What are the SSS Benefits and why you should continue to be an SSS Member

The Philippine Social Security System (SSS) through R.A. 8282, otherwise known as Social Security Law, provides benefits to protect SSS members and its beneficiaries against the hazards of sickness, disability, maternity, old age, death, and other contingencies resulting in loss of income or financial burden.

As an SSS member, it is important that you are aware of these benefits so that you can take advantage of it when the need arises.

Below are the benefits that SSS provides together with the qualifying conditions and the amount that you will get from each benefit.

1. Sickness Benefit

What it is: SSS Sickness Benefit is a daily cash allowance that is paid to the qualified SSS member who is unable to work due to sickness or injury.

How to Qualify:

• SSS member is unable to work because he’s sick or injured and is confined either in a hospital or at home for at least 4 days
• SSS member has paid at least 3 months of contributions within the 12-month period immediately prior to the semester of sickness or injury
• If employed: SSS member must have used up all company sick leaves with pay for the current year and has duly notified his or her employer
• If separated from employment, self-employed, voluntary, or OFW:  SSS member must notify the SSS directly by filing a sickness benefit application

How much is the amount of benefit: The daily Sickness Benefit allowance is equivalent to 90% of the qualified member’s ADSC or average daily salary credit.

Maximum Grant: The Sickness Benefit is granted up to a maximum of 120 days in 1 calendar year.

Click here for more info about SSS Sickness Benefit.

2. Maternity Benefit

What it is: SSS Maternity Benefit is a daily cash allowance that is granted to a female SSS member who is unable to work due to childbirth of miscarriage.

How to Qualify:

• The member must have paid at least 3 months of contributions within the 12-month period immediately prior to the semester of her childbirth or miscarriage
• Employed member must have given the maternity notification of her pregnancy through her employer
• SSS Members who are separated from employment, self-employed, voluntary member or OFW, must directly notify the SSS about her pregnancy.

How much is the amount of benefit: The daily Maternity Benefit allowance of the qualified member is equivalent to 100% of her ADSC, multiplied by 60 days for Normal Delivery (or miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy without operation, hydatidiform mole), or by 70 days for Caesarean Section delivery (or ectopic pregnancy with operation).

Maximum Grant: The SSS Maternity Benefit is granted up to the first 4 deliveries or miscarriages only.

Click here for more info about SSS Maternity Benefit.

3. Disability Benefit

What it is: SSS Disability Benefit is a cash benefit granted to SSS member who becomes permanently disabled (partially disabled or totally disabled) either as a monthly pension or a lump sum amount.

How to Qualify:

• SSS members must have paid at least 1 month contribution prior to the semester of disability.
• For the SSS member to qualify for a monthly disability pension, he or she must have paid at least 36 monthly contributions prior to the semester of disability.
• If the member has paid less than 36 monthly contributions, he or she is granted a lump sum amount

How much is the amount of benefit: Qualified members are granted a monthly Disability Pension (to be computed by SSS based on the documents submitted and the physician’s assessment), plus a P500 monthly Supplemental Allowance.

The lowest monthly Disability Pension is:

• P1,000 if the member has less than 10 credited years of service (CYS)
• P1,200 if at least 10 CYS; and
• P2,400 if with at least 20 CYS

Click here for more info about SSS Disability Benefit.

4. Retirement Benefit

What it is: SSS Retirement Benefit is a cash benefit that is granted to the SSS member who can no longer work due to old age. The benefit is given either as a monthly pension or a lump sum amount.

How to Qualify:

a. Optional retirement – The SSS member must be at least 60 years old, separated from employment or has ceased to be self-employed; and has paid at least 120 monthly contributions prior to the semester of retirement.

b. Mandatory retirement – The SSS member is 65 years old, whether employed or not; and has paid at least 120 monthly contributions prior to the semester of retirement.

• For the SSS member to qualify for a monthly retirement pension, he or she must have paid at least 120 monthly contributions prior to the semester of retirement.
• If the SSS member has less than 120 monthly contributions, he or 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.

How much is the amount of benefit:

a. Monthly Pension – The qualified retiree is granted a monthly Retirement Pension, plus a 13th Month Pension which is payable every December.

The lowest monthly Retirement pension is:

• P1,200 if the member has 120 monthly contributions or at least 10 CYS;
• P2,400 if the member has at least 20 CYS

b. Lump Sum – The qualified retiree has the option to receive a lump sum for his or her first 18 months pension, discounted at a preferential rate of interest that will be determined by the SSS.

• This option can be exercised only upon the filing of the first retirement claim, and the Dependent’s Pension and 13th Month Pension are excluded from the advanced 18 months pension.
• If the retiree has dependent minor children, they are given a Dependent’s Pension which is equivalent to 10% of the member’s monthly pension or P250, whichever is higher. Only 5 minor children, beginning from the youngest, are entitled to Dependent’s Pension. (Substitution will not be allowed).

Click here for more info about SSS Retirement Benefit.

5. Death Benefit

What it is: SSS Death Benefit is a cash benefit that is granted to the beneficiaries of a deceased SSS member either as a monthly pension or a lump sum amount.

How to Qualify:

• A monthly death pension – this is granted to the primary beneficiary of the deceased SSS member who had paid at least 36 monthly contributions prior to the semester of death. The primary beneficiaries could be the legitimate spouse until he/she remarries, and dependent children who are legitimate, legitimated or legally adopted, and illegitimate.
• A lump sum amount – this 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.

How much is the amount of benefit:

a. Monthly Pension – The SSS member’s qualified primary beneficiary is granted a monthly Death Pension, plus a 13th Month Pension which is payable every December.

The lowest monthly Death Pension is:

• P1,000 if the member had less than 10 CYS;
• P1,200 if with at least 10 CYS; and
• P2,400 if with at least 20 CYS.

b. Dependent’s Pension – If the member has dependent minor children, they are given a Dependent’s Pension which is equivalent to 10% of the member’s monthly pension or P250, whichever is higher. Only 5 minor children, beginning from the youngest, are entitled to Dependent’s Pension. (Substitution will not be allowed).

Click here for more info about SSS Death Benefit.

6. Funeral Benefit

What it is: SSS Funeral Benefit is a cash benefit given to the person or entity who paid for the burial expenses of the deceased SSS member.

How to Qualify:

• The SSS employee-member was reported for coverage by his or her employer;
• A self-employed member or OFW or non-working spouse who had at least 1 contribution payment to SSS;
• A voluntary member who was previously covered either as employed or self-employed or OFW and had at least 1 contribution payment to SSS.

How much is the amount of benefit:

The Funeral Benefit is a variable amount ranging from a minimum of P20,000 to a maximum of P40,000, depending on the member’s paid contributions and credited years of service or CYS.

Click here for more info about SSS Funeral Benefit.

Additional Benefits

7. Employee’s Compensation (EC) Program – For Employed Members only

What it is: EC Program is a cash benefit that is granted to assist qualified employed members who suffer from work-connected sickness or injury resulting in disability or death.

The EC Program is beneficial to employed members because they’ll be compensated both from the SSS and EC Program in the event of work-related contingencies. All employers and their employees who are registered to SSS are compulsorily covered under the EC Program.

8. SSS Salary Loan – For All SSS Members

What it is: SSS Salary Loan is a cash loan that is granted to an employed, currently- paying self-employed or voluntary member. It is intended to meet the member’s short-term credit needs.

How to Qualify:

An employed, self-employed or voluntary SSS member who has 6 posted monthly contributions within the last 12 months prior to the month of filing of loan application are qualified to apply for SSS Salary Loan.

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.

How much is the amount of benefit:

• 1-month loan
  • this is equivalent to the average of member’s last twelve (12) monthly salary credits (MSCs), or the amount applied for, whichever is lower.
  • the member must have 36 posted monthly contributions prior to the month of filing of application.
• 2-month loan
  • this 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 member must have 72 posted monthly contributions prior to the month of filing of loan application.

SSS Salary Loan Interest Rate

• The interest rate of the SSS Salary Loan is 10% per annum until fully paid (based on diminishing principal balance) and it will be amortized over a period of 24 months.
• If the loan is not fully paid at the end of the term, the interest shall continue to be charged on the outstanding principal balance until it’s fully paid.

In case of default, the arrearages or unpaid salary loan shall be deducted from the member’s short-term benefit claims like sickness or maternity benefit, if any, or from his or her final benefit claim such as death, retirement, or total disability benefit.

When can you renew your SSS Salary Loan?

The loan can be renewed after you have paid at least 50% of the original loan amount and at least 50% of the loan term has lapsed.

Click here for more info about SSS Salary Loan.

How to file and claim SSS benefits?

To file or to claim any of the SSS benefits, make sure you know the qualifying conditions, prepare your requirements and visit the nearest SSS branch for your claim to be processed.

Tips to Successfully File and Claim SSS Benefits

To avoid issues and hassles when filing for SSS benefits, make sure your personal data in SSS records are always correct, complete and updated particularly the following data:

• Name (First, Middle, Last)
• Date of Birth
• Membership Classification and Membership Status
• Sex and Civil Status Beneficiaries (Spouse, Children, etc.)
• Contact Information (Address, Mobile Number, E-mail Address)
• Bank Information

How to Correct or Update your Personal Data with SSS?

Just visit the nearest SSS branch and complete the Member Data Change Request (SSS Form E-4) and submit with the accompanying documentary requirements (which you can find at the back of the Form).

• Birth/Marriage/Death Certificates should be the original or certified true copy issued by the City or Municipal Civil Registrar or by the Philippine Statistics Authority (formerly National Statistics Office).
• Always present the original or certified true copy when submitting the photocopy of the required IDs and documents.
• All ID cards and documents with English translation issued by foreign governments are acceptable.

How to Contact SSS?

• Via Email: member_relations@sss.gov.ph
• Via call center nos: 920-6446 to 55 or 917-7777
• Via SSS Facebook Page
• Via SSS Website

Click here to read: R.A. 8282 – Social Security Law

Disclaimer: SSS Answers is not affiliated with the SSS. This article is for information purposes only. Please contact the SSS directly for your inquiries or when filing any SSS benefit claim.