Thoughts on the COA reports about SSS

I read the COA reports on SSS just a few days ago and i wonder

does COA also have the right to criticize the operations of SSS?  is this one of their powers? 

i dont really know, but is that legit?  not that i don think that the processing is really too slow.

people blame the sss employees for the slow processing, but is this really correct?

change is usually a management initiative and if people will remember,

SSS  used to have the so-called COS, short for Covenant of Service - instituted under Lani Nanagas

This was echoed in the ARTA, which is Anti-Red Tape Act,  which resulted in the Citizen's Charter, published under Secretary and PCEO Romy Neri.   processing times where even shaved a bit

Click here for the link to the pdf file for the Citizen's Charter 

so why the slowdown?  people say that the slowdown is due to changes in procedures

a lady member whose late husband was a VP in one of the tv channels said ...................

if the procedure is wrong, why not change it?  perhaps it is already being changed except that the transactions have really piled up ..........

I have a solution.  But alas, i havent been asked.  Is it the correct solution?  i dont know.  but it will speed up the process methinks.  Could be expensive, but i havent costed it out.  Still, with the BGC (Bonifacio Global City) sale, SSS would have the funds.  

well, everyone and his neighbor want the SSS processing to go faster and many think they have the solutions - i think so.  there are many solutions.  Implementation is the key.

Of course, there are many who are claiming for benefits and want it N-O-W!  Not tomorrow.  

I too have a claim and i am waiting for my benefit to clear ............

the other COA report is about the % of investments on loan to members being larger than the  allowed % in the SSS Charter.  this issue is old, and the reason is simple.  Members usually borrow before they get laid off, and when they get laid off, they are not able to pay, and when they get rehired, they dont pay at once.  Sound familiar?  Of course, hard to pay when you dont have the herewithal.

The unpaid debts increase SSS's loan to member portfolio.  COA says SSS should collect.  No doubt SSS wants these debts paid.  First of all, the SSS mandate is service to members.  While SSS is a mainly a retirement fund, it gives what is called short-term benefits, loans being one of these.  

Does COA want SSS to force members to pay?  how?  the only guarantee SSS holds that these debts will be paid upon final settlement.  Final settlement is  either death or retirement or permanent total disability.

In previous administrations, SSS has tried to collect by forcing suspension to the new employer if he doesnt deduct from employees who have loan balances.  there were condonations. condonations are nice but if granted too often is also bad because members tend to wait for these programs. conodations are also unfair to those who pay regularly.

SSS can suspend the granting of loans.  This will stop the increase in the portfolio.  But is that fair to the SSS members who pay "faithfully" and diligently? they should not be penalized for the others who did not pay.

TIPS for Transacting with SSS

When you are transacting with SSS, please follow these:

1. pay attention to what the front-line person is saying, and if necessary repeat this to her.  This procedure may sound tedious to you, but it is always safer to do this as this procedure takes care of 2 things:

1.1. it ensures that you heard correctly, because if you repeated back something in error, the front line person is obligated to correct you.

1.2.  it ensures that you did not misunderstand the front-line person because you would not be able to to repeat back the transactions if you did not understand.

2.  make sure you have the original of all supporting documents and that you have a copy for submission to SSS.  the original copies will be used to authenticate the copies you will submit.  Make sure you do not give the original copies.  the original copies are yours


3.  make sure you have a copy of submitted items - even the SSS documents.
make sure that your copy is stamped received by SSS, and the date received.

try to make sure the front line signs off on a document that says the following documents received....
and make sure you have the right form for the right request/payment/benefit/

okay?

hope this helps with your filing and subsequent follow-ups with SSS

Why is the SSS processing even slower than usual?

a friend of mine rhetorically asked this question.  we are both SSS members, after all - although i havent filed for any benefits lately...

the answer is probably related to IT - there must have been a change in processing, manual or otherwise. why blame IT?  that's the role of IT - to speed things without sacrificing data integrity and security. remember,  IT is not just about computerized systems.  Computerized systems are doomed to fail without the appropriate manual procedures in place. IT must also consider the business before it changes anything.  So if the processing is slower, it must be an IT thing.  Now, maybe it is for the safety so dont get angry.

Remember if you have a complaint - bring it up to the right persons.

Sure i know.  i have many years in IT, doing things correctly and accurately, and have managed to keep in touch.  Many of my friends are in IT, though seriously, a lot of my Sayans batchmates are in the medical profession.

Complaints about delays in SSS Claims Processing

if you have complaints about the delays in the processing of your claims, please be recognized -
comment on this post of this blog - and do describe your claim -
and i will see if there are enough of you who are dissatisfied  .............

stand up and be recognized.  change can only start with enough of you ...