Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 11199)
The short title of Republic Act No. 11199 is the "Social Security Act of 2018."
The primary policy of the State is to establish, develop, promote, and perfect a sound and viable tax-exempt social security system suitable to the needs of the people throughout the Philippines, ensuring social justice through savings and providing meaningful social security protection against contingencies like disability, sickness, maternity, old age, death, and other income loss situations.
The Social Security System (SSS), a corporate body and an independent government-owned and -controlled corporation (GOCC), is created to implement the purposes of this Act.
The Commission is composed of the Secretary of Finance as ex officio Chairperson, the SSS President and CEO as Vice-Chairperson, the Secretary of Labor and Employment as ex officio member, and six appointive members representing workers and employers groups, appointed by the President of the Philippines with qualifications in relevant fields.
Members must act with utmost loyalty to SSS, exercise due care and good faith, act for the benefit of SSS (not for personal gain), avoid conflicts of interest, ensure profits revert to SSS, and apply sound business principles to ensure financial soundness.
The President of the Philippines appoints the SSS President, who must be a person of known competence, probity, integrity, and recognized expertise in social security, pension fund, insurance, investment, banking and finance, economics, management, law or actuarial science.
Coverage is compulsory for all employees including kasambahays (domestic workers) not over 60 years of age and their employers. It also covers self-employed persons specified by the Commission, as well as sea-based and land-based Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) up to 60 years of age.
Disputes are cognizable by the Social Security Commission and decided within 20 days. Decisions may be appealed to the Court of Appeals within 15 days after notification, or directly to the Supreme Court if only questions of law are involved.
Violations such as false claims, fraud, failure to remit contributions, or selling counterfeit payment devices are punishable by fines ranging from P5,000 to P20,000, imprisonment from 6 years and one day up to 12 years, or both, depending on the offense.
No. All benefits and funds of the SSS, including contributions and investments, are exempt from taxes, fees, assessments, and legal processes like attachments and garnishments, except for payment of debts to the SSS.