AT THE ONSET of 2026, the Social Security System (SSS) boasted of its new and improved services and programs, combining new financial initiatives, nationwide and overseas branch openings, and the continuation of the multi-year pension reform program that was launched in the last quarter of 2025.
This comes as the agency mandated to promote social justice and provide meaningful social protection, announced its upcoming priorities for the year.
“We look forward to 2026 where we continue the implementation of existing programs, develop new ones, strengthen member servicing, and expand the footprint of SSS nationwide and abroad,” SSS president and chief executive officer Robert Joseph Montes de Claro said in a statement.
PENSION HIKE
At the core of the 2026 agenda is the second tranche of the SSS Pension Reform Program, a three-year phased initiative that began in September 2025.
Under the agency’s reform agenda, SSS pensioners will receive another round of benefit increases by September 2026, including a 10 percent increase for retirement and disability pensioners, and a five percent hike for death or survivor pensioners.
According to SSS, the multi-stage adjustment aims to gradually raise pension adequacy without compromising the long-term stability of the fund, while giving beneficiaries a long-awaited boost amid rising living costs.
The pension reform program is expected to benefit 3.8 million pensioners without increasing contributions.
By the end of the program in 2027, total increases will reach about 33 percent for retirement and disability pensioners and 16 percent for death and survivor pensioners.
NO TO LOAN SHARKS
In addition to the pension reforms, SSS will launch a new microloan program in early 2026 to provide affordable, short-term credit to members who need immediate financial assistance.
The program will offer microloans at relatively low interest rates, targeting workers who often rely on informal lenders charging excessively high interest rates.
“With guidance from Finance Secretary Frederick Go, SSS is looking to implement this microloan program through partner institutions very soon as a safer and affordable option to borrow cash for short-term needs, with a 15- to 90-day tenor and an interest rate of eight percent per annum, or 0.67 percent per month,” De Claro said.
The initiative is part of SSS’s strategy to expand its loan portfolio and steer members away from predatory lending practices.
EMERGENCY LOAN
Complementing the microloan initiative is the continued implementation of the SSS Emergency Loan Program, which will remain available through 2026 for members affected by natural disasters and major emergencies.
The agency earlier announced that the emergency loan facility would stay active until late 2026, or until government calamity declarations are lifted, ensuring continued support for workers in a country highly vulnerable to severe weather events.
EXPANSION PLANS
SSS is also preparing for a major expansion of its physical presence, both domestically and internationally.
For 2026, the agency plans to open 10 new local branches across the Philippines, improving accessibility for workers in underserved or high-population areas.
Strengthening its regional presence has long been a challenge, with many members reporting long queues and slow processing in several high-traffic SSS service centers.
INTERNATIONAL OFFICES
To bolster its international footprint, SSS will open Foreign Representative Offices in Madrid, Spain, San Francisco, USA, and Macau.
These outposts aim to provide direct services to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs)—one of the largest contributors to SSS membership and collections—particularly those needing assistance with benefits, contributions, and compliance.
To support these expansions, SSS also announced that it will hire approximately 1,800 new personnel in 2026 to reinforce frontline services, handle increased member transactions, and accelerate digital transformation initiatives.