SSS Benefits and How You Can Get Them

March 25, 2020 5:28 pm Published by bbaltasar

The Philippines’ Social Security System (SSS) is a government-mandated program established by virtue of Republic Act No. 116, better known as the Social Security Act of 1954. It provides the social insurance of the country’s employees in the private sector. Most employees provide monthly contribution for the fund to enjoy numerous benefits.

Aside from benefit disbursements, part of the contributions of its more than 34 million members goes to a Reserve Fund which is intended to be used to cover future liabilities in benefit payments. Employees of the public sector on the other hand, are covered by the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS).

Types of SSS Benefits

  1. Sickness

This benefit provides SSS members with daily cash allowance for the number of days that they were unable to be present at work because of a sickness or an injury.

Qualifying Conditions:

  • Must be unable to go to work for at least four (4) days due to sickness or injury
  • Has paid at least three (3) months within the twelve (12) month period immediately before the sickness or injury
  • Has used up all his/her company sick leaves with pay for the current year

Amount of Benefit

  • Daily Sickness Benefit allowance is equivalent to ninety percent (90%) of his/her average daily salary credit

This benefit is granted up to a maximum of 120 days in one calendar year.

  1. Maternity

This benefit provides female SSS members with daily cash allowance for the number of days that they were unable to be present at work because of childbirth or miscarriage.

Qualifying Conditions

  • Has paid at least three (3) months within the twelve (12) month period immediately preceding the semester of childbirth or miscarriage

Amount of Benefit

  • Daily cash allowance is equivalent to one hundred percent (100%) of his/her average daily salary credit for 105 days for normal or caesarean section delivery
  • Daily cash allowance will be given for 120 days for solo parents under R.A. 8972 or the Solo Parents’ Welfare Act
  • Daily cash allowance will be given for 60 days for miscarriage or emergency termination of pregnancy during stillbirth

This benefit is granted regardless of member’s civil status and frequency of pregnancy.

  1. Disability

This benefit is granted to a member who becomes permanently disabled, either partially or totally. It is granted either as a monthly pension or a lump-sum amount.

Qualifying Conditions

  • Has paid at least one (1) month before the semester of disability
  • Has paid at least 36 monthly contributions prior to the disability to qualify for monthly disability pension (Lump sum amount will be provided if he/she is not qualified for this condition)

Amount of Benefit

  • Members with less than ten (10) credited years of service (CYS) will receive a minimum of Php 1,000; Php 1,200 will be given to those with at least ten (10) CYS; and Php 2,400 will be given to those with at least twenty (20) CYS
  • Those qualified for monthly Diasbility Pension will receive additional Php 500 monthly as Supplemental Allowance
  • For those with total disability, Dependent’s Pension will be provided for five (5) dependent minor children (beginning from the youngest) the sum of ten percent (10%) of the member’s basic monthly pension, or Php 250, whichever is higher.
  • 13th month pension will be given to total disability pensioners every December; partial disability pensioners will also be given 13th month pension provided that pension duration is at least 12 months
  1. Retirement

This benefit is granted to a member who can no longer work due to old age. It is granted either as a monthly pension or a lump-sum amount.

Qualifying Conditions

  • For optional retirement, member should at least be 60 years old, and is separated from employment, or ceased to be self-employed/OFW/household helper
  • For technical retirement, member should at least be 65 years old, whether employed/self-employed/OFW/household helper or not
  • At least 120 monthly contributions have been paid prior to retirement
  • Lump sum will be given to those who have not paid at least 120 monthly contributions (members can choose to continue and complete the payment for 120 months of contributions to be eligible for monthly pension)

Amount of Benefit

  • Monthly Retirement Pension, plus a 13th Month Pension payable every December will be given to qualified members
  • Dependent’s Pension will be provided for five (5) dependent minor children (beginning from the youngest) the sum of ten percent (10%) of the member’s basic monthly pension, or Php 250, whichever is higher.
  • Retirement pension will be Php 1,200 at minimum for members who have 120 monthly contributions, or at least ten (10) CYS; and for those with at least twenty (20) CYS, Php 2,400 will be given.

The retiree can choose to receive the first 18 months of his/her pension in lump sum, provided that it is exercised upon the application of his/her first retirement claim. The Dependent’s Pension is excluded from the advanced 18 months of pension.

  1. Death

This benefit is granted to the beneficiaries of a deceased member. It is granted either as a monthly pension or a lump-sum amount.

Qualifying Conditions

  • Deceased member must have paid at least 36 monthly contributions for the primary beneficiaries to be entitled with monthly pension
  • A lump sum will be given to the primary beneficiaries if the deceased member has not paid at least 36 monthly contributions
  • Regardless of the number of monthly contributions paid, secondary/designated beneficiaries and legal heirs are only entitled to lump sum benefit

Amount of Benefit

  • Monthly Death Pension, plus a 13th Month Pension payable every December will be given to the member’s primary beneficiary
  • A lump sum amount will be given to secondary beneficiaries (dependent parents) if there are no primary beneficiaries
  • In the absence of secondary beneficiaries, the benefit will be given to the designated beneficiaries or the member’s legal heirs
  • Dependent’s Pension will be provided for five (5) dependent minor children (beginning from the youngest) the sum of ten percent (10%) of the member’s basic monthly pension, or Php 250, whichever is higher.
  • Death Pension will be Php 1,000 at minimum for members who have less than ten (10) CYS; for those with at least ten (10) CYS, Php 1,200 will be given; and for those with at least twenty (20) CYS, Php 2,400 will be given.
  1. Funeral

This benefit is granted to whoever paid for the burial expenses of a deceased member.

Qualifying Conditions

  • The employee-member was reported for coverage by his/her employer
  • A self-employed member/OFW/non-working spouse who had at least paid one (1) monthly contribution
  • A voluntary member who has previously covered either as employed, self-employed/OFW, and had at least paid one (1) monthly contribution
  • The employee-member was subject to compulsory coverage, but was not reported for coverage by his/her employer

 Amount of Benefit

  • Beneficiaries can be given an amount ranging from a minimum of Php 20,000 to a maximum of Php 40,000, depending on the member’s number of paid contributions and average monthly salary credit
  1. Unemployment

This benefit, also known as unemployment insurance or involuntary separation benefit is granted to covered employees, including Kasambahay and OFWs who are involuntarily separated from employment.

Qualifying Conditions

  • Must not be qualified for retirement, or over 60 years old
  • Has at least paid 36 monthly contributions wherein 12 months are in the 18-month period immediately preceding the month of involuntary separation

Amount of Benefit

  • An amount equivalent to twice the half of the member’s average monthly salary credit will be given to qualified members

Claim to this benefit must be filed within a year from the date of involuntary separation, and will be granted through a one-time payment.

Members will not be qualified to receive this benefit if he/she have been separated from employment due to the following:

  • Serious misconduct
  • Willful disobedience to lawful orders
  • Gross and habitual neglect of duties
  • Fraud or breach of trust/loss of confidence
  • Commission of a crime or offense
  • Analogous cases like abandonment, gross inefficiency, disloyalty/conflict of interest/dishonesty
  1. Salary Loan

This cash loan is granted to members to help them meet their short-term credit needs.

Qualifying Conditions

  • Has paid at least six (6) monthly contributions in the last twelve (12) months before filing the loan application
  • Must not have existing loans with the SSS

The Salary Loan provided by the SSS has an interest rate of ten percent (10%) per annum. The length of the member’s payment for the loan will depend on how many contributions he/she has made.