166 laid-off workers in Bicol to receive P1.8M SSS benefits

LEGAZPI CITY --- The Social Security System (SSS) in Bicol said over 150 Bicolano workers who were laid-off by their employers in Bicol region would get P1.8 million worth of benefits under its unemployment benefit program.

SSS Vice President for Luzon - Bicol Division Nilo Despuig said some 166 private workers who were separated from their jobs would receive the financial package under the program.

SSS Naga Branch recorded the highest number with 79 approved unemployment benefit applications, which is equivalent to almost P1 million. Legazpi Branch followed with 71 approved unemployment benefit applications. SSS Sorsogon with eight, SSS Tabaco with four, SSS Daet with two, and SSS Iriga and Masbate with one approved application each.

The unemployment benefit program is one of the salient features of Republic Act 11199 or the Social Security Act of 2018, which took effect on March 5, 2019.

Qualified to avail are those members who are not more than 60 years old at the time of involuntary separation; has paid at least 36 monthly contributions, 12 months of which should be in the 18-month period immediately preceding the month of involuntary separation; and have not received any unemployment benefit within the last three years prior to the date of involuntary separation.

Despuig in a press statement said that a total of 15,151 unemployment benefit applications since August 2019 were received by the pension fund, 14,895 of which were approved, and out of this number, 166 applications were approved in Bicol Region, which translated to more than P1.89 million worth of benefit releases.