How To Apply For An SSS Maternity Benefit

Written by Christian B Padillo

 reqThe Social Security System (SSS) offers maternity benefits – in the form of a cash allowance – to women who are unable to work due to childbirth or miscarriage/emergency termination of pregnancy.  You are entitled to these benefits regardless of whether you’re employed or not, as long as you consistently pay your monthly contribution.  And this is given on top of your regular SSS benefits, which also have their own computation and set of entitlement. 

Who qualifies for the SSS Maternity Benefit?

The maternity benefit is offered only to female SSS members who meet the following membership conditions:

1. The member should have paid at least three (3) months of contributions within the 12-month period immediately before the semester of her childbirth or miscarriage/emergency termination of pregnancy.
2. For employed members – their employers should be notified of the pregnancy.
3. For self-employed, separated from employment, and OFWs – SSS was notified of the pregnancy. 

SSS maternity benefit application, requirements, and reimbursement process

There are two separate procedures to complete the maternity benefit application: the notification process and the claims process.  

Notification procedures

First of all, as soon as you (an SSS member) get pregnant, you must immediately notify either your employer if you’re employed or SSS if you’re self-employed of such pregnancy at least 60 days from the date of conception. 

1. Accomplish the SSS Maternity Notification Form and submit it to your employer or directly to SSS together with your proof of pregnancy.

2a. For employed individuals. Once your employer receives your notice, they are then tasked to forward your form and proof of pregnancy to SSS. This can be done over the counter at an SSS branch, or online through the SSS Website (www.sss.gov.ph).

2b. For Unemployed, self-employed, and voluntary members: Notify the SSS directly.

How to submit maternity notifications online (for self-employed, recently separated from employment, and voluntary members)?

• Go to the SSS website.
• Log in using your user ID and password then click submit.
• Click the ”e-services” tab.
• Click SUBMIT MATERNITY NOTIFICATION.
• Supply the required and applicable information of employee-member: SS Number, Expected Date of Delivery, and Allocation of Maternity Leave Credits.
• Click the corresponding button to either ADD another employee, EDIT, DELETE or CANCEL the transaction.
• Upon completion of the report, scroll down and click SUBMIT LIST to submit the list of employee’s maternity notification and PRINT to print the created notification.
• A transaction number will be issued as proof of the transaction and notification submitted online. You may copy the transaction number, print the acknowledgment page itself, or refer to the email sent to your company’s registered email address.

How to file maternity benefits reimbursement

Maternity benefit claims are filed in person at any SSS branch. While you can file it at your nearest branch, it will be processed and reimbursed by the branch where you are registered.

Filing is easy, simply compile and accomplish the following requirements and submit them to the nearest SSS branch. 

Employed members requirements

• Maternity Notification Form duly stamped and received by SSS
• Maternity Reimbursement Form
• UMID or SSS biometrics ID card or two (2) other valid IDs, both with signature and at least one (1) with photo and date of birth. 

Separated members requirements

• Maternity Reimbursement Form
• Certification from the last employer showing the effective date of separation from employment or notice of company’s closure/strike or certification from the Department of Labor and Employment that the employee or employer has a pending labor case.
• Certification that no advance payment was granted (if confinement days applied for are within or prior to separation).
• UMID or SSS biometrics ID card or two (2) other valid IDs, both with signature and at least one (1) with photo and date of birth

Self-employed/voluntary members requirements

• Maternity Notification Form duly stamped and received by SSS
• Maternity Reimbursement Form
• UMID or SSS biometrics ID card or two (2) other valid IDs, both with signature and at least one (1) with photo and date of birth
  

Additional requirements for filing maternity benefits

1. Normal delivery – certified true or authenticated copy of the duly registered birth certificate. In case the child dies or is a stillborn, duly registered death or fetal death certificate.
2. Cesarean delivery – certified or authenticated copy of the duly registered birth certificate and certified true copy of operating room record/surgical memorandum.
3. Miscarriage or abortion – obstetrical history stating the number of pregnancies certified by the attending physician and dilatation and curettage (D&C) report for incomplete abortion, pregnancy test before and after abortion with the age of gestation, and hystopath report for complete abortion.

How is the SSS maternity benefit computed?

The amount of the member’s daily Maternity Benefit allowance is equivalent to the Average Daily Salary Credit (ADSC). The amount of the maternity benefit equals 100 percent of the member’s average daily salary credit, multiplied by 60 days for normal delivery or miscarriage, 78 days for cesarean section delivery.

ADSC = Average Monthly Salary Credit (MSSC) / 180

• x 60 days for miscarriage/emergency termination of pregnancy
• x 105 days for live childbirth (normal or cesarean section delivery)
• x 120 days for a solo parent under R.A. 8972 (Solo Parents’ Welfare Act of 2000)
• 105 days + 15 days

How to count the maternity leave period

The counting of maternity leave is based on calendar days. It must be utilized continuously and without interruption, which includes Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.

If the mother wishes, she has the freedom to transfer up to seven (7) days worth of those leave credits to the child’s father.

How SSS computes maternity benefits

1. Exclude the semester of contingency.
2. Then, count 12 months backward from the month before the semester of contingency.
3. Identify the six highest monthly salary credits within the 12-month period. You can refer to this table for the salary credits.
4. Add the six highest monthly salary credits to get the total monthly salary credit.
5. Divide the total monthly salary credit by 180 days to get the average daily salary credit. This is equivalent to the daily maternity allowance.
6. Multiply the daily maternity allowance by 60 (for normal delivery or miscarriage) or 78 days (for cesarean section delivery) to get the total amount of maternity benefit.

FAQs on reimbursement schedule

The schedule of reimbursement may vary depending on whether you’re an employer or self-employed/voluntary member. 

Employed members reimbursement

Employers are required to provide the maternity benefits to qualified employees in advance, within 30 days from the employee’s maternity leave.  SSS will reimburse the employer 100 percent of the determined amount. 

If the employee member gives birth or suffers miscarriage without the required contributions having been remitted by the employer, or the employer fails to notify the SSS, the employer will be required to pay the SSS damages equivalent to the benefits the employee would otherwise have been entitled to.

For separated/voluntary/self-employed members

The amount of benefit is paid directly to them by the SSS through their bank account. 

A female member cannot claim for sickness benefit for a period of 60 days for normal delivery or miscarriage or 78 days for cesarean delivery within which she has been paid the maternity benefit. As a rule, no member can be entitled to two benefits for the same period.