How to Apply for an SSS Housing Loan (Simple Step by Step Guide)

How to Apply for an SSS Housing Loan - Property Tips - Carousell Philippines Blog

Buying a home in the Philippines isn’t as hard as real estate prices might make it seem! Property prices are generally in the millions, but people hardly pay for the value of a home in one go. So, don’t worry if you don’t have millions in your bank account yet because you can still purchase a home through financing. In fact, the government even has programs to help people purchase homes. One of which is through the Social Security System (SSS). And in this article, we’ll show you how to apply for an SSS housing loan.

What is financing, exactly? Simply put, it’s when an individual goes to a financial institution like SSS to take out a loan. The individual pays a downpayment and SSS shoulders most of the property’s cost on purchase. Then, the individual pays back SSS over time and with interest. 

P.S. Not sure yet how to start your home buying journey, use our home budget calculator and other tools below to simplify your search!

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How to apply for an SSS housing loan:

SSS offers four kinds of home loans: 

  • Direct Housing Loan Facility for Workers’ Organization Members
  • Direct Housing Loan Facility for Overseas Filipino Workers
  • Housing Loan for Repairs or Improvements,
  • Assumption of Mortgage

In this article, we’ll guide you on the first two housing loans. If you’re looking for details on how to apply for an SSS Home Improvement Loan, click here.

Each type of home loan caters to specific needs and has a different application process. But, if you’re interested in buying a home, then focus on the first two. This is because you can use them to finance any of the following: 

  • The construction of a new house on a lot you already own
  • The purchase of a lot and the construction of a new house on it
  • The purchase of a house and lot, condominium, or townhouse

For both loans, the maximum loanable amount is Php 2 million and payable in either 5, 10, or 15 years. 

The interest will be based on the loan amount. These are the interest rates SSS applies to their loans:

Loan Amount

Annual Interest
Over Php 450,000.00 up to Php 1,000,000.00 9%
Over Php 1,000,000.00 up to Php 1,500,000.00 10%
Over Php 1,500,000.00 up to Php 2,000,000.00 11%

Read more about the different SSS housing loan requirements and how to loan in SSS.

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1. Direct Housing Loan Facility for Workers’ Organization Members

The Direct Housing Loan Facility for Workers’ Organization Members (WOMs) caters to people in the private sector. To qualify, you need to be employed and a member of any of the workers’ organizations accredited by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), or the Cooperative Development Authority.

Workers who are also members of any trade union center, federation, national union, chapter, or independent union as defined in Book V of the Labor code of the Philippines can avail of this housing loan. 

If you’re interested on how to apply for an SSS housing loan through this method, here are the criteria for eligibility and document requirements: 

Direct Housing Loan Facility for Workers’ Organization Members Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible you must meet these criteria:
  • Member is a bonafide member of a registered workers’ organization in the private sector;
  • Member must be a member of the SSS;
  • Member has at least 36 months premium contribution and 24 continuous contributions in a period prior to application
  • Member should not be more than 60 years old at the time of application and must be insurable. Members age 60 years at time of application will have a maximum loan term of 5 years
  • Member was not previously granted an SSS housing loan
  • Member has not been granted final SSS benefits
  • Member and spouse is updated in the payment of their other SSS loan(s), if any
  • The spouse of an existing borrower may still qualify for an SSS housing loan if the loan of the existing borrower was obtained prior to the date of marriage and the loan is not delinquent.

Direct Housing Loan Facility for Workers’ Organization Members Requirements
Original copy of: 
  1. Mortgagor’s Application for Housing Loan with 1” x 1” ID pictures of Principal Applicant and Spouse
  2. Certificate of Loan Eligibility – (P100 Service Fee)
  3. Certification of Membership from the workers’ organization
  4. Employer’s Certification
  5. Latest two (2) months pay slip duly certified by the employer
  6. Deed of Sale or Contract to Sell with Statement of latest balance (for purchase of lot or house and lot)
  7. Confirmation of Completion and Appraisal from Home Guaranty Corporation accredited appraisal companies
  8. Certificate of Acceptance and Occupancy duly signed by the borrower if house is 100% complete at the time of the loan filing
Original and photocopy of:
  1. Latest income tax return together with Form W-2 and Confirmation Receipt of Payment
  2. Owner’s copy of the Original/Transfer Certificate of Title/Condominium Certificate of Title
  3. Latest Property Tax Declaration and latest Realty Tax Receipt
Other requirements:
  1. Lot Plan with Vicinity Map duly signed and sealed by a registered Surveyor or Geodetic Engineer (Blue Print)
  2. Building plans/specifications/picture of the house (Blue Print)
  3. A set of twelve (12) postdated checks covering twelve (12) monthly installments and shall be repeated every twelve (12) months thereafter until the loan is fully paid
  4. Tax Mapping/Subdivision Plan
  5.  Application Fee – ½ of 1% of loan amount or P500 whichever is higher but not to exceed P3,000.00 to be deducted from the first loan release.
  6. Inspection Fee – P500

To apply, you can file your application at your nearest SSS cluster branch or at the Housing and Business Loans Department, 5/F, SSS Bldg., East Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City.

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2. Direct Housing Loan Facility for Overseas Filipino Workers

The Direct Housing Loan Facility for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) is like the first kind of loan except it caters to OFWs instead WOMs. To qualify for the home loan as an OFW, you have to fall under one of the following:

  • Currently working in another country with a contract processed by the Philippine Overseas Employment Authority (POEA) or authenticated by a foreign embassy
  • Awaiting deployment or renewal of an employee contract
  • A Filipino national who is now a citizen or immigrant of a foreign country with the intent to buy a home for their family still residing in the Philippines
  •  A long-term overseas resident Filipino with intent to avail a housing package for themself for retirement, for their visits to the Philippines, or for their extended families

Note that for OFWs awaiting deployment or renewal of contract, the loan can only be made upon renewal or employment. 

If you’re interested on how to apply for an SSS housing loan through this method, here are the criteria for eligibility and document requirements.

Direct Housing Loan Facility for Overseas Filipino Workers Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible you must meet these criteria:
  • Member is a certified Overseas Filipino Worker;
  • Member is a voluntary OFW member of SSS;
  • Member has at least 36 months contribution and 24 continuous contributions in the period prior to application
  • Member should not be more than 60 years old at the time of application and must be insurable. Members age 60 years at time of application will have a maximum loan term of 5 years
  • Member was not previously granted an SSS housing loan
  • Member has not been granted final SSS benefits
  • Borrower and spouse is updated in the payment of their other SSS loan(s), if any

The spouses of an existing borrower may still qualify for an SSS housing loan if the loan of the existing borrower was obtained prior to the date of marriage and the loan is not delinquent.

Direct Housing Loan Facility for Overseas Filipino Workers Requirements
Original copy of: 
  1. Mortgagor’s Application for Housing Loan with 1” x 1” ID pictures of Principal Applicant and Spouse
  2. Certificate of Loan Eligibility – (P100 Service Fee)
  3. Certification of Membership from the workers’ organization
  4. Employer’s Certification
  5. Latest two (2) months pay slip duly certified by the employer
  6. Deed of Sale or Contract to Sell with Statement of latest balance (for purchase of lot or house and lot)
  7. Confirmation of Completion and Appraisal from Home Guaranty Corporation accredited appraisal companies
  8. Certificate of Acceptance and Occupancy duly signed by the borrower if house is 100% complete at the time of the loan filing
Original and photocopy of:
  1. Latest Contract of Employment and latest Employer’s Certification duly authenticated by Phil. Consulate
  2. Owner’s copy of the TCT/OCT/CCT
  3. Certified true copy of TCT/OCT/CCT issued by the Register of Deeds
  4. Latest Property Tax Declaration and Realty Tax Receipt
Other requirements:
  1. Lot plan with vicinity map duly signed and sealed by Registered Surveyor or Geodetic Engineer (Blue Print)
  2. Building plans/specifications/picture of the house (Blue Print)
  3. A set of twelve (12) postdated checks covering twelve (12) monthly installments and shall be repeated every twelve (12) months thereafter until the loan is fully paid
  4. Tax Mapping/Subdivision Plan
  5. Affidavit of Undertaking to continue paying monthly SSS premium contributions for the duration of housing loan
  6. Application Fee – ½ of 1% of loan amount or P500 whichever is higher but not to exceed P3,000.00 to be deducted from the first loan release.
  7. Inspection Fee – P500

To apply, you can file your application at your nearest SSS cluster branch or at the Housing and Business Loans Department, 5/F, SSS Bldg., East Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City.

Beside these eligibility and document requirements, SSS might also ask for other documents if needed. Make sure to check the SSS website for more information. 

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Are You Ready For An SSS Housing Loan?

Getting an SSS housing loan can help you attain your first home. Remember that whether it’s with SSS, Pag-IBIG, or a bank, a loan is still debt. Make sure you’re financially mature and ready to pay off the loan. But don’t feel intimidated. Saving up so you can afford a home is easy. 

If you are ready, make sure to find the perfect home for you. Remember, while SSS can finance a maximum of Php 2 million only, you can still go for properties above that amount. What’s important is you can take on the costs of the property.  You may check out SSS loan calculator so you can better understand the total costs that you’ll need to pay off.

For more details on how to apply for an SSS Housing Loan, visit www.sss.gov.ph or click here.

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