Social Security System has no System

I had to wake up at around 530AM earlier so I can go to SSS. There were 2 reasons why I had to go to SSS.

1. Is to submit my Maternity 1 form for my maternity benefits.
2. and I had to have my SSS ID changed to my married name.

I had no qualms about that; however I was shocked to see that by 6:15AM (I felt it was early already) the line was super duper long that it reached up to the parking lot of the next building.

SSS was still closed.

When their doors opened at around 6:30AM I was glad since we didn’t have to stand around in the streets anymore. We were lining up inside and it was not until 7:00AM that they started giving out priority #’s. By 7:30AM they announced that for those people lining up for their ID capture they were no longer giving out priority #’s because they have reached their limit of 160 person/day. Of course, people grunted in disbelief and many left the line. I stayed of course because I still had the Maternity 1 form to give. It didn’t take long by 8:00AM I was done. I also paid for my ID replacement already so the next time I will go, I’d only need to have the picture taken.

What bothered me is the fact that people should line up by 4:00AM (according to the guard) just so they can be assured to be served that day. What about person #161? Shouldn’t that person be given a priority number still? Even though that person will be served the next day or days after? I live 5 minutes away from their office so lucky me, but what if that person lives 1 hour away or live miles away? Can you imagine the hassle that would cause? Why can’t SSS just give out priority numbers and then schedule that person when he/she can come back for the ID capture? It’s a hassle having to line up at 4:00AM for that and then not even assured if you can be served – I pay P500.00 a month for SSS, I expect a better, more systematic approach to their system.