SSS Targets Higher Collections from Self-Employed Professionals in 2025

The Social Security System (SSS) is ramping up efforts to increase collections from self-employed professionals this year, following the contribution rate hike in January 2025.

Expanding SSS Coverage for Professionals

SSS is set to meet with the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) to ensure coverage for professionals such as:
✔ Accountants
✔ Doctors
✔ Engineers

SSS President and CEO Robert De Claro emphasized the importance of continued contributions even after reaching the required 120 contributions for pension eligibility.

“Our goal is to make them continue paying SSS contributions while they are gainfully self-employed.”

Plans to Improve Pension Services

📌 Home Visits for Pensioners: SSS is considering sending personnel to visit pensioners to assist with benefits and verification.
📌 Simplifying ACOP Compliance: The Annual Confirmation of Pensioners (ACOP) Program is under review to ease requirements and improve accessibility.
📌 Loan Interest Reduction: The agency is also evaluating lower interest rates for salary and calamity loans, currently at 10% per annum.

Impact of Contribution Rate Increase

📊 New SSS Contribution Rates (Effective 2025):

• From 14% to 15%
• Minimum Monthly Salary Credit (MSC): ₱5,000 (from ₱4,000)
• Maximum MSC: ₱35,000 (from ₱30,000)

📌 Expected Additional Collections: ₱51.5 billion
📌 Allocation to Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF): ₱18.3 billion (35%)

Challenges in Collections

📌 Delinquent Contributions:

• SSS only collected 4.89% of its ₱93.7 billion target in 2023.
• ₱89.17 billion remains uncollected, mainly from employers affected by COVID-19.
• Senator Grace Poe has called for a Senate inquiry into the inefficiency of SSS collections.

Despite challenges, SSS aims to strengthen its financial position by enhancing services and improving collection efforts, ensuring better benefits for its members and pensioners.