What are the benefits that an SSS (Social Security System) member is entitled to? Here is a rundown of all the types of SSS Member Benefits you need to know, plus when and how you can avail them.
Employees who are covered by SSS can take advantage of a set of benefits from the Social Security System (SSS) and Employees’ Compensation (EC) Programs. This is in cases of death, disability, sickness, maternity and old age. For self-employed individuals and voluntary members, they are also entitled with the same benefits but with the exception of the benefits from the EC program.
SSS SICKNESS BENEFITS
This is a cash allowance given daily computed versus the number of days that the member is not able to work because of sickness.
- The member is unable to work due to sickness or injury and is confined either in a hospital or at home for at least four (4) days;
- He/she has paid at least three (3) months of contributions within the 12-month period immediately before the semester of sickness or injury;
- He/she has used up all company sick leaves with pay for the current year and has duly notified his/her employer; or
- He/she must notify the SSS directly by filing a sickness benefit application if he/she is separated from employment, a self-employed or voluntary member, including overseas Filipino worker (OFW)-member.
The member’s daily Sickness Benefit allowance is equal to 90% of his/her average daily salary credit or ADSC, and is given up to a maximum of 120 days in a year.
Example: Sandra got sick for 5 days from September 15 to 20, 2017 may medical certificate sya. Para makakuha si Sandara ng sickness benefit from SSS, dapat meron syang nabayad na 3 months contributions from June 2016 to June 2017. Let’s assume that this SSS member was able to pay SSS contribution November, December 2016 and March 2017 – qualified sya sa SSS sickness benefit.
SSS MATERNITY BENEFIT
This is also a daily cash allowance given to female members unable to work because of child birth or miscarriage.
- The member has paid at least three (3) months of contributions within the 12-month period immediately before the semester of her childbirth or miscarriage;
- If employed, she must has given notification of her pregnancy through her employer; or
- She must directly notify the SSS if she is separated from employment, a self-employed or voluntary member, including OFW-member.
The daily Maternity Benefit allowance for a qualified member equals 100% of her ADSC, multiplied by 60 days in case of normal delivery/miscarriage/ectopic pregnancy without operation/hydatidiform mole (H-mole), or by 78 days for caesarean section delivery/ectopic pregnancy with operation. This is only provided up to the first four (4) deliveries or miscarriages.
Example 1: Doreen gave birth to a baby girl last February 2017. For her to qualify for the SSS Maternity benefit, dapat nakapagbayad sya ng at least 3 months contribution from December 2015 to December 2016.
Example 2: Tisha will give birth to a baby boy this October 2017, her last SSS contributions were July to December 2015, January to March 2016 and then nag-stop ang hulog sa SSS, bumalik ulit sa paghulog from May to September 2017. May makukuha ba na maternity benefit ang example SSS member natin? Wala po.
Why not? This is because Tisha failed to give at least 3 months contributions within the “12 months period prior to the semester of giving birth”, which in our example situation is from June 2016 to June 2017. Ang pasok lang na contribution nya is May 2017 and June 2017. The rest of her contributions ay labas na sa qualified months.
SSS DISABILITY BENEFIT
This is a cash benefit for members who become disabled permanently either in partial or full. This can be given monthly or a lump sum amount.
- The member has paid at least one (1) month contribution before the semester of disability.
- To qualify for a monthly disability pension, he/she must have paid at least 36 monthly contributions prior to the semester of disability.
- If with less than 36 monthly contributions, he/she is granted a lump sum amount.
Example 1: Carlo, a fresh grad and on his first work, got into an accident and lost his right leg last July 2017. Carlo’s latest SSS contribution from January 2017 to June 2017. Qualified ba sya sa disability benefit ng SSS? Yes po. This SSS member is qualified to receive the partial disability benefit for losing one leg.
In our example situation, the “before the semester of disability” is any contribution from June 2017 and counting the months backward. What will Carlo get? Because Carlo just started working, he has made LESS THAN 36 monthly contributions, so ang makukuha lang nya is lump sump partial disability benefit from SSS.
Example 2: Romeo suffered a stroke resulting to permanent complete paralysis of his body from chest down. His last SSS monthly contribution was May 2017. He has paid 90 contributions to SSS since he started working. Is he qualified to get disability benefit? Yes, this SSS member is qualified to receive the total permanent disability benefit pension for the rest of his life.
Qualified members are granted a monthly Disability Pension, plus a P500 monthly Supplemental Allowance. Based on a member’s credited years of service (CYS), the lowest monthly Disability Pension is P1, 000 for less than 10 years, P1, 200 for at least 10 years and P2, 400 for 20 years minimum.
SSS RETIREMENT BENEFIT
This is also a cash benefit given to those members who have retired from work due to old age. In the same way this can be granted in lump sum or monthly.
- The member is at least 60 years old (optional retirement), separated from employment or has ceased to be self-employed; and has paid at least 120 monthly contributions prior to the semester of retirement; or
- The member is 65 years old (mandatory retirement), whether employed or not; and has paid at least 120 monthly contributions prior to the semester of retirement.
- To qualify for a monthly retirement pension, the member must have paid at least 120 monthly contributions prior to the semester of retirement.
- If with less than 120 monthly contributions, he/she may be granted a lump sum amount, but will also be given the option to continue paying contributions to complete the 120 months to become eligible for monthly pension.
The member is given a monthly Retirement Pension, including a 13th Month Pension payable every December if they qualify. They have the option to receive the first 18 months pension in lump sum, discounted at a preferential rate of interest to be determined by the SSS, but only upon filing of the first retirement claim, and the Dependent’s Pension and 13th Month Pension are excluded from the advanced 18 months pension.
For members who have dependents who are minor children, they will be provided a Dependent’s Pension equivalent to 10% of the member’s monthly pension or P250, whichever is higher. Only five (5) minor children, from the youngest, are entitled. Substitution is NOT allowed.
Example: Pedro just turned 60 and has stop working. He has paid a total 140 SSS contributions. Is he qualified for the SSS Retirement Benefit? Yes, he is. He will get monthly pension plus 13th month pay. If he still has minor children who are dependent on him, this qualified child (up to 5 dependents) will receive a dependents pension.
READ: Should you pay the SSS maximum contribution monthly to get the highest possible pension?
SSS DEATH BENEFIT
This is a cash benefit given to the beneficiaries of a deceased member, as a monthly pension or a lump sum amount.
- A monthly death pension is granted to the primary beneficiary (legitimate spouse until he/she remarries, and dependent legitimate, legitimated or legally adopted, and illegitimate children) of the deceased member who had paid at least 36 monthly contributions prior to the semester of death.
- A lump sum amount is granted to the primary beneficiary if the deceased member had less than 36 monthly contributions.
- If there are no primary beneficiaries, the member’s secondary beneficiaries (dependent parents) shall be given a lump sum amount.
The member’s primary beneficiary is given a monthly Death Pension, plus a 13th Month Pension payable every December once qualified.
If the member has dependent minor children, they are given a Dependent’s Pension equivalent to 10% of the member’s monthly pension or P250, whichever is higher. Only five (5) minor children, from the youngest, are entitled to Dependent’s Pension. Substitution is NOT allowed.
SSS FUNERAL BENEFIT
This is a cash benefit for the individual who paid for the expenses of the member’s funeral.
- The employee-member was reported for coverage by his/her employer;
- A self-employed member / OFW / non-working spouse who had at least one contribution payment;
- A voluntary member who was previously covered either as employed, self-employed, OFW and had at least one contribution payment.
The Funeral benefit is a flexible amount. Depending on the member’s CYS and paid contributions it can range from a minimum of P20, 000 to a maximum of P40, 000.
EMPLOYEES’ COMPENSATION (EC) PROGRAM
Self-Employed, Voluntary members, OFWs are not included in EC Program. This is only for Employees working in the Philippines.
This is a Cash Benefit for temporary sickness or disability, permanent partial or total disability, and death Medical Services, Appliances, and Supplies Rehabilitation Services
This program aims to help those who suffer from work-connected sickness or injury resulting in disability or death. The benefits under the EC Program were made possible to avail together with the benefits under the Social Security Program since June 1984. It allows the double compensation for covered members who suffer work-related emergencies. This is a compulsory coverage for all SSS-registered employers and their employees. There is no need to register again on the program.
SSS SALARY LOAN
A cash loan granted to an employed, currently-paying self-employed, or voluntary member. It is intended to meet the member’s short-term credit needs.
- An employed, currently-paying self-employed or voluntary member who has six (6) posted monthly contributions within the last twelve (12) months prior to the month of filing of loan application.
- For one-month loan, the member must have 36 posted monthly contributions prior to the month of filing of application.
- For two-month loan, the member must have 72 posted monthly contributions prior to the month of filing of loan application.
- If employed, the member’s employer must be updated in the payment of contribution and loan remittances. The member must also be updated in the payment of other loans with SSS.
A one-month loan is equivalent to the average of member’s last twelve (12) monthly salary credits (MSCs), or the amount applied for, whichever is lower.
A two-month loan is equivalent to twice the average of the member’s last twelve (12 ) MSCs posted, rounded to the next higher MSC, or the amount applied for, whichever is lower.
The loan shall be charged an interest rate of 10% per annum until fully paid, based on diminishing principal balance, and shall be amortized over a period of 24 months. If the loan is not fully paid at the end of the term, interest shall continue to be charged on the outstanding principal balance until fully paid.
In case of default, the arrearages/unpaid loan shall be deducted from the member’s short-term benefit claims (e.g., sickness/maternity), if any, or from his/her final benefit claim (e.g., death, retirement, total disability).
The loan can be renewed after payment of at least fifty 50% of the original loan amount and at least 50% of the loan term has lapsed.
If something confuses you or you have specific questions, iSensey recommends that you VISIT the nearest SSS Branch and talk to a staff there. These SSS personnel are the best persons to answer any concern or query about how to apply for any of the benefit discuss on this post, how much you will get, how to compute for the sickness, maternity, retirement benefit etc., what form to fill-up, etc.
You can also contact SSS Call Center at these numbers (02) 920 6446 to 55.
It pays to be aware of all the benefits that an SSS member of good standing will be able to get from SSS for various situations. If you are not yet a member, register online to get your SSS number.