SSS extends call center operations to 16 hours

The Social Security System (SSS) has extended its call center operations to 16 hours on weekdays amid intensified efforts to make members be more active, including those who are based abroad.

Emilio de Quiros Jr., SSS president and chief executive, said in a statement that members can now call from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., from Monday to Friday, and ask questions regarding their membership and other pension fund matters.

Previously, the SSS call center—reached at 920-6446 to 55—operates from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. only.

De Quiros said call center agents are trained to answer questions related to contributions, benefits, loans and other SSS concerns.

“With a 16-hour window for calls, we can entertain more phone queries so more members can avoid problems such as having incomplete requirements or not knowing the location of their covering branch when filing loan and benefit applications,” he said.

“We plan to extend call center hours to provide 24/7 (round-the-clock) service to members, especially for overseas Filipino workers who will then be able to call up SSS despite the difference in time zones,” he added.

The SSS chief also said that members residing in the Philippine can use the agency’s interactive voice response service facility for simple phone inquiries.

De Quiros said more than 164,000 members and employers have enrolled at the SSS website (www.sss.gov.ph) during the first quarter of 2012.