Monthly Archives: March 2018

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FSM Social Security Administration hires new Office Assistant at Yap Branch Office

Category : Press Releases

Vivian Jade Ribilyan Guwaathag of Yap is the current Office Assistant at Yap Branch effective March 2018. The Office Assistant is to assist the Branch Manager and other Branch staff in ensuring that the Branch operates effectively, efficiently and competently and provides quality services or good customer relations with all dealing with the branch, either in person or by electronic communication. The Office Assistant reports directly to the State Branch Manager.

Twenty three years old Vivian graduated from St. Mary and continued four years at Yap Seventh Day Adventist (SDA), where she attained her high school diploma. She then attended College of Micronesia Yap Campus, and majored in Business Administration. While in college, she began her work experience as part of the work study program in college, being a cashier at the college snack shop and later an office assistant in the student services department. Pertaining to being hired, she was working as a cashier at a local store in her community.

Vivian, like many other also has goal to finding a job opportunity. Being hired by the FSMSSA was a great opportunity, which she looked forward to becoming a productive employee in servicing the citizens of the nation. In doing so, she had been greatly motivated to develop the skills she had, along with the new skills so that she may successfully perform her duties with outstanding results. Being productive as an employee, Vivian also hoped to become a positive impact in the system as an Office Assistant.

Upon being hired, Vivian mentioned, “I feel honored and blessed. I am most proud to be working for my people”. She felt motivated to deliver good outcomes, and would put all the effort she had for the job to be effective and helpful to the people.


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United States Department of Interior gives grant to Social Security Programs

The Prior Service Trust Fund (PSTF) is a supplemental retirement, disability and survivors’ plan established pursuant to Section 105(m) of U.S Public Law 99-239. It was established to continue to provide benefits to those who worked for the U.S. Navy Administration or the Government of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands for at least five years prior to July 1, 1968. In 1987, the United States Congress provided $8 million for initial capitalization of the PSBTF.

Effective April 1, 2006, the Federated States of Micronesia Social Security Administration assumed responsibility for benefit payments made to citizens of the Federated States of Micronesia. Beneficiaries of PSTF total about one thousand and lived in the Northern Mariana Islands, Republic of Palau, Federated States of Micronesia and Marshall Islands. FSM has a total of 450 beneficiaries who are currently receiving Prior Service Benefits.

In May 2016, the United States Department of Interior, Office of Insular Affairs (OIA), awarded additional money to the Prior Service Trust Fund Administration (PSTF) to enact and fully fund an increased cost of living adjustment (COLA) for all existing PSTF beneficiaries. It was an addition to the annual funds being received from OIA to maintain existing payments to PSTF beneficiaries.

In March 2018, the Prior Service Trust Fund (PSTF) was awarded funding through the office of Insular Affairs’ (OIA) Technical Assistance Program. A grant was awarded to fund Prior Service benefit payments to beneficiaries in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Republic of Palau. The grant included a partial funding award of $460,900 for PSTF benefit payments, will be available for the first six months of the next fiscal year. Additional funding will be awarded after OIA has received full appropriations for Fiscal Year 2018.

FSM Social Security recognizes all who had put in the effort to this success especially, with the help of the FSM National Government through a letter of funding request to the Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Insular Affairs, Mr. Douglas W. Domenech.

Through enthusiasm and support from the national government, PSTF funding remains a benefit to our beneficiaries.