Sunday, April 26, 2020

FAQs on the Small Business Wage Subsidy (SBWS) Program


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

What are the steps that I have to take to apply for the program?
1. To check if your business is pre-qualified, visit:

For instructions, please see:

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:

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.
What are the different payout options for employees?

How may I apply for Taxpayer Identification Numbers for my employees?
To apply for a TIN on behalf of your employee, click here:

For the instructions, please visit:

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Top questions received as of 26 April 2020
My minimum wage employees (MWEs) do not have a Tax Identification Number (TIN) as they are not required to pay taxes. How can I apply for their wage subsidy?
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:

I am applying through My.SSS, but my employees lacking credentials (for example, without My.SSS account, no bank account) cannot update their My.SSS profiles.
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:

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.
What should I do if not all my employees have bank accounts?
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:

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/…/basi…/how-to/download-and-register

I cannot find the payment option for PayMaya or DBP Cash Padala through M Lhuiller.
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:

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/…/basi…/how-to/download-and-register

Other questions
How do I know if my business is pre-qualified for the Small Business Wage Subsidy (SBWS)?
You may enter your 9-digit TIN on this page to see if you are eligible.

For more details on the step by step procedure, click here:

I was pre-qualified by the BIR! What’s next?
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.


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.
I was referred to this program by DOLE. What should I do?
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.go…/small-business-wage-subsidy
 or https://bit.ly/2VhThFE
.

My DOLE CAMP application is still pending. What should I do?
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.
I was pre-qualified by BIR but I cannot apply on the My.SSS portal due to any of the following reasons, according to the website:
(1) I have no record of payment, or
(2) I have no employees on record.
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 SBWSQueries@sss.gov.ph 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).
I am having difficulty in applying because the SSS website is down or is very slow.
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.
I received an email regarding an alternative application method, but I was not sent the Microsoft link necessary to proceed with this application.
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.
) was emailed to me, but when I clicked it, it did not work.

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.
Are non-regular employees, such as those that are probationary, regular seasonal, project-based, fixed-term, or contractual, eligible for the subsidy?
Yes, employees regardless of contract status may be eligible, subject to the other criteria to qualify for the program:

I was not pre-qualified by the BIR. However, my business was unable to fully operate during the ECQ and my employees are in need of the 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 SBWS_BIRquery@bir.gov.ph. Kindly attach the following:
*TIN
*Registered name or business name
*RDO where registered
*Proof of meeting the qualifications, such as:
-To prove status as active taxpayer within the last three (3) years, submit proof of filing and/or payment of tax
-To prove inclusion among Non-essential and Quasi-Essential sectors, submit accomplished BIR Form 1905 and proof of actual industry BIR registration, DTI registration, Mayor's Permit or SEC registration
-To prove employer status, submit latest BIR Form 1601C or 1604CF and alphalist
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: SBWSQueries@sss.gov.ph
*Call center: 1455 (via cellphone) and 81455 (via landline)
*Toll Free: 1-800-10-2255777
*Facebook: fb.com/SSSPh

*Website: www.sss.gov.ph


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