Important links and FAQs about the Small Business Wage Subsidy Program as of 26 April 2020

What are details of the program? Who are eligible?https://sites.google.com/dof.gov.ph/small-business-wage-subsidy or https://bit.ly/2VhThFE

1. To check if your business is pre-qualified, visit: https://www.bir.gov.ph/images/sbws/index.php

For instructions, please see: https://sites.google.com/dof.gov.ph/small-business-wage-subsidy#h.irdrrikgfhzo

2. To apply for the SBWS program, employers may use one of two methods:

METHOD 1: My.SSS account (via www.sss.gov.ph) For instructions, visit: https://sites.google.com/dof.gov.ph/small-business-wage-subsidy#h.o57jq8safmiv

METHOD 2: E-form submission through secure site (via secure link sent through email). This is only for pre-qualified employers with emails on file with SSS. The instructions have been sent to them.

How may I apply for Taxpayer Identification Numbers for my employees? To apply for a TIN on behalf of your employee, click here: https://ereg.bir.gov.ph/init.do?app=ereg For the instructions, please visit: https://bit.ly/2yJmsbS

Kindly note that all employers are, by law, required to register their employees for a TIN even if they are minimum wage employees with no tax obligations. Thus, we encourage employers to electronically register for TINs on behalf of their employees through the BIR eRegistration System.

For the instructions, please visit: https://bit.ly/2yJmsbS To apply for a TIN on behalf of your employee, click here: https://ereg.bir.gov.ph/init.do?app=ereg

We have updated the application module on My.SSS so that employers can input the missing credentials on behalf of their employees. Kindly sign in to your My.SSS account and click on the “Lacking Credentials” tab to fill in these details on behalf of your employees.

If your employee chooses to receive the subsidy through MLhuillier, please choose ‘DBP Cash Padala thru MLhuillier’ under the dropdown menu labelled ‘Banks.’ Afterwards, kindly input your employee’s cellphone number in the “Bank Account Number” field. Here is a list of MLhuillier branches nationwide: https://mlhuillier.com/branches/

If your employee will be picking up the subsidy through Paymaya, please choose ‘PAYMAYA’ under the dropdown menu labelled ‘Banks.’ Afterwards, kindly input your employee’s cellphone number in the “Bank Account Number” field.

You may select PayMaya as an e-wallet option or cash pickup through MLhuiller as a money remittance option for employees who do not have a bank account.

If your employee chooses to receive the subsidy through MLhuillier, please choose ‘DBP Cash Padala thru MLhuillier’ under the dropdown menu labelled ‘Banks.’ Afterwards, kindly input your employee’s cellphone number in the “Bank Account Number” field. Here is a list of MLhuillier branches nationwide: https://mlhuillier.com/branches/

If your employee will be picking up the subsidy through Paymaya, please choose ‘PAYMAYA’ under the dropdown menu labelled ‘Banks.’ Afterwards, kindly input your employee’s cellphone number in the “Bank Account Number” field. Click here to see how to create a PayMaya e-wallet on your smartphone: https://www.paymaya.com/support/basics/how-to/download-and-register

If your employee chooses to receive the subsidy through MLhuillier, please choose ‘DBP Cash Padala thru MLhuillier’ under the dropdown menu labelled ‘Banks.’ Afterwards, kindly input your employee’s cellphone number in the “Bank Account Number” field. Here is a list of MLhuillier branches nationwide: https://mlhuillier.com/branches/

If your employee will be picking up the subsidy through Paymaya, please choose ‘PAYMAYA’ under the dropdown menu labelled ‘Banks.’ Afterwards, kindly input your employee’s cellphone number in the “Bank Account Number” field. Click here to see how to create a PayMaya e-wallet on your smartphone: https://www.paymaya.com/support/basics/how-to/download-and-register

You may enter your 9-digit TIN on this page to see if you are eligible. https://www.bir.gov.ph/images/sbws/index.php

For more details on the step by step procedure, click here: https://www.bir.gov.ph/images/bir_files/sbws/How-do-we-determine-if-an-employer-is-included-20200417.pdf

To apply for the SBWS program, employers may use one of two methods:

METHOD 1: My.SSS account (via www.sss.gov.ph). This may be used by all pre-qualified employers who have a My.SSS account on the SSS website. For instructions, visit: https://sites.google.com/dof.gov.ph/small-business-wage-subsidy#h.o57jq8safmiv

METHOD 2: E-form submission through secure site (via secure link sent through email). This is only for pre-qualified employers with emails on file with SSS. The instructions have been sent to them.

Those who applied for CAMP may still apply for the SBWS. As long as they are eligible, they may receive the subsidy. The Social Security System (SSS) is accepting applications for the SBWS program from April 16, 2020 to May 8, 2020.

For more details on the program, kindly visit: https://sites.google.com/dof.gov.ph/small-business-wage-subsidy or https://bit.ly/2VhThFE.

Those who applied for CAMP may still apply for the SBWS. As long as they are eligible, they may receive the wage subsidy.

On the application form, you will be asked to declare which of your employees is a “Paid/Approved CAMP beneficiary.” Kindly select “No” if your application is still pending.

We kindly request you to please try logging into your My.SSS account again to check if you still encounter this issue. Should this continue to be an issue, kindly email [email protected] and attach proof of your contributions for your employees.

Please be reminded that the following small businesses will be prioritized: ● BIR-registered and compliant with tax obligations during the past three years, up to January 2020. ● SSS-registered and have paid SSS contributions for the past three years up to January 2020 (the last recorded contribution).

As an alternative, a secure application process using Microsoft Sharepoint was launched on April 22 for employers whose email addresses are on file with the SSS. More than 114,000 employers representing more than 3 million employees have been notified of the alternative process for application.

These employers are being sent a secure link where they will be brought to a secure, cloud-based application system.

Please also be informed that the SBWS Interagency Task Force has extended the deadline for applications for the program to May 8, 2020. Meanwhile, the SSS is currently rolling out measures to help manage the traffic on the main portal.

Please be informed that there has been a delay in the sending of the unique secure link for your application for the Small Business Wage Subsidy (SBWS) program via Method 2 (E-form submission through secure site (via secure link sent through email).

Rest assured that the SSS has inputted most of the employer email addresses in the Microsoft system, which generates and sends the secure link to applicants at a fixed rate. We apologize for the inconvenience this may have caused.

The first email you received outlines the steps for application for the Small Business Wage Subsidy (SBWS) program via Method 2: E-form submission through secure site (via secure link sent through email).

You will be receiving a unique secure link from the SSS via email. This link will allow you to start filling up your application. For the protection of your company’s data, please do not share this link with any other party.

Yes, employees regardless of contract status may be eligible, subject to the other criteria to qualify for the program: https://sites.google.com/dof.gov.ph/small-business-wage-subsidy

There are two eligibility criteria for businesses under the SBWS program: ● Size of business: The small business — whether a corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship — must not be in the BIR’s Large Taxpayer Service (LTS) list. ● Impact of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ): Small businesses under both Category A (non-essentials) that are forced to stop operations (i.e., temporary closure or suspension of work) and Category B (quasi-essentials) that are allowed to operate a skeleton force can apply for the wage subsidy for employees who are not able to work and did not get paid for at least two weeks during the ECQ

Among these, the following small businesses will be prioritized
● BIR-registered and compliant with tax obligations during the past three years, up to January 2020. ● SSS-registered and have paid SSS contributions for the past three years up to January 2020 (the last recorded contribution).

If the company is not included in the list of eligible employers, but deemed affected by ECQ and can attest to such, they may submit an appeal to the BIR. We will do our best to accommodate these requests, but please be informed that those fulfilling the criteria above will be prioritized. Appeals may be sent through [email protected]. Kindly attach the following:

Please be advised that the deadline of appeals for pre-qualification is April 30, 2020. The deadline of pre-qualified employers to apply for SBWS program with SSS has been extended to May 8, 2020.

For other questions and technical issues, who may I contact? You may contact the Social Security System (SSS) through: Email: [email protected] Call center: 1455 (via cellphone) and 81455 (via landline) Toll Free: 1-800-10-2255777 Facebook: fb.com/SSSPh Website: www.sss.gov.ph