Amid escalating conflicts across the Middle East, the Social Security System is pointing its roughly 1.5 million overseas Filipino worker members to digital tools as the primary way to access their benefits without disruption.
Official figures from the pension fund place OFW coverage at 1.48 million, of whom 540,018 are actively contributing members.
A facial recognition feature is among the tools SSS is highlighting. The system — called ACOP Facial Authentication with Liveness Check — allows pensioners to complete their Annual Confirmation of Pensioners requirement through a smartphone, removing the need to travel or appear in person. SSS said the tool also reduces exposure to fraud.
“A standout innovation is the ACOP Facial Authentication with Liveness Check, enabling secure identity verification from smartphones anywhere,” SSS president Robert Joseph de Claro said.
OFWs who lose their jobs involuntarily may also file for unemployment benefits through the My.SSS Portal, provided they meet qualifying conditions and secure certification from the Department of Migrant Workers. De Claro said benefit claims and loan applications can be processed through the portal without interruption.
“Even in these challenging times, our digital infrastructure ensures seamless service delivery,” he said. “Members in the Middle East need not worry; they can manage their accounts safely from anywhere with internet access.”
An estimated 2.4 million Filipinos are based across the Middle East, with the heaviest concentrations in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kuwait.
“We remain committed to supporting our OFWs through innovation and resilience, no matter the circumstances,” de Claro said.
