Any Filipino can become a member of the Social Security System (SSS). By following their steps in the application process and paying the required monthly contribution will also help us in preparing for our future.
While many of us are aware that our monthly contributions to the Social Security System (SSS) can be very beneficial to us in our old age, this might not be as relevant to us today since we’re far from going into retirement. However, it is crucially important for the retirees.
If you happen to be an employed member, have you noticed those mandatory contributions that were deducted from your pay? Well, those are actually your basic contributions for your benefits. And some part of it goes to the Social Security System.
But did you know that other than the usual pension scheme, you can get more from SSS than just your monthly pension?
Here are 8 little-known SSS benefits that you can avail:
1. SICKNESS BENEFIT
Being suddenly sick or injured. Through SSS’s sickness benefit, you can get a daily cash allowance for the number of days you can’t go to work.
Conditions: A member can avail of these benefit if he/she has been confined at home or in a hospital for at least four days, and have already used all your company sick leaves. He/she should also have at least three months’ worth of SSS contributions within the last 12 months.
Amount: The daily allowance you can receive is equivalent to 90% of your average daily salary credit.
2. MATERNITY BENEFIT
A mother who can’t work because she recently gave birth or had a miscarriage, she may receive a daily cash allowance from SSS.
Conditions: She should have at least three months’ worth of contributions within the last 12 months.
Amount: The daily allowance she can receive is equivalent 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
A member can avail of SSS’s disability benefit either as a monthly pension or a lump sum amount. Whether he/she is partially or totally disabled.
Conditions: The member should have at least a month’s contribution before the semester of disability. You can qualify for a monthly disability pension, if you have paid at least 36 monthly contributions, If not, you are granted a lump sum allowance.
Amount: Normally, the monthly disability pension ranges from P1,000 to P2,400, depending on years of service. An additional P500 monthly will be given for supplemental allowance.
4. DECEASED BENEFIT
The beneficiary or dependents of a deceased SSS member can get a monthly pension or lump sum amount.
Conditions: You can receive the monthly pension of the person who passed away if you’re the primary beneficiary (spouse and dependent children) of a deceased SSS member who had at least 36 monthly contributions. If the contributions were less than 36 months, you will get a lump sum. If you do not have primary beneficiaries, the secondary beneficiaries or dependent parents receive the lump sum.
Amount: Normally, the monthly d**th pension ranges from P1,000 to P2,400, depending on years of service. If you have dependent minor children, they can receive a pension equivalent to 10% of the member’s monthly pension or P250, whichever is higher. They can also get 13th-month pension every December.
5. FUNERAL BENEFIT
You can avail of the funeral cash benefit if you paid the burial expenses acquired of a deceased SSS member.
Conditions: You should have at least one-month contribution if you’re a voluntary, self-employed, or OFW member. An employed member can automatically get funeral benefits as long as they’re covered by their employers.
Amount: Depending on the member’s contributions and years of service, the amount ranges from P20,000 to P40,000.
6. EMPLOYEES’ COMPENSATION (EC) PROGRAM
The EC Program is for the employees who became sick or injured due to work-related causes, thus leading to permanent disability or deceased employee.
Conditions: You cannot avail the EC Program if your injury was caused by negligence, intoxication and self-harm.
Amount: SSS cover the expense for medical services, appliances, supplies, and rehabilitation services. It can be used together with SSS’ sickness and disability benefits.
7. SALARY LOAN
You can avail of the SSS salary loan if you have short-term credit needs.
Conditions: Member should have at least six months’ worth of contributions within the last 12 months. You also shouldn’t have any pending loans with SSS. While the length of your loan payment depends on how many contributions you’ve made.
Amount: The loan is equivalent to your average annual salary credits. Payments include an interest rate of 10% per year, and it can be renewed as long as you’ve paid off 50% of the principal amount.
8. P.E.S.O FUND
If you want to contribute more to SSS, you can do so through the Personal Equity and Savings Option or SSS P.E.S.O. Fund.
Conditions: You should be 55 years old and below with at least six months’ worth of contributions within the last 12 months.
Amount: You can receive the benefits upon retirement, disability, or if the person passed away, claim through your monthly pension, lump sum, a combination of both.
Knowing all these benefits you can avail from being an SSS member, there’s no reason to skip your monthly payments.