I forgot my SSS number, what should I do? In case you forget your Social Security System number, there are several ways for you to retrieve it. You do NOT have to apply for a new one since there should only be one SSS account number per person. Here we share the ways you get back your lost or forgotten SSS number.
Also Read: SSS Monthly Contribution Table and Schedule of Payment
The SSS number is a mainstay of every personal information sheet you will encounter the moment you enter adulthood. It might look superficial and inconspicuous in every form, but this 10-digit number is actually so important as it is the very key to enjoying every benefit that being a Social Security System (SSS) member entails.
More than a job requirement, the 10-digit SSS number is something you should always keep a record of, especially if you feel that committing it to memory is a little too tough.
Learn more about the SSS number an alld what you need to do if you lose or forget it through this guide.
So, what is an SSS number?
A Social Security Number, otherwise known as SSS number, is a 10-digit number assigned to individuals who apply for membership with the Social Security System (SSS). It’s the most important set of numbers you will ever need when you avail of benefits or loans offered by the SSS.
Why do you need to get an SSS number?
As it is necessary to have an SSS number whenever you transact with SSS, not everyone is clear about the reason why. As such, we listed the reasons why one would even strive to acquire an SSS number as well as the instances where it will be needed.
Employment requirement
Whenever an individual gets a new job, they are required to furnish their employers with their SSS number and Static Information page from My.SSS because it is mandated by the government.
The Philippine law, known as the Social Security Law, states that employers cannot hire a person without an SSS number, as they are also required to pay the employees’ share of contribution. Employers who fail to do so will be fined PHP 5,000 to PHP 20,000 or jailed for at least six years. They would also have to remit all unpaid contributions plus 3% monthly penalty and pay all unpaid employee benefits.
For these reasons, new hires must provide their SSS number to get started on a legitimate job.
Payment of SSS premium
As per the Philippines’ Social Security Act of 1997 (Republic Act 8282), all employers in the Philippines are required to deduct a certain amount from the employees’ salaries to pay for the monthly SSS contributions. Likewise, employers must also pay their share of contributions. They are also expected to remit these contributions to the SSS on time. On top of these, it is the employers’ responsibility to also submit a monthly report of their employees’ contributions to the nearest SSS office. Failure to do so will mean penalties for the employers, under the same law.
For the SSS benefits
Though there are other requirements, the SSS number is a key factor for qualifying and computing the payment of contributions. Likewise, it is also crucial in finding out just how much benefit a member can claim from SSS.
Here are some of the SSS benefits a member can enjoy:
- Salary loan. Members are entitled to the right to borrow money from the SSS, should they need some to meet their short-term needs.
- Sickness. When an SSS member is unable to work due to injuries or diseases, there is a sickness benefit that they can avail. The sickness benefit pays a daily cash allowance for every day they’re confined in a hospital or at home and unable to work or earn.
- Unemployment insurance. According to the newly enacted Social Security Act of 2018, SSS must provide a cash allowance to SSS members who were laid off from work provided that they were not terminated for just cause. The benefit is equivalent to two months worth of benefits and is meant to help tide them over until they find a new job.
- Maternity. All female SSS members who can’t work due to childbirth or miscarriage are entitled to maternity benefits in the form of cash allowance.
- Disability. SSS members who get into an accident or get sick resulting in partial or total permanent disability may avail of a cash benefit, which is paid either as a one-time lump sum or a monthly pension.
- Retirement. Senior members aged 60 and up and retired members will receive cash benefits paid as a lump sum or in the form of a monthly pension.
- Death. Upon the death of an SSS member, his or her beneficiaries are entitled to receive cash benefits, paid either as a lump sum or as monthly pension for minors and senior citizens.
- Funeral. Funeral benefits refer to the cash benefit given to anyone who paid for the burial costs of a deceased SSS member.
Who can get an SSS number?
Any Filipino aged 60 and below who have not been issued an SSS number before can apply for SSS membership to get their own. Naturally, it is possible, provided they belong to any of the following member categories:
Employees
Employees, full time or part-time, including workers on regular, contractual, or probationary status. Here are some examples:
- Private sector employees
- Household service workers or kasambahays
- Seafarers
- Employees of foreign governments or international organizations under administrative agreement with the SSS
Self-employed persons
Self-employed individuals who are earning at least Php 1,000 monthly from their own business or by providing their professional services, such as:
- Professionals
- Entrepreneurs (Partners and sole proprietors)
- Farmers and fishermen
- Informal workers (sidewalk vendors, jeepney or tricycle drivers, etc.)
- Contractual and job order employees working for government agencies who are not covered by GSIS
- Actors, directors, scriptwriters, journalists/news correspondents, etc.
- Professional athletes, coaches, and trainers licensed by the Games and Amusement Board, as well as jockeys and trainers licensed by the Philippine Racing Commission
Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs)
All OFWs or Filipinos working abroad are required by the Social Security Act of 2018 to seek coverage and protection from SSS so they need an SSS number. This membership class apply to:
- Workers recruited in the Philippines by foreign employers for deployment abroad
- Filipinos who earn income from outside the country
- Filipinos who are permanent residents in other countries
Non-working spouse
Legal spouses of any registered SSS member are entitled for membership and an SS number as long as they can pay their SSS contributions, manage the household in a full-time capacity, and have not previously registered as an SSS member.
How to Retrieve Lost or Forgotten SSS Number Online?
Because every transaction with SSS requires the member to have the SSS number ready, it is imperative that your personal informationbare always kept close. However, in the event that you, as member lost or forgot your SSS number, note that you do not have to apply for a new one.
Here’s are some ways that can help you verify and retrieve the lost or forgotten SSS number:
1. Check the identification card (ID) issued by your company.
Because some companies, if not all, print their employees’ SSS number, TIN number, and other related information on company IDs, this may be the easiest way to find your lost or forgotten SSS number.
2. If you have the old SSS ID…
If you acquired your SSS ID before 2011, you’d still have the bluish SSS ID card which should include your SSS number under your name.
3. If you have an E-1 form.
SSS members who registered before 2015 used and were issued a copy of their SSS E-1 form. The SSS number can be found handwritten on the upper right corner of the form.
4. Check your email.
If you registered as an SSS number from 2016 onwards, then you can look up the email message sent by SSS. This said email should include an SSS number slip.
5. Access your My.SSS online account.
If you have registered an account at the SSS website (My.SSS), then you may log in to the SSS Member Portal to check your SSS number. You should find it below your name on the upper left corner of the page.
6. Ask your HR personnel/employer.
The HR or admin keeps the company and emloyee records which includes personal information like your SSS number since they need it to remit contributions. In the event you can’t find your SSS number, they should have your number on file.
7. Contact SSS.
If none of the above methods work, you can always reach out to SSS via their hotline numbers 1455 or (02) 920-6446 to 55. It’s available 24 hours on weekdays, from Mondays to Fridays.
If calling is a bit challenging, then you can opt to reach out to SSS by sending an email to member_relations@sss.gov.ph with your complete name, birth date, and an image of your valid ID. You can key in “SSS Number Verification” on the subject line.
8. Visit any SSS branch.
If all else fails, your last resort would be to pay a visit to the nearest SSS branch. Once there, go to the Member’s Assistance Section and present at least two valid and unexpired IDs. Note that the IDs must have a photo and your signature for the verification of your number on the SSS database.
If you personally know an SSS employee, then you can just ask that person to look it up for you. Most SSS employees are helpful and will entertain simple requests like recovering your SSS number without so much as batting their eyes.
So, the next time you lose or forget your SSS number, do not apply for a new one. Note that there are several ways to retrieve it, with some of them more convenient than the others.