THIS is a question often asked by female members of the Social Security System (SSS) who had become pregnant outside of marriage. In reply, let me cite Section 14-A of the Social Security Law, which provides for the maternity-leave benefit as follows:
“A female member who has paid at least three monthly contributions in the 12-month period immediately preceding the semester of her childbirth or miscarriage shall be paid a daily maternity benefit equivalent to 100 percent of her average daily salary credit for 60 days or 78 days, in case of caesarean delivery….”
The law is silent on the civil status of the female member. Instead, it requires that the member must have paid at least three monthly contributions within the 12-month period before the semester of childbirth. Thus, a member’s right to the benefit is assured by her contributions, regardless of her civil status. Single women, therefore, are entitled to maternity benefits for as long as they meet the qualification requirements under the law.
Aside from the required number of contributions, the entitlements to maternity benefits are subject to the following conditions: 1) the member has given the required notification of her pregnancy through her employer if employed, or to the SSS if separated, self-employed or voluntary member; 2) the maternity benefit shall be paid only for the first four deliveries or miscarriages; 3) no sickness benefit may be claimed within the same period for which maternity benefits have been received.
For the employed member, the benefit is advanced in full by the employer to the qualified employee, within 30 days upon filing of the maternity-leave application. The SSS, in turn, shall immediately reimburse the employer, 100 percent of the amount of maternity benefit advanced to the female employee upon receipt of satisfactory proof of such payment and legality thereof.
If the member gives birth or suffers a miscarriage but the required contributions were not remitted by the employer, or the SSS was not notified of her pregnancy by the employer, the benefits that the member would have been entitled to shall be paid by the employer.
For the separated, self-employed or voluntary-paying members, the benefit shall be paid directly to them by the SSS.
To apply for maternity benefits, the member must submit a duly accomplished maternity benefit claim application (SS Form MAT-2), together with the maternity notification form (SS Form MAT-1) duly stamped and received by the SSS. The member must also present her SSS ID card or any two valid IDs, both of which must bear her signature and at least one, her photo and date of birth. Depending on whether the member is employed, separated from employment, self-employed or a voluntary-paying member, there might be other documents that will be required in claiming for maternity benefits.
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For more information about the SSS and its programs, call our 24-hour call center at (632) 920-6446 to 55, Monday to Friday, or send an e-mail to member_relations@sss.gov.ph.
Susie G. Bugante is the vice president for public affairs and special events of the Social Security System. Send comments about this column to susiebugante.bmirror@gmail.com.
1 comment
Isa po akong dalaga, nagtatrabaho sa gobyerno LGU. Wala po akong asawa, nagsilbi na po ako ng 3 mos as permanent employee ng LGU, anonpo ang pwede kong ma avail na leave benefits sa sss or sa LGu, dahil inoperahan po ako tinanggal ang aking matris. May hulog na rin po ako sa sss na 25 mos. Wala po ba akonhng matatanggap ni kusing sa dalawang ahensyA ma ito?