Providing social security protection to Filipino workers and their families is one of the priorities of the Philippine government. In times of sickness, disability, calamity, and other emergencies, it helps to have a source of financial support. To achieve this goal, the Social Security System, a.k.a. “SSS,” was established.
The SSS covers Filipino workers in the private, professional, and informal sectors. These include workers based in the Philippines as well as in other countries. For overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), including those based in Bahrain, being an SSS member will enable them to retire comfortably after many years of working abroad.
Bahrain OFW’s Guide to Paying SSS Contributions
In the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Migrant Workers Office (MWO) is the operating arm of the Philippine Department of Migrant Workers (DMW). It provides various services to the Filipino community, including SSS-related payments and other transactions.
What is SSS?
As the term implies, the Social Security System (SSS) is a state-run social insurance program. Covering workers in the private, professional, and informal sectors, it offers various benefits and services to members and their families or beneficiaries.
Vision and Mission
According to the official website of the SSS, the agency envisions “a viable security institution providing universal and equitable social protection through word-class service.”
Meanwhile, the SSS’ mission is “to manage a sound and viable social security system which shall promote social justice and provide meaningful protection to members and their families against the hazards of disability, sickness, maternity, old age, death, and other contingencies resulting in loss of income or financial burden.”
Coverage for Overseas Filipinos
For all land-based and sea-based OFWs, membership in the SSS is mandatory. Land-based OFWs are considered in the same manner as “self-employed” workers in the Philippines. Sea-based OFWs, on the other hand, are considered as employees of their manning agencies, which act as principals under the SSS’ regulations.
When an OFW’s job contract abroad ends, he/she may continue to pay SSS contributions as a voluntary member, in order to maintain his/her rights to full SSS benefits.
Meanwhile, overseas Filipinos who are immigrants, permanent citizens, or naturalized citizens in their host countries have the option of being voluntary members of the SSS.
Programs and Benefits
What exactly are the benefits of being an SSS member? For local as well as overseas members, the agency provides short-term and long-term benefits, depending on their conditions.
Short-term benefits include sickness, maternity, unemployment, and funeral benefits. In contrast, long-term benefits include retirement (pension), disability, and death benefits.
Aside from these benefits, SSS members may also apply for the following loans, subject to qualifying conditions: salary loan, calamity loan, and pension loan.
Contribution and Payments
How much is the SSS contribution of land-based OFWs? It depends on their Monthly Salary Credit (MSC), which serves as the basis for calculating their monthly contributions. In turn, the MSC is based on the monthly earnings declared at the time of registration. As of this writing, the minimum MSC for land-based OFWs is PHP 8,000.
Meanwhile, for sea-based OFWs: since they are considered as employees of manning agencies, their SSS contribution is based on their monthly salary. Similar to the process for private sector workers, the contribution of sea-based OFWs consists of the employer’s contribution plus the employee’s contribution.
Video: Kwentong SSS OFW
Fromm time to time, the SSS features a “Kwentong OFW” (OFW story) on its Facebook page. This video presents the story of Melanie Lopez, an OFW based in Dubai. She talks about how she was able to get maternity benefit and sickness benefit from the SSS:
Where to Pay SSS Contributions
SSS members may pay their contributions at any SSS branch office. In addition, they can also pay “online” or “over the counter” through banks and remittance companies accredited by the SSS.
Over the Counter Payments
Individual payors based in the Philippines can pay contributions at SSS Tellering Branches, SM Business Centers, Bayad centers, ECPay centers, USSC centers, and partner banks of the SSS.
OFWs, meanwhile, can pay their contributions through the following overseas partners of the SSS: Asia United Bank, Bank of Commerce, Philippine National Bank, Pinoy Express, and Ventaja. These banks and centers are affiliated with different remittance transfer companies around the world, making it possible for OFWs to make over the counter payments, wherever they may be!
Online Payment Facilities
For individual payors and OFWs are who are too busy to make over the counter payments, they can use different online facilities when paying their SSS contributions.
For instance, there’s the SSS mobile app, which accepts payments made through BPI online, GCash, Maya, and bank cards such as Visa, Mastercard, JCB, and American Express.
For those who prefer to use the SSS website, online payments can be made through AltPayNet and Billeroo.
Finally, other online payment options include PayRemit, Rewire, Robinsons Bank, Security Bank, Shopee Pay, and UnionBank apps.
How to Pay SSS Contribution Online
At this point, we’d like to present a step-by-step guide for paying SSS contributions using the MySSS mobile app, which can be downloaded from Google Play and App Store. Don’t forget to create a MySSS account before using the app to pay contributions.
- Open the MySSS mobile app, enter your MySSS user ID and password, then click “Sign In.”
- Click “Generate PRN” to generate a Payment Reference Number. Click “Create,” then select “Generate.”
- Enter the required fields (i.e. membership type, applicable period, SSS contribution amount), click “Submit,” then “OK.”
- The screen will display your PRN. If you want, you can download a PDF copy of your PRN by clicking the download icon on the upper right corner. Click the back arrow to proceed with your payment.
- Click “Pay,” then select “Credit Card/Debit Card” (other payment methods displayed include Maya, GCash, and BPI).
- Click “OK,” then “Proceed.”
- Review the summary of payment details displayed onscreen.
- Enter your account details, then click “Complete Order.” Wait for your payment to be processed.
- Enter the One-Time PIN (OTP) that will be sent to your registered mobile number with the servicing bank, then click “Submit.”
- The screen will display “Payment Successful.” You can opt to receive the receipt by entering your email address or mobile number in the field provided.
- The screen will display a notification about your successful SSS Mobile Payment.
- To check or confirm your payment, you can view “Actual Premiums” on the MySSS app, which displays posted payments. You can also view the status of your payment on the app’s “Activity History.”
NOTE: For SSS contributions covering the months of January to September, the deadline for payments is on December 31st of the year covered. Meanwhile, contributions for the months of October to December must be paid on January 31st of the following year.
Contact Information: MWO Bahrain
For OFWs who have any questions about their SSS contributions or other related concerns, they can get in touch with the Migrant Workers Office (MWO) in Bahrain through these contact details:
Address: Villa Number 2, AMAR Villas, Building 2186, Road 2755, Block 327, Adliya, Kingdom of Bahrain
Telephone: +973 1772 1234 / +973 3807 2476
Email: mwo_bahrain@dmw.gov.ph
Website: https://www.dmw.gov.ph/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mwobahrain.gov/
Google Map Location:
Final Thoughts
Membership and regular contributions to the SSS entitles members to a wide range of benefits. Whether you’re based in the Philippines or abroad, becoming a member and setting aside money for SSS contributions is definitely a good idea!
Speaking of money, as an OFW, you’re probably thinking about how to make the most of your hard-earned salary each month. And so, we recommend that you check these tips for saving money as an expat in the Kingdom of Bahrain.