Definition

An OFW refers to a Filipino who is to be engaged, is engaged, or has been engaged in remunerated activity in a country of which he or she is not an immigrant, citizen, or permanent resident or is not awaiting naturalization, recognition, or admission, whether land-based or sea-based regardless of status; excluding a Filipino engaged under a government-recognized exchange visitor program for cultural and educational purposes.

A person engaged in remunerated activity covers a person who has been contracted for overseas employment but has yet to leave the Philippines.

Coverage in the SSS

• Coverage in the SSS shall be compulsory upon all sea-based and land-based OFWs;
• Land-based OFWs are compulsory members of the SSS and considered in the same manner as self-employed persons under such rules and regulations that the Commission shall prescribe;
• Manning agencies are agents of their principals and are considered as employers of sea-based OFWs;
• Upon the termination of their employment overseas, OFWs may continue to pay contributions on a voluntary basis to maintain their rights to full benefits
• Filipino permanent migrants, including Filipino immigrants, permanent residents and naturalized citizens of their host countries may be covered by the SSS on a voluntary basis

See Bilateral Agreements

Registration

Issuance of SS number is done online through the SS number Online Issuance Facility in the SSS website.

See Become an SSS member

Reminders:

• SS number issued to members is a unique lifetime number that must always be used in all SSS transactions. If you registered with the SSS in the past and cannot remember your SS number, please do not apply for a new number. You may coordinate with the SSS through any of the Information and Service Channels provided in the section below.
• Prior to applying for an SS number online, you may prepare and scan your supporting documents for uploading (e.g., Birth Certificate, Baptismal Certificate, Driver’s License, Passport, Professional Regulation Commission [PRC] card, Seaman’s Book) to complete the documentation process.
• Coverage for an OFW member takes effect on the applicable month and year of the first contribution payment but should not be earlier than the month of registration (SS number issuance).
• Changes in member’s data should be reported immediately to the nearest SSS Office by accomplishing Member’s Data Amendment Change Request Form (SS Form E-4) with the required supporting documents. The member should present the original/certified true copy and submit the photocopy to SSS.

See Become an SSS member > Managing your Membership Details

Overseas Filipinos who are already SSS members (i.e., with SS Number) prior to deployment abroad can immediately resume payment of contributions using the Payment Reference Number (PRN) and payor type is Overseas Filipino Worker. This shall automatically trigger change in coverage status from EE/SE/VM/Prior Registrant to OFW-member once payment is validated. This shall also be deemed as the OFW-member’s declaration that they have been separated from employment with previous ERs in the Philippines and/or has ceased to be an SE.

See Generate a Payment Reference Number

Contribution and Payments

For Land-Based OFWs

The monthly earnings declared by a land-based OFW at the time of his/her registration shall remain the basis of his/her MSC unless he/she makes another declaration of his/her monthly earnings, in which case such latest declaration becomes the new basis of his/her MSC. The minimum MSC for land-based OFWs shall be eight thousand pesos (P8,000.00).

See Pay Contributions and Loans

Reminders:

• Deadline for the Payment of Contributions
  

  Applicable Months	Deadline
  January to September	31 December of the same year
  October to December	31 January of the same year

  *In case the deadline falls on a holiday (in the PH) or a weekend, payment may be made on the next working day

• A land-based OFW member who is below fifty-five (55) years old shall be allowed to change his/her MSC without limit in frequency and in number of salary brackets in a given calendar year, but in no case shall it be lower than the prevailing minimum MSC for OFWs. Submission of written request or declaration of earnings is not required.
• A land-based OFW member who is 55 years old and above shall be allowed to increase his/her MSC only once in a given calendar year and by one (1) salary bracket only from the last posted MSC, regardless of whether proof of earnings is presented or not, except for the following cases whereby certain rules shall apply accordingly:
  • In case of a change in his/her membership type from employed/self-employed/voluntary to OFW-member for the first time, he/she shall be allowed to increase his/her MSC without limit and without having to present proof of earnings; and
  • In case of a higher maximum MSC under a new applicable schedule of contributions, he/she shall be allowed to increase his/her MSC up to the new maximum MSC, without having to present proof of earnings, provided that his/her last posted MSC corresponds to the maximum MSC under the immediately preceding schedule of contributions.
• An OFW member may opt to pay his/her monthly contributions in advance regardless of the number of months or years. However, he/she may be required to settle underpayment/s in the future resulting from any policy change affecting the applicable schedule of contributions for the advance payments made.

For Sea-Based OFWs

The employer shall deduct and withhold from the employee’s monthly salary, wage, compensation or earnings, the employee’s contribution in an amount corresponding to his/her salary, wage, compensation or earnings during the month in accordance with the MSCs, the schedule and the rate of contributions as may be determined and fixed by the Commission. The employer shall pay, with respect to such covered employee, the employer’s contribution in accordance with said schedule, rate of contributions.

See Pay Contributions and Loans

Generating a Payment Reference Number

Accredited Collecting Banks and Remittance Transfer Companies (RTCs)

As individual payors, land-based OFWs may remit their contributions through any of the following channels:

*List of Accredited Partners as of August 2024.

Note:   SSS contributions of sea-based OFWs are remitted by their employers (i.e., Manning Agencies)

Benefits and Loan Privileges

All benefit provisions under the SSS law shall apply to all covered OFWs. These include both short-term and long-term benefits, subject to qualifying conditions:

Loan privileges are also offered subject also to qualifying conditions:

• Salary loan
• Calamity loan
• Pension loan

To file for a benefit claim or loan application, please login to your My.SSS account

SS Foreign Offices and Other Information/Service Channels

Foreign Offices (FOs)

SSS-DMW Branch Office

To provide member assistance services and handle transactions of OFWs prior to their deployment abroad, the SSS-DMW branch is present at the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Building,
Ortigas Ave., Cor. EDSA, Mandaluyong City Blas F. Ople Building. You may reach out to the branch through Tel No.: +63 (02) 87261679.

OFW Contact Services Section (OFW-CSS)

To provide a dedicated e-mail support and call services, OFWs may reach out to SSS through any of the following channels:

See SSS Branch Directory

Bilateral Social Security Agreements

Visit this page for more information on Bilateral Social Security Agreements (SSAs).