Changing your SSS membership from Employed to Voluntary is usually done online by generating and paying an SSS contribution PRN as a voluntary member. For most separated employees, you do not need to submit a resignation letter, certificate of employment, clearance, or SSS Form E-4 just to make the switch. The important part is choosing the correct membership type before payment, paying on time, and making sure the contribution posts to your SSS record.
What “Employed to Voluntary” Means in SSS
An employed SSS member is covered through an employer. While you are employed, your employer deducts your employee share from your salary and remits it together with the employer share.
A voluntary member is someone who was previously covered by SSS as an employee, self-employed member, or OFW, has at least one valid posted contribution, is no longer working in that covered status, and chooses to continue paying contributions to preserve SSS benefit eligibility. SSS specifically says a voluntary member may be a previously covered employee who is no longer employed and wants to continue paying contributions. (Social Security System)
For a separated employee, SSS now allows the change to voluntary status without supporting documents. When you generate a Payment Reference Number or PRN through My.SSS, choose “Voluntary” as the membership type. SSS treats this as your declaration that you have ceased to be employed for the contribution period being paid. (Social Security System)
In plain terms: your SSS number stays the same. Your past contributions remain credited. You are only changing how future contributions are paid.
Legal Basis Under Philippine Law
The main law is Republic Act No. 11199, known as the Social Security Act of 2018, approved in 2019. Section 11 provides that when an employee under compulsory SSS coverage is separated from employment, the employer’s contribution and the employee’s obligation to pay contributions arising from that employment cease at the end of the month of separation. The law also says the separated employee keeps the contributions already paid and may continue paying the total contribution to maintain the right to full benefits.
Sections 18 and 19 of RA 11199 explain the normal employed setup: the employer deducts the employee share and pays the employer share. The same law also states that the contribution schedule applies to self-employed, voluntary, and other members.
This is why the online SSS process works the way it does. Once you are no longer employed, there is no employer share being remitted for you. As a voluntary member, you shoulder the full contribution based on the Monthly Salary Credit or MSC you choose within the SSS contribution table.
Who Should Change From Employed to Voluntary?
You may change from employed to voluntary if you were previously employed and are now:
| Situation | Is voluntary membership usually appropriate? | Practical note |
|---|---|---|
| Resigned and currently unemployed | Yes | You can continue paying to avoid contribution gaps. |
| Retrenched, laid off, or contract ended | Yes | You may also check if you qualify for SSS unemployment benefit. |
| Taking a career break | Yes | Pay only for periods you want covered, subject to deadlines. |
| Going abroad as a permanent migrant or non-OFW Filipino abroad | Usually yes | SSS allows certain Filipinos abroad to continue coverage voluntarily. |
| Working again for a Philippine private employer | Usually no | Your employer should resume reporting and remitting you as employed. |
| Freelancing, running a business, or earning from self-employment | Usually self-employed, not voluntary | SSS treats self-employed coverage as compulsory for covered self-employed persons. |
The biggest gray area is freelancing. Many resigned employees automatically choose “Voluntary,” but SSS defines a self-employed person as someone engaged in a trade, business, or occupation whose income is not from employment and who has no employer other than themselves. This includes professionals, sole proprietors, informal sector workers, contractual or job order personnel not covered by GSIS, farmers, fishermen, and similar earners. (Social Security System)
So if you resigned from a company and now earn as a freelancer, online seller, consultant, or sole proprietor, check whether your correct status is Self-Employed rather than Voluntary.
How to Change SSS Membership From Employed to Voluntary Online
1. Confirm that you already have an SSS number and at least one posted contribution
Voluntary membership is for someone previously covered by SSS with at least one valid posted contribution. SSS also warns that simply having an SS number does not automatically mean you are already covered as a voluntary member; date of coverage and posted contributions matter. (Social Security System)
Before paying, log in to My.SSS and check:
- Your SS number
- Your employment history, if available
- Your posted contributions
- Your last paid month
- Your registered email and mobile number
If your last employer has not yet remitted your final contribution, wait a reasonable time and monitor your record. Employer payments are supposed to be supported by reports to SSS, and failure of an employer to remit should not prejudice the employee’s right to benefits under the law.
2. Log in to your My.SSS account
Use the official My.SSS portal or the MySSS mobile app. SSS requires individually paying members, including voluntary members, to register in My.SSS so their data can be updated and PRNs can be issued. (Social Security System)
If you cannot access your account, fix this first. Common causes are:
- Forgotten User ID or password
- Old mobile number or email
- Locked account
- Name or birthdate mismatch
- No access to one-time PIN or email verification
Do not create a second SSS number. You should use your original SSS number.
3. Go to the PRN or contributions payment section
Inside My.SSS, look for the Payment Reference Number (PRN) or Contributions section. SSS states that individual members may generate a PRN through My.SSS or the SSS Mobile App. They may also request a PRN through SSS email, Hotline 1455, or selected payment collecting partners by presenting a valid ID. (Social Security System)
4. Choose “Voluntary” as the membership type
This is the key step.
When the system asks for membership type or payor type, select:
Voluntary
Do not choose “Employed” because you no longer have an employer remitting for that period. Do not choose “Self-Employed” unless you are actually registering or paying as self-employed.
SSS expressly provides that a separated employee may change membership type to voluntary by choosing “Voluntary” when generating the PRN through My.SSS, without submitting supporting documents. (Social Security System)
5. Select the applicable month or quarter
Voluntary members may pay monthly or quarterly, depending on the applicable deadline. SSS allows SE, voluntary, and non-working spouse members to pay monthly or quarterly, and payment may be made for one, two, or all months of a calendar quarter. (Social Security System)
Example:
| You want to pay for | Usual payment period |
|---|---|
| January only | Pay January contribution by the deadline for January |
| January to March | Pay the quarter by the deadline for the quarter |
| April to June | Pay any one, two, or all three months, depending on your budget and deadline |
6. Choose your Monthly Salary Credit and contribution amount
Your Monthly Salary Credit (MSC) is the compensation base SSS uses for contributions and benefits. For voluntary members paying for the first time as voluntary, SSS allows you to choose any MSC from the existing contribution schedule, regardless of age and last posted MSC before becoming voluntary. (Social Security System)
The official SSS contribution schedule effective January 2025 increased the contribution rate to 15%, the minimum MSC to ₱5,000, and the maximum MSC to ₱35,000 for voluntary and non-working spouse members.
Under the current table, the lowest voluntary contribution is generally ₱750 based on a ₱5,000 MSC, while the highest shown for voluntary members is ₱5,250 based on a ₱35,000 MSC. Contributions above the regular SS MSC threshold include amounts credited to the Mandatory Provident Fund or MySSS Pension Booster.
7. Generate the PRN and review the details carefully
Before paying, check:
- Name
- SS number
- Membership type: Voluntary
- Applicable month or quarter
- MSC
- Contribution amount
- PRN expiry or payment deadline
- Payment channel
The PRN is important because SSS uses the electronic collection and Real Time Processing of Contributions system for validation, transmission, acknowledgement, and posting of contribution payments. (Social Security System)
8. Pay using an SSS-accredited channel
SSS lists several payment channels for individual members, including over-the-counter banks, partner bank websites and mobile apps, non-bank collecting partners, GCash, Maya, ShopeePay, PayRemit, the SSS Mobile App, and the SSS website through Billeroo. (Social Security System)
Common online options include:
- MySSS mobile app
- GCash
- Maya
- BPI through the SSS app
- Credit or debit card through the SSS app
- Partner bank apps
- Billeroo through the SSS website
Some payment channels may charge a pass-on service fee. SSS Circular No. 2023-001 provides pass-on service fees for self-employed, voluntary, OFW, farmer/fisherfolk, non-working spouse, and certain WISP Plus payments, with maximum fees stated for online and over-the-counter transactions.
9. Save proof of payment and check posting
Keep a copy or screenshot of:
- Generated PRN
- Payment confirmation
- Transaction reference number
- Official receipt or electronic receipt
- Date and time of payment
Although SSS designed the PRN system for real-time posting, practical delays may happen depending on the payment channel. Check your Actual Premiums or Contributions record after payment. The safest confirmation is when the paid voluntary contribution appears in your SSS contribution history.
Deadlines for Voluntary SSS Contributions
SSS states that SE, voluntary, and non-working spouse members should first register in My.SSS, generate their PRN, and pay through accredited collecting partners. For SE, voluntary, and NWS members, the contribution deadline is the last day of the month following the applicable month or calendar quarter, as the case may be. If the deadline falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday, payment may be made on the next working day. (Social Security System)
Examples:
| Contribution period | Usual deadline |
|---|---|
| January | Last day of February |
| February | Last day of March |
| March | Last day of April |
| January to March quarter | Last day of April |
| April to June quarter | Last day of July |
| October to December quarter | Last day of January of the next year |
The practical rule is simple: pay before the deadline shown on your PRN. If the PRN expires or the payment deadline passes, generate a new PRN for a period still allowed by SSS.
Important Warning: You Usually Cannot Back-Pay Missed Voluntary Months
This is one of the most common and costly mistakes.
SSS says a voluntary member who fails to remit contributions may only pay prospectively. Months without posted contributions are considered gaps, and retroactive payment to fill those gaps is not allowed. (Social Security System)
This means you should not assume you can skip several months and later pay everything before applying for a benefit. Missed months may affect eligibility for benefits or loans, especially benefits that require a certain number of contributions within a specific period before the contingency.
SSS also says that even if there are months with no contributions, benefits and loan privileges may still be availed of if the member meets the qualifying conditions. (Social Security System)
Documents, Fees, and Forms
For the basic change from employed to voluntary through online PRN payment, SSS says there is no need to accomplish any form or present supporting documents. (Social Security System)
| Item | Needed for employed-to-voluntary online change? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| SSS Form E-4 | No | Not needed just to change from employed to voluntary. |
| Resignation letter | No | SSS does not require it for this online switch. |
| Certificate of employment | No | Not required for PRN-based voluntary change. |
| Employer clearance | No | Your former employer does not approve the change. |
| Valid ID | Usually no online; yes if requesting PRN through selected partners | SSS says selected payment collecting partners may request valid ID for PRN requests. |
| My.SSS account | Yes | Needed for the easiest online process. |
| PRN | Yes | Required for proper posting of payment. |
| Notarization or apostille | No | Not needed for the basic membership switch. |
| Payment channel fee | Possibly | Depends on the payment channel. |
SSS Form E-4 still matters for other changes, such as correcting personal data, updating beneficiaries, changing to self-employed in some cases, or changing to non-working spouse. The E-4 documentary requirements are separate from the voluntary PRN process. For example, the E-4 instructions list requirements for changes such as self-employed or non-working spouse, and foreign government-issued documents with English translation may be acceptable for relevant data corrections.
Common Problems and Practical Fixes
My former employer is still showing in my SSS record
This can happen if the employer has not updated reports or if your last contribution is still being processed. You can still generate a voluntary PRN if the system allows it and you are already separated. But before paying, check that you are not duplicating a month your employer is still expected to remit.
I generated a PRN but did not pay it
Generating a PRN is not the same as having a posted contribution. The practical confirmation is the posted payment in your SSS contribution record. If the PRN expired, generate a new one for an allowable period.
I selected the wrong membership type
If you selected “Employed” or “Self-Employed” by mistake, do not keep paying under the wrong category. Check whether the payment posted, then coordinate with SSS through the official channel for correction instructions. The right fix may depend on whether the payment was merely generated, already paid, or already posted.
I am now freelancing after resignation
If you are earning from freelance work, online selling, professional practice, a small business, or similar independent work, review whether your correct SSS type is Self-Employed. SSS describes self-employed coverage as applying to persons whose income comes from their own trade, business, occupation, physical effort, or mental effort, and not from employment. (Social Security System)
I got a new job after paying voluntary
Once you become employed again by a private employer in the Philippines, your employer should report and remit your SSS contributions as an employee. Do not assume you should keep paying as voluntary for months already covered by your new employer.
I was laid off and want unemployment benefit
Changing to voluntary is separate from claiming SSS unemployment or involuntary separation benefit. RA 11199 provides an unemployment insurance or involuntary separation benefit for a qualified member not over 60 who has paid at least 36 monthly contributions, with 12 months within the 18-month period immediately before involuntary unemployment or separation, subject to the law’s limits.
I am abroad and want to continue paying
If you are a Filipino abroad and are no longer employed overseas, RA 11199 allows OFWs, upon termination of overseas employment, to continue paying contributions voluntarily to maintain rights to full benefits. Filipino permanent migrants, immigrants, permanent residents, and naturalized citizens of host countries may also be covered by SSS on a voluntary basis.
The Supreme Court, in Migrante International v. Social Security System, discussed RA 11199’s compulsory OFW coverage and recognized the law’s policy of extending social security protection to Filipino workers here and abroad. (Supreme Court E-Library)
I am a foreigner who worked in the Philippines
A foreign national who was locally employed and previously covered by SSS may have an SSS record and posted contributions. The voluntary pathway depends on whether the person fits the SSS rules for a previously covered member no longer employed or self-employed in the relevant category. For benefit payment issues, RA 11199 also contains rules on foreign beneficiaries and countries that do not extend reciprocal benefits to Filipino beneficiaries, although the SSS Commission may direct payment where SSS interests are served.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change SSS from employed to voluntary online?
Yes. For a separated employee, SSS allows the change by generating a PRN through My.SSS and choosing Voluntary as the membership type. No supporting documents are required for this specific switch. (Social Security System)
Do I need to submit SSS Form E-4 to become voluntary?
No, not for the basic change from employed to voluntary. SSS says there is no need to accomplish any form or present supporting documents when changing to voluntary through PRN generation. (Social Security System)
When is my SSS membership considered voluntary?
Practically, treat the switch as complete when your voluntary contribution is paid and posted. The online act of choosing “Voluntary” in the PRN process is the declaration, but the posted contribution is what you should verify in your SSS record.
Can I pay voluntary SSS contributions for previous missed months?
Usually no. SSS says voluntary members who fail to remit contributions may only pay prospectively, and missed months become contribution gaps. (Social Security System)
How much should I pay as a voluntary SSS member?
Your amount depends on the MSC you choose under the current SSS contribution table. Under the schedule effective January 2025, the contribution rate is 15%, with a minimum MSC of ₱5,000 and maximum MSC of ₱35,000 for voluntary members.
Can I choose a higher SSS contribution as a voluntary member?
Yes, subject to SSS rules on MSC changes. For first-time voluntary coverage, SSS allows the member to choose any MSC from the existing contribution schedule. For voluntary members below 55, MSC may generally be changed without limit in frequency and number of brackets, subject to the minimum MSC. For those 55 and above, increases are more restricted, with exceptions for first-time change to voluntary and new maximum MSC schedules. (Social Security System)
What happens if I become employed again?
Your employer should report and remit your SSS contributions as an employee. Your SSS number remains the same. Avoid paying as voluntary for months already covered by employer remittance unless SSS instructs otherwise.
Can I pay SSS voluntary through GCash or Maya?
Yes. SSS lists GCash and Maya among payment channels for individual members, including through mobile app options and the SSS Mobile App. (Social Security System)
What if my SSS payment does not post?
Keep your PRN and payment receipt, then check your contributions after a reasonable processing period. If it still does not post, raise the issue with SSS using the transaction reference number, payment date, amount, and PRN.
Is voluntary SSS better than stopping payments completely?
It depends on your contribution history, age, benefit goals, and budget. Voluntary payments can help preserve eligibility for benefits and loans, but missed months do not automatically erase all rights if you still meet the benefit’s qualifying conditions. SSS confirms that even with gaps, benefits and loan privileges may still be available if the qualifying conditions are met. (Social Security System)
Key Takeaways
- You can usually change SSS membership from employed to voluntary online by generating a PRN and selecting Voluntary as the membership type.
- A separated employee does not need SSS Form E-4, a resignation letter, certificate of employment, or employer clearance just to switch to voluntary.
- Your SSS number and previous contributions remain the same.
- The current voluntary contribution schedule uses a 15% contribution rate, with the official schedule effective January 2025.
- Pay before the deadline because missed voluntary months generally cannot be paid retroactively.
- If you are now earning as a freelancer, professional, online seller, or business owner, check whether your correct SSS category is Self-Employed, not Voluntary.
- Keep your PRN and receipt, then verify that the payment appears in your SSS contribution record.