SSS Opens Saturday for ‘Kasambahay’ Registration

All Social Security System (SSS) branches nationwide will be open for business on all four Saturdays of June to enable household employers and domestic workers otherwise known as ‘kasambahay’ (such as maids, nursemaids or yaya, gardeners, cooks and laundry women) to register with SSS.

SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Emilio de Quiros, Jr. said all SSS branches will be open for the registration of the “kasambahay” and their employers and to facilitate their mandatory SSS membership as provided under the Kasambahay Law and the Social Security Law.

“As active SSS members, domestic workers realize the fruits of their hard work in the form of SSS benefits for sickness, maternity, disability, retirement and death. SSS also helps household employers from solely shouldering the burden when their house-help faces financial difficulties,” he added.

The Kasambahay Law, or Republic Act No. 10361, was signed into law on January 19, 2013 to ensure the social protection of household employees under various government agencies, which includes the SSS, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation and Pag-IBIG Fund.

To get an SS number, domestic workers, including family drivers who are considered household employees under the SSS charter, must fill out and submit the Personal Record Form (SSS Form E-1) to any SSS branch, along with a photocopy of any of the primary documents such as the birth or baptismal certificate, driver’s license, passport, Professional Regulation Commission card or seaman’s book.

To those without any primary document can give two secondary documents, both citing their name and at least one indicating their birth date. SSS branches provide a comprehensive list of accepted secondary documents such as the ATM card, bank passbook, marriage contract, NBI or police clearance, voter’s ID or postal ID card.

“Only the Form E-1 and a photocopy of the supporting documents need to be submitted, but they should present to us the original copy for authentication purposes,” de Quiros said.

“Without the documents, they will be issued a number that may be used for paying contributions and reporting for SSS coverage but not for availment of benefits and loans. They will attain permanent SSS membership status upon submission of these required documents.”

To secure a Household Employer ID Number, the employer only needs to fill out and submit the Employer Registration Form (SSS Form R-1). Existing household employers who still use their personal SS numbers in paying the contributions of their domestic workers will be given their Household Employer ID Number during their branch visit,or via email or mail.

Household employers reporting workers for SSS coverage must submit the Employment Report Form (SSS Form R1-A), the Specimen Signature Card (SSS Form L-501), and the SSS Form E-1 of household employees with no prior SSS coverage.

De Quiros said the domestic worker’s effective date of coverage, which is the same as the date of employment, marks the start of the respective household employer’s obligation to remit monthly contributions for the household employee.

“If the effective date of coverage is earlier than the date of registration, the household employer must submit a ‘Statement of Monthly Salaries’ received by the domestic worker starting from the date of employment indicated in the SSS Form R1-A,” he said.

“This will be the basis for the computation of the accruing contributions that the household employer has to settle.”

Apart from registration services, SSS offices with branch tellering facilities will also accept contribution payments of household employers during the four selected Saturdays. SSS forms are available at SSS branches and may be downloaded from the SSS website. (with PR)