SSS is an insurance program mandated by the government for all income earners or workers in the Philippines. In this article, I’ll discuss 8 SSS benefits you probably didn’t know about. The SSS members are obliged to contribute monthly in exchange for the insurance benefits.

What we don’t know is that we can get more from SSS aside from known benefits like your monthly pension. Luckily, our contribution is a great way of saving money for future usage.

Lists of SSS benefits you probably didn’t know about:

1. SICKNESS BENEFIT

A member must have been incapable to work due to an illness for at least four days whether confined at home or in a hospital to qualify for sickness benefit.

The member must have at least three monthly contributions within the 12 months before the course of illness.

Here are the requirements claiming for sickness benefit:

• Fully-accomplished Sickness Benefit Application Form
• UMID or SSS biometrics ID Card
• At least one (1) primary or valid government ID
• Photocopy or scanned copy of any of the following: ATM Card (with account number), Bank Account Passbook, or Bank Statement or Certificate
• SSS Medical Certificate Form filled out by the attending physician
• Supporting medical documents like Operating records, Laboratory, X-ray, ECG, and other diagnostic results. For vehicular accidents with third-party involvement, present a Police Report.

The daily allowance you can claim from the SSS Sickness Benefit is equivalent to 90% of your daily salary credit.

2. MATERNITY BENEFIT

To qualify for maternity benefit, you should be an SSS member who recently just gave birth or had a miscarriage so you can receive a daily allowance from the SSS. A member should also have at least three (3) months’ contributions within the last twelve (12) months.

Here are the required documents in obtaining the SSS Maternity Benefit:

• UMID or SSS biometrics ID Card or at least two (2) valid IDs
• Maternity reimbursement form
• Maternity Notification Form duly stamped and received by SSS benefits
• Certified true copy or authenticated copy of the duly registered birth certificate. You may present a duly registered death or fetal death certificate in case the child dies

Your daily allowance is equal to 100% of your average daily salary credit, multiplied by 60 days for normal delivery and miscarriage, and 78 days for cesarean section.

3. DISABILITY BENEFIT

The SSS Disability Benefit is one of the SSS Benefits is paid to a member who is unemployed or whose income is reduced due to a disability caused by illness or injury from an accident.

There are two types of cash benefits for disabled SSS benefits members namely:

• Monthly disability pension – the monthly disability pension is for members who have paid at least 36 monthly SSS contributions before the course of disability.
• Lump-sum payment – this is for members who have paid contributions in less than 36 months before the course of disability and those whose authorized disability period is payable for less than a year.

Here are the requirements to claim for your disability benefit:

• Duly accomplished Disability Claim Application Form
• SSS medical certificate form filled out by your attending physician
• Member’s photo and a signature card with fingerprints and a 1×1 photo
• At least 1 valid primary ID or 2 secondary IDs
• A certified true copy of supporting medical documents such as x-ray results, laboratory/clinical results, operation records, hospital discharge summary, etc.
• Savings account ATM card or passbook (photocopy), validated initial bank deposit slip, and Visa cash card enrollment form

The monthly disability pension can start from P1 000 up to P2 400, depending on years of service. You also get an added P500 monthly supplemental allowance.

4. DEATH BENEFIT

The primary beneficiary (spouse and dependent children) can get a monthly death pension of a deceased SSS member who had paid at least 36 monthly contributions. You get a lump sum if the contributions are lower than that. The secondary beneficiaries or dependent parents can receive the pension or lump sum if there are no primary beneficiaries.

Here are the requirements for claiming the SSS death benefit:

• Death Claim Application form
• Affidavit of the death benefit (if the claimant is a secondary beneficiary)
• Filer’s affidavit
• Report of death (if death is work-related)
• Claimant’s photo, signature, and valid IDs
• Marriage certificate and birth certificate of minor children (if the claimant is the spouse of the deceased)
• Deceased member’s birth certificate and marriage certificate of parents (if the deceased is single)
• A certified true copy of the death certificate of the deceased member’s

5. FUNERAL BENEFIT

The SSS funeral benefit is a cash benefit amounting to P20, 000 that is given to whoever financed the cost of burying the deceased SSS member. The claim for this grant should be supported by an official receipt of the funeral expenses expressed in the name of the claimant and the death certificate of the deceased member.

Here are the requirements for claiming the funeral benefit from SSS:

• Claim for Funeral Benefit (SSS form BPN-103)
• Filer’s Affidavit (Sinumpaang Sanaysay)
• The death certificate of the deceased member is duly certified by the Local Civil Registrar
• Official Receipt of payment given by the funeral parlor
• Affidavit of funeral expenses
• Photo of the filer and valid IDs

(Other supporting documents may be demanded if found necessary during the processing of the claim)

6. EMPLOYEES’ COMPENSATION (EC) PROGRAM

The Employee’s Program (EC) is a cash benefit given to employees who lost work time after being sick or injured due to work-related causes, thus leading to permanent disability or death. This may also cover rehabilitation after a serious injury.

Here are the documents needed in claiming the EC benefit:

• Certificate of Employment (signed by the employer or his/her authorized representative including a description of actual duties and responsibilities performed by the worker at the time of contingency)
• Page of the company logbook containing the entry for the particular sickness or accident (Certified true copy)
• A certified true copy of Medical findings issued by the attending doctor or the hospital records.

7. SALARY LOAN

The SSS salary loan that belongs to SSS Benefits is one of the most availed loan programs in our country.  Members may borrow up to twice the average of their 12 latest posted monthly salary credits under the said program. Members should pay in 24 monthly installments with an interest rate of 10 percent per annum based on their diminishing principal balance.

Here are the application requirements for availing salary loan at SSS:

• Member Loan Application Form
• SSS digitalized ID or E6 with any valid IDs that have a recent photo

The SSS salary loan is equivalent to your average salary credits in the last 12 months. There’s an interest rate of 10% per annum, and it can be renewed as long as you have paid 50% of the original principal amount.

8. P.E.S.O FUND

The SSS Personal Equity and Savings Option (P.E.S.O) Fund includes in SSS Benefits is a voluntary provident fund offered exclusively to SSS members in addition to the regular SSS program.

Members who can contribute more are allowed to save more to receive added benefits in the future through this program.

You will receive the benefits at the time of your retirement, disability, or death claim through a monthly pension, lump sum, or combination of both.

SSS offers a lot of benefits to its members as long as you pay your contributions. With all the mentioned SSS benefits above,  there’s no reason for skipping your monthly payments.