Private to Government SSS Guide
Moved to Government Work? Change Your Existing SSS to Voluntary
If you already had valid SSS coverage before becoming a regular government employee, you do not lose that SSS record. You may continue or reactivate it by changing your SSS membership type from Employed to Voluntary.
What you should do
Keep your existing SSS membership — but use the correct new membership type.
SSS has specifically stated that regular government employees who were previously employed in the private sector may reactivate their SSS membership by changing their membership type from Employed to Voluntary.
This means the normal issue is not “Will SSS discover that I work for government?” The normal issue is simply changing your SSS contribution status correctly after your SSS-covered private employment ends.
Exception: government JO/COS personnel who are not coverable under GSIS are generally classified by SSS as Self-Employed, not Voluntary.
Who should change from Employed to Voluntary?
This guide is mainly for someone who:
- Previously worked in the private sector and was covered by SSS as an employee;
- already has at least one valid posted SSS contribution;
- has now entered regular government employment; and
- wants to continue contributing to the existing SSS membership.
In that situation, SSS itself has said the member may change the SSS membership type from Employed to Voluntary and continue contribution payments.
Which SSS status should a government worker use?
| Situation | SSS status to check |
|---|---|
|
Regular government employee Previously covered by SSS in private employment or another valid SSS category |
Voluntary Member |
|
Government JO / COS worker Not coverable under GSIS |
Self-Employed |
|
Only has an SS number No valid contribution or Date of Coverage yet |
Do not start as Voluntary. Establish the correct first coverage type. |
|
Regular government employee who already paid VM Had valid previous SSS coverage |
The VM continuation may be valid; verify the contribution record. |
How to change SSS from Employed to Voluntary
For the normal change to Voluntary Member status, SSS says there is no form to accomplish and no supporting document to submit.
-
Confirm that your previous SSS coverage was valid.
You should already have at least one valid posted contribution from prior coverage as an employee, self-employed member, or OFW. -
Log in to My.SSS or the SSS Mobile App.
Use your existing SSS account. Do not create a new SSS number. -
Generate a Payment Reference Number (PRN).
When asked for Membership Type, choose Voluntary Member. -
Review the applicable contribution amount and period.
Choose the correct MSC/contribution based on current SSS rules. -
Pay the PRN.
The VM payment is prospective. Do not expect to back-pay old missed voluntary months. -
Check My.SSS after payment.
Verify that the contribution posted to the intended month and that your member record reflects the new contribution path.
What choosing “Voluntary” does
SSS states that choosing Voluntary Member when generating the PRN automatically changes the membership status and acts as the member’s declaration that the previous SSS EE/SE/OFW coverage no longer applies for the period being paid voluntarily.
Do not create a new SSS account or new SSS number
SSS membership is tied to your existing SSS record.
If you had SSS when you worked in the private sector, you continue using that same SSS number after you move into government service.
You are changing the membership type used for new contributions, not creating a separate SSS identity.
What happens to your old SSS contributions?
They stay in your SSS record.
Valid contributions from your previous private employment continue to form part of your SSS contribution history for benefits and retirement, subject to the qualification rules of the particular benefit.
Your new voluntary contributions are added to the same SSS membership record.
Can you back-pay the months between private and government employment?
Generally, no.
SSS says Voluntary Members pay contributions prospectively. Months without posted VM contributions become contribution gaps, and retroactive payment to fill those missed months is not allowed.
So if you want to continue SSS after entering government service, it is better to change to Voluntary and resume payment promptly rather than waiting and attempting to fill old gaps later.
JO and COS government workers: do not automatically choose Voluntary
Government Job Order and Contract of Service workers are treated differently from regular government employees.
SSS specifically includes contractual and job-order personnel engaged by government through Contract of Service who are not coverable under the GSIS Law under Self-Employed SSS coverage.
Under KaSSSangga Collect arrangements, government agencies may deduct and remit the contribution, but the worker is still registered under the appropriate SSS self-employed coverage.
Regular government + old valid SSS: Voluntary may be correct.
JO/COS not under GSIS: Self-Employed is normally the correct SSS path.
What if you never had a valid SSS contribution before?
Having an SS number by itself is not enough to become a Voluntary Member.
SSS defines a VM as someone who was previously covered as an employee, self-employed member, or OFW with at least one valid posted contribution.
SSS also warns that an initial contribution paid as Voluntary without a valid existing Date of Coverage may be void and subject to refund.
If this describes you, determine the correct initial SSS coverage category instead of using VM as a first-registration shortcut.
What if you are continuing SSS because of maternity benefits?
A valid Voluntary Member can still qualify for SSS maternity benefit if the normal maternity rules are met.
The key contribution test is at least 3 monthly contributions within the applicable 12-month qualifying period.
For individually paying members, the contribution also needs to satisfy the maternity payment-timing rules.
So, how does SSS know you are a government employee?
For a regular government employee with previous valid SSS coverage, this should not be treated as something you need to hide.
SSS itself operates government-agency programs where regular government employees with old SSS coverage can reactivate or continue their membership by changing from Employed to Voluntary.
The more useful question is therefore: “Am I using the correct SSS membership type for my current work arrangement?”
If you are regular government with valid prior SSS coverage, VM can be the correct continuation path. If you are JO/COS outside GSIS, Self-Employed may be the correct path instead.
Common mistakes when moving from private to government
- Assuming old SSS contributions disappear after entering government service.
- Creating a new SSS number instead of continuing the existing membership.
- Continuing to think of yourself as an SSS “employee” after the private employment already ended.
- Waiting several months and then trying to back-pay missed VM contributions.
- Choosing Voluntary when you are actually a JO/COS worker covered by SSS as Self-Employed.
- Assuming that merely having an SS number means you already qualify to start VM payments.
Already paid SSS after entering government service?
If you were previously validly covered by SSS and you are now a regular government employee, voluntary continuation may be exactly the correct setup.
Check the contribution posting and confirm that the months and amounts are correct.
If you are JO/COS, or if you never had valid SSS coverage before the VM payments, review the classification before making additional payments.
Frequently asked questions
Related government-worker guides
Official SSS references
Recently moved from private to government?
Keep your existing SSS number, confirm your prior contributions, then use Voluntary Member for new SSS payments if you are an eligible regular government employee.