Here Are 10 SSS Benefits That You Can Avail

Are you currently working or about to start a new job, but don’t know what your SSS Benefits are?

SSS, or Social Security System, is one of the most important government agencies for workers in the Philippines. Offered as a government-mandated benefit, this social insurance program provides retirement and health benefits to Filipino workers. Oftentimes, in the form of an SSS salary loan, maternity benefit, or retirement pension, among other things.

Why You Should Enroll in SSS

As mentioned, the government requires all Filipino workers to enroll in SSS, which others also refer to as social security protection. Once you become an SSS member and regularly pay your contribution, you will be eligible for financial support and assistance from the government in times of disability, sickness, death, and other emergencies or life contingencies. Contributions depend on one’s income bracket.

According to the official website of SSS, workers who are required to pay their SSS include:

• Private sector employees
• Household helpers or domestic workers
• Employees of foreign governments or organizations
• Public utility drivers and operators
• Self-employed persons
• Farmers, fishermen, or workers in the informal sector
• Overseas Filipino Workers or OFWs

Meanwhile, non-working spouses of an SSS member and separated members may only voluntarily pay their SSS contributions. Below is the latest SSS contribution table effective 2019.

Also read: What Are The Top Government Agencies To Work For?

The Types of SSS Benefits

For a long time, SSS offered seven forms of benefits that members can avail of. But as times changed, the agency added more to cater to the evolving needs of its members. Note that each benefit also has its own qualifying conditions, as well as the more specific privileges that it comes with. Know more about these SSS benefits:

1. Sickness Benefit

The SSS Sickness Benefit is a daily cash allowance given to a worker who is sick or injured, and therefore unable to work. It’s equivalent to one’s average daily salary credit and members may claim it for up to 120 days.

Furthermore, members who contracted COVID-19 are also covered by this benefit. This applies to both those in confinement at a hospital or at home for at least four days.

Requirements

• Certificate of Employment (in company letterhead, signed by general/personnel manager)
• Complete job description (in company letterhead)
• Pre-employment medical check-up or in its absence, a certification from the company that the worker is physically fit when employed.
• Police report (for accidents outside company premises)
• Medical findings and/or clinical abstract (ECG tracing and findings, X-ray results and findings, CT Scan, and others)
• For those who have contracted COVID-19, provide any of the following:
  • positive RT-PCR test or Rapid Antigen test done by a DOH-accredited facility
  • positive Rapid Antigen test using FDA-approved kit
  • positive Rapid Antigen test from a non-approved kit together with a Certificate of Completion of Quarantine issued and signed by a Medical Officer from the local government or Barangay Health Emergency Response Team

How to apply

Accomplish the following SSS forms for Sickness Benefit claims. Submit to any SSS branch.

• SSS Employer’s Notification (SSS Form B300)
• SSS Sickness/Accident Report (SSS Form B309) or SSS Sickness Benefit Application for separated members (SSS Form CLD-9A)

2. Employees' Compensation (EC) Program

An employee may likewise benefit from the EC program if one has been injured, contracted illness, or died at the workplace while:

• Performing official functions
• Or at a location outside the workplace while executing an order from the employer

The full list of benefits can be found here.

Requirements

• Forms to be accomplished include:
• For sickness
  • SSS Form B-301 (EC Medical Reimbursement Benefit Application)
• For temporary total disability or sickness:
  • EC Form B-309 (Accident/Sickness Report)
  • EC Form B-300 (Employee?s Notification); and
  • SSS Form B-304 (Sickness Benefit Reimbursement Application)

• For disability
  • Claim for Disability Benefit; and
  • SSS Form MMD-102 (Medical Certificate)

• For death:
  • BPN-105 (Report of death) and
  • DDR-1 (Death Claim Application)
  • Click here for list of additional requirements for the primary and secondary beneficiarie s of an employee with an EC death claim.

• For funeral expenses:
  • BPN-103 (Claim for funeral expenses);
  • Death certificate of deceased member duly certified by the local Civil Registrar
  • Official receipt from the funeral parlor
  • BPN-105 (Report of death)

How to apply

• Notify employer of sickness, injury, or death within five days from occurrence.
  • Notice is NOT necessary if the occurrence took place within working hours at the workplace AND with knowledge of the employer or their representative

3. Maternity Benefit

The SSS Maternity Benefit is a daily cash allowance given to a female worker who is pregnant or has experienced a miscarriage, therefore unable to work. Members may get anywhere from 15 to 105 days of paid leave depending on the status of pregnancy or childbirth.

Requirements

• Medical certificate
• Latest ultrasound

How to apply

Accomplish the following SSS forms for maternity benefit claims. Submit to your HR department or any SSS branch.

• SSS Employer’s Notification (SSS Form B300)
• SSS Sickness/Accident Report (SSS Form B309) or SSS Sickness Benefit Application for separated members (SSS Form CLD-9A)

4. Paternity Benefit

The SSS Paternity Benefit comes in the form of a leave worth seven days intended for couples who are legally married or live together.

Requirements

• Paternity Notification Form
• Marriage Contract Certification or other proof of marriage
• Medical records showing proof of pregnancy of spouse
• Certified True Copy or Authenticated Copy of the child’s birth certificate

How to apply

Accomplish and submit a Paternity Notification Form from your company’s HR department along with the other documentary requirements.

Alternatively, one may apply to transfer the SSS Maternity Leave Credits to the father or apply for a Solo Parents Leave. For the former, you can get an additional seven days of leave from your spouse’s Maternity Leave Credits. To apply, accomplish a copy of the SSS Allocation of Maternity Leave Credits form and Maternity Notification form.

5. Disability Benefit

The SSS Disability Benefit is a cash grant given to a member who becomes permanently disabled, whether partially or totally. Members receive the grant in monthly pensions or lump sums.

Requirements

• Certificate of Employment (in company letterhead, signed by general/personnel manager)
• Complete job description (in company letterhead) of work performed when contingency happened
• Pre-employment medical check-up or in its absence, a certification from the company that the worker is physically fit when employed.
• Medical findings and/or clinical abstract (ECG tracing & findings, X-ray results & findings, CT Scan, others)

How to apply

Accomplish the following SSS forms for disability benefit claims. Submit to any SSS branch.

• SSS Death, Disability and Retirement Claim Form (DDR-1)
• SSS Sickness/Accident Report (SSS Form B309)

6. Retirement Benefit

The SSS Retirement Benefit is a cash grant given to a member who is unable to work due to old age. Members receive the grant in monthly pensions or lump sums.

Requirements

• If the member has children below 21 years old and is incapacitated, submit a marriage contract
• Birth/baptismal certificate of dependent minor or incapacitated children
• Birth certificate of the member
• Certificate of Separation from the last employer

How to apply

Accomplish the following SSS forms for retirement claims. Submit to any SSS branch.

• SSS Death, Disability and Retirement Claim Form (DDR-1)
• Affidavit of separation (E-417)

7. Unemployment Benefit

The SSS Unemployment Benefit is a cash grant that is offered to members who have been involuntarily removed from their job. The reasons include the company downsizing, closure, or installation of labor-saving devices, to name a few. It’s also referred to as Unemployment Insurance or Involuntary Separation Benefit.

Requirements

Any of the following valid IDs or documents:

• Unified Multi-Purpose ID (UMID)
• SS Card
• Driver’s License
• NBI Clearance
• Postal ID
• Voter’s ID
• Other licenses depending on the profession

How to apply

Submit any one of the above IDs or documents to an SSS branch, along with a DOLE certification. For OFWs, it should come from the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO).

8. Death Benefit

The SSS Death Benefit is a cash grant given to the beneficiaries of a deceased member. Members also receive the grant in monthly pensions or lump sums.

Requirements

• Death certificate of the member
• Filer’s affidavit
• Accident report/report of death

Additional requirement for married members

• Marriage certificate
• Birth/baptismal certificates of minors
• Medical certificate of the incapacitated child, if any
• Death certificate, if the spouse of the member is also deceased
• For illegitimate children, proof of relationship such as a record of birth, a statement before a court of record of any authentic writing document should also be submitted

Additional requirement if parents of deceased are claiming

• Birth certificate of the deceased member
• Marriage certificate of the parents

Additional requirement if the siblings of the deceased are claiming

• Death certificate of parents
• Birth certificate of the deceased sibling
• Birth certificate of minor beneficiaries

How to apply

Accomplish the following SSS forms for death benefit claims. Submit to any SSS branch.

• SSS Death, Disability and Retirement Claim Form (DDR-1)
• Affidavit for Death Benefit Claim (SSS CLD-1.3A)
• Guaranteed Bond Form (SSS BPN-107)
• Application for Representative Payee form (SSS CLD-15 form)
• Accident Report / Report of Death (SSS BPN-105)

9. Funeral Benefit

The SSS Funeral Benefit is a cash grant worth Php 20,000 to Php 40,000 given to whoever shouldered for the funeral expenses of a deceased member.

Requirements

• Death certificate duly certified by the local Civil Registrar
• Receipt of payment issued by the funeral parlor
• Affidavit of funeral expenses
• Report of Death (if the cause of death is work-connected)
• Photo of the filer and valid IDs
• Original or certified true copies of the supporting documents should be presented during the filing of the claim.

How to apply

Accomplish and submit the Claim for Funeral Benefit form (SSS Form BPN-103) to any branch of SSS

10. Salary Loan

The SSS Salary Loan is a form of cash assistance given to members who are employed but incurring unexpected expenses or going through financial challenges.

Requirements

Any of the following valid IDs:

• Unexpired Driver’s License
• Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) ID Card
• Passport
• Postal ID
• School or Company ID
• Tax Identification Number Card (TIN)

How to apply

Accomplish and submit the SSS Form ISL-101 (Member Loan Application) form to any branch of SSS

Also read: Mga Karapatan Mo Bilang Manggagawa Ayon sa Labor Code of the Philippines

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