Norma worked as a private school teacher for 35 years. Before she reached her 60th birthday, her husband advised her to begin working on her SSS retirement documents just to get a head start. She was both sorry and thankful that she did; sorry because she discovered a problem that could cost her her entire old age pension, thankful because she discovered it before she actually filed for her retirement.
You see, Norma has had 2 sets of SSS numbers all her life and she didn’t know about it until she personally visited an SSS office to ask for a list of requirements when filing for pension claims. Apparently, Norma applied for her very first SSS number immediately after graduating from college in 1980. However, she did not immediately begin contributing to the SSS until two years after when she landed her first job as a teacher. From 1980 to 1982, she tended their family’s business at the Divisoria and was salaried by her father through commissions. She did not pay income tax or contributed to SSS during these two years of employment.
When she was hired to teach at the private school in their province, she was requested to fill-out several forms, including Pag-IBIG and SSS application forms. Unmindful of the pile of documents she had to accomplish, Norma simply supplied all needed information and dutifully submitted these to their HR, completely forgetting that she had already applied for an SSS number two years ago. She was issued her SSS and PagIBIG numbers, through her employer, and she contributed to both agencies every month through salary deduction.
Now that she is applying for her retirement claims, she was advised by the SSS personnel that there are two sets of SSS numbers assigned to her name. The first one was assigned to her in April 1980 while the other one was activated in March 1982. Thankfully, her contributions are intact but are all reflected under the second SSS number. However, due to this discrepancy, her application for retirement pension may have to be put on hold.
What happens when a person has more than one set of SSS numbers?
An individual’s SSS number is his lifetime identity under the system; all his contributions, loans, and other SSS transactions will be reflected under his number. Having more than one record with the SSS will surely cause delays in claiming one’s benefits such as his old age pension.
What must you do when you realize you have more than one set of SSS numbers?
The SSS recommends that you file the necessary report with the SSS as soon as you discover that you have more than one set of SSS numbers.
These are the steps in reporting the double assignment of SSS numbers:
- Visit the nearest SSS branch and bring a copy of your PSA birth certificate or Baptismal Certificate.
- Request for a blank sheet of COV-01205 or the Request/Verification Form. Check the appropriate box (request the cancellation of multiple social-security numbers) and supply the rest of the information being asked for.
- Check the box indicating the consolidation of contributions. This is especially applicable if the member has had contributions under his original SSS number and the succeeding SSS number/s assigned to him due to multiple registration.
- As a matter of procedure, the first number that is reported with contributions is the number that is retained. In Norma’s case, since she did not make any contributions after she was assigned her first SSS number, it is most likely that her second SSS number will be retained.
- The process of consolidating all contributions and cancellation of the other SSS number takes at least a month to complete. You will receive a letter from the SSS when the process has been completed. Only then can you begin working on filing the documents for your claim (pension, death, etc.).
The SSS has upgraded their system so that members can create an account through the SSS website where they can view their contributions and apply updates to their personal information online. If you still do not have an online SSS account, it may be best to create one now so you can easily check the details of your SSS membership and other important information about your claims and benefits, without having to go to an SSS office.
If you have questions about SSS, send us a message and we will do our best to find the answers for you.
Reference: www.sss.gov.ph
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