Search for New Kasambahays

Just when I thought that this pregnancy is going to be relatively stress-free compared to my first, my kasambahays dropped a bombshell: they will be leaving by the end of June. They are sisters hence they're a packaged deal.

They've been with us for two years, the longest we've had. They have our routines down pat and I can leave P with them without worrying (much). They are young, just out of their teenage years, and single. Sometimes, I feel like I have two teen-age daughters but they proved to be hard-working and responsible. They said that their aunt recruited them to work in a factory. Of course, I tried to persuade them to stay by increasing their salaries and stating the cons of factory work but they remain firm. To be fair to them, they were the only ones who tendered notice, the rest of the yayas would usually not come back after a vacation.

It's just the end of May, but I'm already dreading the end of June. Just another heartbreak.

Registering with PHILHEALTH as a Household Employer

As with SSS and PAG-IBIG, my kasambahays and I filled out the Kasambahay Unified Registration Forms which can be downloaded here: https://www.philhealth.gov.ph/downloads/

For Quezon City residents, proceed to the PHILHEALTH Office along Quezon Ave., Quezon City. Upon entering, get a number for the Membership desk. I presented our registration forns, you can print extra copies as receiving/file copies. After a few minutes, I had my Philhealth Employer Number and my helpers' Philhealth Identification Number. I was also given our respective Membership Data Forms and the helpers' IDs. After that was Payment. Interestingly, there is no penalty for Household Employers so I just paid P200 per month per helper.

The whole process would have gone faster if their system did not go offline while I was paying. But just the same, the entire process took me only 2 hours. Yey for PHILHEALTH!

Read about our SSS Registration here.
Read about our PAG-IBIG Registration here.

Registering with PAG-IBIG as a Household Employer

Since PAG-IBIG has an online registration system for household employers, I opted to try it before PHILHEALTH. Go to: https://www.pagibigfundservices.com/kasambahay/default.aspx

Print everything that comes up after registering. For me these were the Household Employer Unified Registration Form and Household Employer Unified Form which came out pre-filled out. I separately printed the Kasambahay Unified Registration Form and had the kasambahays manually fill them out. You and your kasambahays will receive your respective Registration Tracking Number (RTN) via SMS.

Then, I went to the PAG-IBIG branch near GMA Kamuning MRT station to submit the above forms. I asked the security guard to direct me where I can register for kasambahays. At first, the lady there told me that I had to go to the Caloocan branch which has jurisdiction over our barangay. But I told her I registered online and already have the RTNs. Thankfully, she accepted my forms and assessed me for late payment. I paid at the tellers downstairs, photocopied the receipts and submitted them. 

I asked where can I pay the premiums and I was advised that I can pay in advance, so I did. The entire process took one hour and the best thing about it was, unlike my SSS experience, I did everything in one building hehe. Thank you, PAG-IBIG!


Read about our SSS Registration here.
Read about our PHILHEALTH registration here.

Registering with the SSS as a Household Employer (With Penalty)

As any (Filipino) working momma will tell you, kasambahays nowadays come and go, sometimes for the most inane reasons. Hence, I was not exactly raring to register myself with the SSS, Philhealth and PAG-IBIG as a Household Employer lest they suddenly leave even before the whole process is over. Our present helpers started with us last August 2016. I knew that I will be paying a penalty for registering late but that was fine by me.

Our helpers don't have any SSS, Philhealth or PAG-IBIG numbers yet. There SHOULD be a Kasambahay Unified Registration System wherein you are told that you can register with any of the three offices, but currently, it's not yet in place so you still have to go to each office. I decided to register with SSS first.

The first step is to make sure the helpers have an SSS number. If none yet, they can register online. They will be provided an SSS number but the status is "Temporary" because they have to submit supporting documents PERSONALLY to any SSS office. In our case, the helpers went to the satellite office in SM North Edsa Annex.