I. Overview

The Social Security System (SSS) is a mandatory social insurance program created under Republic Act No. 8282 (Social Security Act of 1997), as amended by Republic Act No. 11199 (Social Security Act of 2018). It provides benefits for sickness, maternity, disability, retirement, death, and funeral expenses.

For ordinary members, a very common and important question is:

“Is my SSS membership still active, and are my contributions up to date?”

This guide explains, in Philippine context, what “active” membership really means, the legal framework, and all the practical ways to check the status of your SSS membership and contributions, plus what you can do if you find problems in your record.

II. Legal Nature of SSS Membership

A. Mandatory coverage but lifetime membership

Under the SSS law and its implementing rules:

Coverage is mandatory for:
- Private employees (whether regular, casual, or seasonal) below the prescribed retirement age.
- Kasambahays (household helpers) who meet the minimum compensation threshold.
- Self-employed persons who meet certain income thresholds.
- Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), under RA 11199, which expanded and clarified their coverage.
Membership is lifetime. Once you are assigned an SSS number, you remain an SSS member permanently. Your membership does not expire even if you stop paying contributions, migrate, or become unemployed.

What does change is whether you are a currently covered and contributing member—in other words, “active” in the practical sense that SSS and employers use.

B. “Active” membership vs. inactive or non-contributing

Legally, there is no “cancellation” of membership for ordinary situations; however, in everyday language:

“Active member” usually means:
- You have recent posted contributions (for employees, this usually means contributions remitted by your employer for the latest months you worked).
- Your membership category is properly classified (e.g., employed, voluntary, self-employed, OFW, non-working spouse).
“Inactive member” usually means:
- You have no posted contributions for a long period (e.g., months or years).
- You may have stopped working, or your self-employed/voluntary payments stopped.
- You are still a member, but not currently covered for some benefit contingencies that require recent contributions.

C. Right to access your records

Under the SSS law and the Data Privacy Act (RA 10173):

You have the right to access your own SSS records, including contribution history and employment records.
SSS can require proof of identity, and they must protect your data from unauthorized disclosure.
Employers are legally obligated to:
- Register their employees.
- Deduct and remit SSS contributions.
- Provide SSS-related records for inspection if required.

This legal framework underlies your right to check and verify the status of your membership and contributions at any time.

III. Ways to Check if Your SSS Membership and Contributions Are Active

There are several channels you can use. You do not lose membership if you don’t use them, but these are the primary ways to verify your status.

A. My.SSS (Online Member Portal)

The My.SSS portal is the primary online system where members can view their contributions and membership information.

1. Requirements to use My.SSS

Typically, you will need:

Your SSS number.
A valid email address.
Personal details such as:
- Full name (as registered with SSS).
- Date of birth.
- Home address or contact number.
In many cases, at least one posted contribution or some SSS-related information (e.g., receipt number, employer SSS number) for validation.

2. Creating a My.SSS account (if you don’t have one yet)

A typical registration flow is:

Go to the SSS member portal website.
Choose Member registration.
Fill in the required fields (SSS number, name, birthdate, email, etc.).
Provide the required validation data (e.g., last contribution, employer number, mobile number).
Submit the form and check your email for an activation link.
Click the link and set your password.

Once your account is activated, you can log in with your chosen user ID and password.

Practical tip: Register using an email address you will keep long-term. Many people lose access to My.SSS because they can’t access the old email linked to their account.

3. Checking your contributions via My.SSS

After logging in:

Go to the “Inquiry” or “Member Info” or similar menu.
Select “Contributions” or “Actual Premiums.”
You will see a table of contributions, typically showing:
- Year and month.
- Amount of contributions.
- Breakdown:
  - ER – Employer share.
  - EE – Employee share.
  - SE – Self-employed.
  - VM – Voluntary member.
  - OFW – OFW member.
- Total monthly contribution or Monthly Salary Credit (MSC) basis.

How to read this in relation to “activeness”

If you see continuous contributions up to recent months, your membership is currently active in the practical sense (you are presently contributing or being contributed for).
If you see contributions stopped months or years ago, your membership is still valid but not currently contributing.
A long gap can affect your eligibility for short-term benefits (e.g., sickness, maternity), which require recent contributions in a specific look-back period.

4. Checking employment history

On the same portal, there is usually a section for Employment History:

This shows:
- Your past and current employers.
- Dates of coverage.
- Employer SSS number.
This is useful for:
- Verifying if all your employers registered you properly.
- Tracking which employment period should have contributions.

If you notice employers not listed, that is a red flag that you may have been unreported or underreported.

B. SSS Mobile Application

SSS has an official mobile app which can be used to:

Log in using your My.SSS credentials.
View contribution records.
Check loan balances and application status.
Generate a PRN (Payment Reference Number) for voluntary payments.

Steps are generally:

Install the official SSS mobile app from a trusted app store.
Log in with your My.SSS user ID and password.
Go to the Contributions or Member Info section.
Review your monthly contribution posting similar to the web portal.

The information should mirror what you see in the My.SSS website. If your contributions are updated there, your membership is “active” in terms of ongoing contributions.

Security reminder: Avoid logging in on public or shared devices. Your SSS records contain sensitive personal and financial information.

C. Visiting an SSS Branch or Satellite Office

If you prefer face-to-face assistance or have issues with online access:

1. What to bring

Valid government-issued ID (e.g., passport, driver’s license, UMID, etc.).
Your SSS number.
Optional but helpful:
- Old SSS documents, membership forms, or contribution receipts.
- Payslips reflecting SSS deductions.
- Employment contracts or certificates if you suspect non-remittance.

2. What to request

At the branch, you may:

Ask for a printout of your contributions (often called a contributions or premiums record).
Request your static information or employment history.
Ask them to:
- Verify your membership category (employed, voluntary, self-employed, OFW, non-working spouse).
- Check if your membership is “active” for coverage and benefits.

Branch personnel can also guide you on:

How to resume contributions (e.g., convert to voluntary).
How to correct name, birthdate, or other personal details (usually via a Member Data Change Request form).
How to handle multiple SSS numbers (consolidation or merging of records).

D. Through Your Employer (HR/Payroll)

For currently employed members:

Your employer is required to:
- Deduct your EE share from your salary.
- Add their ER share.
- Remit the total to SSS within the prescribed deadline.

You may:

Request recent payslips showing SSS deductions.
Ask HR/payroll to confirm:
- The employer SSS number.
- That contributions for specific months have been remitted.
If you suspect non-remittance:
- Politely request proof of remittance (e.g., SSS collection list, payment confirmation).
- Cross-check with your My.SSS records after the normal posting period (there is usually a delay between payment and posting).

Important: If deductions appear on your payslip but are not posted to your SSS contributions after a reasonable period, this may be a violation by your employer. SSS law provides for penalties and enforcement measures against delinquent employers.

E. Phone, Helpdesk, or Written Inquiry

You may also contact SSS through its official hotlines, emails, or helpdesk channels (details are usually publicly provided):

They may ask you to verify your identity.
They can provide basic confirmation of:
- Whether you have recent posted contributions.
- Your membership classification.
- Whether your SSS number is legitimate and not duplicate.

For more detailed printed records, they may still direct you to My.SSS or to personally visit a branch.

IV. How to Interpret Your Contribution Record

Knowing how to read the table is essential to understanding if you are active.

A. Frequency and recency of contributions

Ask these questions when viewing your record:

What is the last month with a posted contribution?
- If it is very recent, you are likely an active, contributing member.
- If it is years ago, your membership is dormant in terms of contributions, even though the membership itself still exists.
Are there long gaps?
- Gaps could mean:
  - Periods of unemployment.
  - Employer delinquency (did not remit contributions).
  - Late posting or errors.
  - Change of category (e.g., you stopped working and didn’t shift to voluntary).
Is the monthly amount consistent with your salary?
- For employees, your total monthly contribution is based on your monthly salary credit (MSC). If your salary increased but contributions stayed low, your employer might not have reported your increased salary.

B. Contribution classifications

Common abbreviations:

ER – Employer’s share.
EE – Employee’s share.
SE – Self-employed contribution (full amount is from member).
VM – Voluntary member.
OFW – Overseas Filipino Worker.

By looking at the codes, you can tell:

Your current membership category.
Whether contributions were made as an employee or as a voluntary/self-employed/OFW member.

C. Relationship to benefit eligibility

Your contribution status directly affects benefits:

Sickness and maternity benefits usually require a certain number of contributions within a specified period before the semester of contingency.
Retirement pension:
- Requires at least a minimum number of monthly contributions (traditionally 120 contributions for entitlement to a lifetime monthly pension).
- If below the minimum, you may qualify only for a lump sum.
Disability, death, and funeral benefits also have contribution-related conditions.

Thus, checking whether you are “active” is not just academic—it dictates what benefits you can actually claim.

V. What If Your Contributions Are Not Updated or Membership Appears Inactive?

If you discover issues in your records, here is how to proceed.

A. Employer not remitting contributions

If you are or were employed and see missing months despite salary deductions:

Gather evidence:
- Payslips showing SSS deductions.
- Employment contract or certificate.
- Any internal memos regarding SSS contributions.
Talk to your employer/HR:
- Politely ask why the contributions are missing.
- Request proof of remittance or their plan to settle arrears.
If unresolved, you may:
- File a formal complaint or report with SSS.
- SSS has authority to:
  - Conduct audits.
  - Assess delinquent contributions.
  - Impose penalties and surcharges.
Important note:
- Legally, employers are primarily responsible for both the employee’s share (which they deduct) and the employer’s share. Failure to remit can lead to administrative, civil, and even criminal liability under the SSS law and related regulations.

B. You stopped working and contributions simply stopped

Scenario: You resigned, were terminated, moved abroad, or paused your business.

Your membership remains, but:
- You are not currently covered for benefits that require recent contributions.
You may:
- Change your status to Voluntary, Self-Employed, or OFW (as applicable), usually by:
  - Updating your records (e.g., filling a Member Data Change form).
  - Paying contributions under the correct category.
- Resume contributions at an MSC appropriate to your capacity and consistent with SSS rules.

C. Late or retroactive contributions

Generally:

SSS may allow late payments or adjustments in some limited cases (e.g., timing of postings), but retroactive coverage for past contingencies (e.g., sickness that already occurred) is not allowed.
You normally cannot pay now to be covered for an illness or contingency that has already happened before the payment.

Always assume:

Coverage begins when valid contributions are paid under proper registration and subject to waiting periods required by law.

D. Multiple SSS numbers

Sometimes, people inadvertently have more than one SSS number (e.g., registered twice, different spelling of names):

Having multiple numbers can fragment your contributions, making it appear you have fewer contributions.
You must report this to SSS and request consolidation/merging:
- Present IDs and any documentation tied to both numbers.
- SSS will usually retire the incorrect/duplicate number and retain one official membership record.

VI. Common Real-Life Scenarios

1. Former employee checking on old contributions

Scenario: You worked from 2012–2018 with several employers and have been jobless for some time.

Steps:
1. Register with My.SSS (if not yet registered).
2. View contributions and employment history.
3. Confirm that all employers and years are reflected.
If some employers or periods are missing:
- Gather payslips and employment records.
- Coordinate with past employers.
- If unresolved, bring your documents to SSS and request assistance or file a delinquency report.

2. OFW wanting to resume contributions

Scenario: You used to work in the Philippines, then went abroad and stopped contributions.

Steps:
1. Check contributions via My.SSS.
2. Update your membership category to OFW (usually via Member Data Change and/or online update, depending on SSS rules).
3. Start paying SSS as an OFW member.
Your membership is not lost; you are simply re-activating your contribution status.

3. Non-working spouse of an SSS member

Some provisions allow a non-working spouse to be covered as an SSS member based on the working spouse’s income, subject to conditions:

Ensure you are properly registered as a non-working spouse and your contributions are being paid.
Check contribution postings and your MSC to confirm coverage.

VII. Data Privacy and Security

When checking your SSS status:

Never share your password with anyone, including people claiming to be SSS staff.
Double-check that you are on the official SSS site or app.
Avoid saving passwords on public computers or internet cafés.
If you suspect identity theft or unauthorized access:
- Change your passwords immediately.
- Report the issue to SSS for possible account lockdown or investigation.

VIII. Practical Checklist

Use this checklist to systematically verify if your SSS membership and contributions are active:

Do you have an SSS number?
- Yes → You are a lifetime member.
- No → You must register with SSS first.
Do you have a My.SSS account?
- If no, register to gain online access.
- If yes, log in and proceed.
Check your contributions:
- Note the last month/year with posted contributions.
- Check for gaps or missing years.
Check your employment history:
- Are all past and present employers listed?
- Are the coverage dates accurate?
If employed:
- Compare payslips with contribution postings.
- If contributions are missing, coordinate with HR and, if necessary, SSS.
If unemployed/self-employed/OFW/non-working spouse:
- Confirm your membership category.
- If you want to resume contributions, update category as needed and start paying again.
Benefit planning:
- Count your total number of contributions.
- Assess if you meet requirements for retirement or other benefits.
- Plan to fill gaps if needed (within what rules allow).
If you see errors (name, birthdate, multiple numbers):
- Prepare valid IDs and supporting documents.
- Visit SSS to request corrections and/or consolidation.

IX. Conclusion

In Philippine law and practice, SSS membership is lifelong, but your contribution status and benefit eligibility depend on whether contributions are regularly and properly posted. Checking if your SSS membership and contributions are “active” means:

Confirming that your SSS number is valid and properly registered.
Ensuring that contributions are posted up to the most recent months you expect.
Verifying that your employment history and membership category are correct.
Taking prompt action when you discover missing, late, or erroneous records.

By using the My.SSS portal, the official mobile app, branch services, and coordination with employers, you can protect your rights as an SSS member and make sure you will be able to claim the benefits you are legally entitled to when you need them most.