TIM eMagazine Vol.1 Issue 1
SSS to launch
new contact
center for OFWs
average rates of SSS’ short-term placements or
91-day treasury bills, whichever is higher.
“In 2012, the SSS revised the program’s
policies to help OFW members earn more from
their Flexi-Fund savings. Prior to that, there
were no AIBs and the 91-day treasury bill rate
was the sole basis for determining Flexi-Fund’s
guaranteed earnings,” See said.
The official explained that AIBs may be
declared depending on the Flexi-Fund’s actual
year-end income. Individual Flexi-Fund
accounts of qualified active OFW members
(or those with no full withdrawals and benefit
claims within the applicable year) will be
automatically credited with AIBs based on the
member’s share to total Flexi-Fund equity.
As of 2013, members’ equity stood
at P391.86 million with the maximum AIB
amount of P57,098 credited to a member’s
account.
“We encourage our OFW Flexi-Fund
members to keep their savings intact to
maximize the returns on their investments.
They will get higher earnings in interest and
AIB amount if they save more,” See said.
Launched in 2001, the Flexi-Fund program
is a voluntary provident fund and pension-plan
scheme offered exclusively to OFW members.
It allows OFW members to build up additional
funds, which they may use upon retirement or
to supplement their benefits under the regular
SSS program.
OFW members paying the maximum
contribution amount, which is
currently P1,760, are qualified to join the
program. Any amount, not less than P200, paid
in excess of the required P1,760 is automatically
credited as Flexi-Fund savings.
O
verseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) will have easier means
to benefit from the programs and services of the Social
Security System (SSS) with the launching of the newly
created OFW Contact Center Unit (OFW-CSU), starting
October this year.
SSS Senior Vice President and International Operations
Division Head Judy Frances A. See said the new unit will
handle direct contact points for OFWs to allow for a more differentiated
servicing and faster resolution of their SSS concerns.
For its initial operations, the OFW-CSU will provide dedicated e-mail
support and local call services from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm on weekdays.
In addition, a special assistance desk will be available at the SSS main
office in Diliman, Quezon City for walk-in transactions of OFWs, such as
registration and issuance of SS numbers, enrollment in Flexi-fund Program,
and verification of SSS records. It will also provide OFW members assistance
in filing their loans, benefit claims and other SSS applications.
“We understand the unique circumstances of our Kababayan abroad, and
so we continue to find ways to make the SSS more accessible to them. The
creation of a specialized contact unit for OFWs will enable us to identify their
distinct needs and address them accordingly. It will also help us manage the
level of transactions with other member service facilities more effectively,”
See explained.
OFWs and their families in the Philippines can reach the OFW-CSU by
e-mail at [email protected] or through their service hotlines, (02) 3647796 and (02) 374-7798.
See added that additional channels and service facilities have been lined
up for implementation to fully complement the unit’s operations.
“We will open international toll-free numbers so OFWs across the globe
can call us without having charges on their end. OFW-CSU’s operating hours
will also be extended to 24/7 once the required systems are in place,” See
said.
Other services that will be rolled out soon include online contact points
that utilize VoIP and instant messaging platforms.
“This is still part of our campaign to reach out to Filipino workers here
and abroad and ensure their continuing coverage under the SSS. We want
not only to increase SSS membership of OFWs but also to ensure active
membership. Considering the voluntary nature of their coverage, we can
only achieve both by giving them a consistent good experience with our
services,” See said.
The SSS reported a total of 983,262 OFW members as of June 2014. Based
on the 2013 POEA Compendium of OFW Statistics, more than 1.8-million
OFWs were deployed in 2013, of which 464,888 were new hires.
SSS Media Affairs Department
7th floor, SSS Building, East Ave., Diliman, Quezon City
9206401 loc. 5052-5055, 5058
25