Social security institutions continue to digitalize their respective systems, which include allowing the electronic filing of benefit claims and application of loans, to further streamline and rev up the delivery of frontline services, the Department of Finance (DOF) said in a statement yesterday.
In separate reports to the DOF, the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) and the Social Security System (SSS) said they have accelerated the implementation of their digital transformation initiatives to ensure the unhampered delivery of their services despite the restrictions imposed during community quarantines.
The DOF said both institutions have also put in place information technology tools to keep their systems safe from data breaches and other forms of cyber-attacks and threats.
Carlos Dominguez, DOF secretary, had earlier instructed agencies attached to the DOF and the government financial institutions to institutionalize a cybersecurity program through a cost-effective shared defense strategy.
The GSIS is the technical lead for the insurance cluster in this shared cyber defense project.
On improving frontline services, GSIS has shifted to the online filing of all loans and claims since the early part of 2020 to help curb the spread of new coronavirus disease 2019. It also launched the online Annual Pensioners Information Revalidation requirement in 2021 to protect pensioners from contracting the virus and ensure the continuous receipt of their pension.
Instead of personally appearing onsite, pensioners may activate their status using Zoom, Viber, Skype and Facebook Messenger.
The SSS has also shifted to online the filing of claims for retirement benefits, unemployment benefit insurance, the sickness benefit reimbursement for employers, maternity benefit, maternity benefit reimbursement for employers, and funeral benefits for member-claimants as well as employer’s submission of employee, as well as the sickness notification and maternity notification of employees.
Salary and calamity loan applications are also done online with the SSS, along with the renewal of pension loans.
This online filing of loan applications has proven beneficial for employees as their applications are processed in real-time, the SSS said.
The registration of new SSS members to obtain an SS number can also be done online with the option to upload the required supporting documents for those with Unified Multi-Purpose ID cards and email addresses.
Changes in the member’s personal data that require simple corrections can also be filed online.
Benefit claims are now released to the designated disbursement account of the SSS member or pensioner, whether it be through electronic wallets, cash payment outlets, PESONet, or the Union Bank of the Philippines QuickCard.
