From the same period in 2020, the Social Security System recorded 1.34 million Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) members as of June 2021 which is higher by over 800,000, cited from the SSS website.

Despite the pandemic, many Filipinos are still motivated to work overseas to support their families and help the country from the current economic crisis, Aurora C. Ignacio- President and Chief Executive Officer said.
Ignacio on behalf of SSS, encouraged OFWs to become SSS members and remind them to religiously remit their contributions, as the agency assured that their contributions, as the agency assured that their contributions and membership will provide them lifelong benefits in times of contingencies as this pandemic we are now battling.

Under Republic Act 11199, coverage in the SSS shall be compulsory to all land-based and sea-based OFWs or the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995, as long as they are not over sixty (60) years old, as amended by RA No. 10022. 

Under the Social Security Act of 2018 all benefits will be applied and covered to all OFWs such as sickness, maternity, disability, unemployment, retirement, death, and funeral. As well as they are entitled to avail of short-term member and housing loans with qualifying conditions.

The mandated minimum MSC for land based OFW is P 8,000.00, and a maximum of P25,000.00. Land based OFWs shall pay both employee and employer contributions. The monthly earnings declared upon registration shall be the basis of monthly contributions.
On the other hand, the sea-based OFW members will required to contribute only 4.5 percent of the contribution rate, while their respective employers will be responsible for the remaining 8.5 percent.

The deadline for payment of contributions for the months of January to September of a given calendar year may be paid up to December 31 of the same year, and they (OFWs) should pay their monthly contributions in advance despite of the number of months or years while the contributions for the months of October to December of a given calendar year may be paid up to January 31 of the following year.

SSS contribution payments are not retroactive, it is encouraged that OFW members shall use various electronic payment channels in paying their monthly contributions regularly to ensure their eligibility to short and long term benefits including the load privileges.

The OFW members can access this link https://bit.ly/2XtJFLU, for the list of SSS payment partners. Or visit any of the following SSS social media accounts like the SSS official FB Page at “Philippine Social Security System – SSS”; SSS Viber Community at “MYSSSPH Updates”; Instagram at “mysssph”; Twitter at “PHLSSS,” YouTube at “MySSSPhilippines, and USSSapTayo Portal crms@sss.gov.ph.”