an OFW using the issued SS Number.
Can a member withdraw membership with the SSS?

No. Membership with the SSS is for life. However,

a member who was separated from employment
or ceased to be an SE or OFW has the option to
continue paying SSS contributions as a VM to
maintain the right to the full benefits being
provided by the SSS.
Even when there are periods when no
contributions are remitted, the benefits and loan
privileges provided by the SSS can still be availed
of, as long as the member meets the qualifying
conditions for entitlement thereto.
When a member loses or cannot remember his/her SS
number, should he/she secure another SS number?
No. The SS Number assigned to a member/person is
the lifetime number and must always be used in all
transactions with the SSS. Verification of a previously
issued SS Number can be requested at the nearest
SSS Office. The member should never secure
another SS Number, as having more than one (1) SS
Number will cause delay in the processing of claim
for benefits or loans in the future. Thus, it is
important to have only one (1) SS Number.
However, in cases when a member has multiple SS
Numbers, he/she must request for cancellation of
the excess SS Numbers as soon as possible in order
to consolidate and transfer all member records (e.g.,
employment history, contributions, monthly salary
credits, benefits and loan records, etc.) to the
 The SS Number to be retained is
determined based on the following order of
priority:
-with issued SS ID/Unified Multipurpose Identification
(UMID) card, or with pending application for UMID
card;
-with most number of posted contributions;
-with most recent posted contributions; or
-with earliest issued SS Number.
For members with settled final claim, the SS
Number used in the benefit settlement shall
be retained.