REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7699 AN ACT INSTITUTING LIMITED PORTABILITY SCHEME IN THE SOCIAL SECURITY INSURANCE SYSTEMS BY TOTALIZING THE WORKERS' CREDITABLE SERVICES OR CONTRIBUTIONS IN EACH OF THE SYSTEMS. also known as âThe Limited Portability of Lawâ Section 1. It is hereby declared the policy of the State to promote the welfare of our workers by recognizing their efforts in productive endeavors and to further improve their conditions by providing benefits for their long years of contribution to the national economy. Towards this end, the State shall institute a scheme for totalization and portability of social security benefits with the view of establishing within a reasonable period a unitary social security system. Coverage: These rules and regulations shall apply to: 1. All worker-members of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) and/or 2. All worker-members of the Social Security System (SSS) who transfer from one sector to another, and who wish to retain their membership in both Systems. Section 2. Definition of Terms. As used in this Act, unless the context indicates otherwise, the following terms shall mean: (a) "Contributions" shall refer to the contributions paid by the employee or worker to either the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) or the Social Security System (SSS) on account of the worker's membership; (b) "Portability" shall refer to the transfer of funds for the account and benefit of a worker who transfers from one system to the other; (c) "Sector" shall refer to employment either in the public or private sector; (d) "System" shall refer to either the SSS as created under Republic Act No. 1161, as amended or the GSIS as created under Presidential Decree No. 1146, as amended; and (e) "Totalization" shall refer to the process of adding up the periods of creditable services or contributions under each of the Systems, for purposes of eligibility and computation of benefits. Other Definitions in the Implementing Rules & Regulations of R.A. No. 7699 (a) Eligibility - means the worker has satisfied the requirements for entitlement to the benefits provided for under the Act. (b) Overlapping of periods - shall refer to the periods during which a worker simultaneously contributes to both Systems. Creditable Services For the public sector, the following shall be considered creditable services: 1. All previous services rendered by an official/employee pursuant to an appointment whether permanent, provisional or temporary; 2. All previous services rendered by an official/employee pursuant to a duly approved appointment to a position in the Civil Service with compensation or salary. 3.   The period during which an official/employee was on authorized sick leave of absence without pay not exceeding one year; 4.   The period during which an official/employee was out of the service as a result of illegal termination of his service as finally decided by the proper authorities; and 5.   All previous services with compensation or salary rendered by elective officials. Periods of Contributions For the private sector, the periods of contribution shall refer to the periods during which a person renders services for an employer with compensation or salary, and during which contributions were paid to SSS. For the purpose of this Section, a self-employed person shall be considered an employee and employer at the same time. Benefits: 1.   Old-age benefit, 2.   Disability benefit, 3.   Survivorship benefit, 4.   Sickness benefit, 5.   Medicare benefit, provided that the member shall claim benefit from the System where he was last a member, and 6.   Such other benefits common to both Systems that may be availed of through totalization. Section 3. Provisions of any general or special law or rules and regulations to the contrary notwithstanding, a covered worker who transfers employment from one sector to another or is employed in both sectors shall have his creditable services or contributions in both Systems credited to his service or contribution record in each of the Systems and shall be totalized for purposes of old-age, disability, survivorship and other benefits in case the covered member does not qualify for such benefits in either or both Systems without totalization: Provided, however, That overlapping periods of membership shall be credited only once for purposes of totalization. Totalization Totalization shall apply in the following instances: a.   If a worker is not qualified for any benefits from both Systems; or b.   If a worker in the public sector is not qualified for any benefits from the GSIS; or c.   If a worker in the private sector is not qualified for any benefits from the SSS Rules in Totalization I. All creditable services or periods of contributions made continuously or in the aggregate of a worker under either of the Sectors shall be added up and considered for purposes of eligibility and computation of benefits. II. All services rendered or contributions paid by a member personally and those that were paid by the employer to either System shall be considered in the computation of benefits which may be claimed from either or both Systems. However, the amount of benefits to be paid by one System shall be in proportion to the services rendered/periods of contributions made to that System. This rule is similar to Section 4 of R.A. No. 7699 which states, âAll contributions paid by such member personally, and those that were paid by his employers to both Systems shall be considered in the processing of benefits which he can claim from either or both Systems: Provided, however, That the amount of benefits to be paid by one System shall be in proportion to the number of contributions actually remitted to that System.â Examples: 1. A worked for the government sector for 5 years and then worked for the private sector for 5 years, or 60 months for each of the systems (GSIS and SSS), then he migrated and did not continue his contributions to SSS as a voluntary member. SSS requires 120 months for him to qualify as a pensioner. With the totalization, assuming A complies with the other requirements, he would qualify as a pensioner at SSS. So, based on the ratio of 60/120 or 50%, SSS will give him 50% of the pension he would have gotten based on the AMSC ( ) in the SSS. A will not qualify for the GSIS pension since GSIS requires at least 15 years of government service. 2. B has 10 years of government service and 7 years of private sector employment. Like A, he does not qualify for any of the pension systems. With totalization, he will qualify for both systems. The pension for SSS will be 7/10 or 70% of the pension he would have gotten based on his AMSC. For GSIS, B will receive 10/15 or 2/3 (or 66.667%) of the pension he would have received. III. For the purpose of computation of benefits, totalization shall apply in all cases so that the contributions made by the worker-member in both Systems shall provide maximum benefits which otherwise will not be available. In no case shall the contribution be lost or forfeited. IV. If after totalization the worker-member still does not qualify for any of the benefits listed in the Implementing Rules and Regulations of R.A. 7699, the member will then get whatever benefits correspond to his/her contributions in either or both Systems. V. If a worker qualifies for benefits in both Systems, totalization shall not apply. VI. The process of totalization of creditable services or periods of contributions and computation of benefits provided for under the Act shall be the joint responsibility of the GSIS and the SSS. VII. Overlapping periods of creditable services or contributions in both Systems shall be credited only once for purposes of totalization. Formula to get Creditable Services (CS)/Period of Contributions (PC) in case there is/are overlapping period/s (OP): CS/PC = Total years of service under GSIS + Total years of service under SSS â OP Limited Portability of Funds The processes involved in the prompt payment of monthly benefits to eligible members shall be the joint responsibility of the GSIS and the SSS. The System or Systems responsible for the payment of money benefits due a covered worker shall release the same within fifteen (15) working days from receipt of the claim, subject to the submission of the required documents and availability of complete employee/employer records in the System. Responsibility of the GSIS and SSS 1. The GSIS and SSS shall be responsible for the recording and documentation of the creditable services and/or periods of contributions of the members respectively. 2. For the purposes of the Act, accreditation of services or periods of contributions of the members shall be undertaken by the GSIS for the public sector and by the SSS for the private sector. 3. Complaints and questions relative to the creditable service or periods of contributions as well as computation of benefits shall be brought before the System concerned and shall be resolved in accordance with the policies and procedures adopted by the said System. Section 5. Nothing in this Act shall be construed to diminish or reduce the benefits being enjoyed by a covered worker arising from existing laws, issuances, and company policies or practices or agreements between the employer and the employees. JURISPRUDENCE RELATED TO R.A. No. 7699 1. Resolution no. 01-0498; Villones, Sonia L. Re: Payment of Benefits RA 7699, otherwise known as âAN ACT INSTITUTING LIMITED PORTABILITY SCHEME IN THE SOCIAL SECURITY INSURANCE SYSTEMS BY TOTALIZING THE WORKERS' CREDITABLE SERVICES OR CONTRIBUTIONS IN EACH OF THE SYSTEMSâ provides: âa covered worker who transfers employment from one sector to another or is employed in both sectors shall have his creditable services or contributions in both system credited to his service or contribution record in each of the systems and shall be totalized for the purpose of old-age, disability, survivorship and other benefits in case the covered member does not qualify for such benefits in either or both systems without totalization.â This being so, Villones cannot be entitled to separation pay considering that in 1995, upon reaching the age of 60 yrs. old, he retired with the SSS and was already receiving his monthly pension while still with the SICIWA. In other words, he has already been compensated the old-age benefits contemplated under RA 7699. 2. G.R. No. 141707; Gamogamo v. PNOC Shipping and Transport Co. Petitionerâs contention that the principle of tacking of creditable service is mandated by RA 7699 is baseless. Section 3 of RA 7699 reads: Sec. 3. Provisions of any general or special law or rules and regulations to the contrary notwithstanding, a covered worker who transfers employment from one sector to another or is employed in both sectors shall have his credible services or contributions in both Systems credited to his service or contribution record in each of the Systems and shall be totalized for purposes of old-age, disability, survivorship and other benefits in case the covered member does not qualify for such benefits in either or both Systems without totalization: Provided, however, That overlapping periods of membership shall be credited only once for purposes of totalization. Obviously, totalization of service credits is only resorted to when the retiree does not qualify for benefits in either or both Systems. Here, petitioner is qualified to receive benefits granted by the GSIS. (Section 12(b) of Presidential Decree No, 1146, as amended, otherwise known as the Government Service Insurance Act of 1977 states, âA member who has rendered at least three years but less than fifteen years of service at the time of separation shall, upon reaching sixty years of age or upon separation after age sixty, receive a cash payment equivalent to one hundred percent of his average monthly compensation for every year of service with an employer.â)