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One Sunday morning, I came across an online Christian service where the pastor said, “What do you consider to be the saddest and lowest point in your life?” As I was watching and reading all the comments pouring in, I was struck by the one sent by an old woman that said, “When my husband of 49 years died, I felt I died with him.”
True enough, life has its low and high points. Death is one of them, and probably one of the greatest blows in our life especially if we lose a member of our family. For a student, her lowest point might be failing an exam; for wives and husbands, it’s heart-breaking if their marriage is falling apart; for an employee, it’s a difficult time losing his job; and for a child, it’s quite emotional losing his favorite pet or breaking his favorite toy, among others.
With the current situation that we are experiencing, deaths abound, unfortunately brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic. Current data from the Department of Health said there are 3,010 deaths that are Covid-related. Sadly, the number is still increasing almost daily. But generally before the Covid-19 pandemic, the top three causes of deaths among Filipinos are heart disease, cancer and other respiratory ailments, based on DOH figures.
During such unfortunate event, families of SSS members can avail themselves of the Funeral Benefit Program of the SSS. Since August 2015, SSS has been giving P20,000 to P40,000 funeral benefit to whoever defrays the cost of funeral expenses of a deceased SSS member or pensioner. This amount is based on the member’s average monthly salary credit and number of contributions paid.
Unknown to many, SSS is not strict as to who is the rightful claimant for this benefit since anybody can pay for anyone, a relative or not, compared to our guidelines under the Death Benefit program, which is stricter.
Likewise, effective June 2020, the SSS has implemented the checkless disbursement of paying funeral benefit claims for SSS member-claimants through the My.SSS portal in the SSS website, www.sss.gov.ph which proves to be simple, faster and easier than the usual practice of issuing checks to our claimants.
To start with, they must have a Unified Multi Purpose ID (UMID) or have applied for the UMID card and their own My.SSS account to use the online facility. Upon successful registration, they should log-in to their My.SSS accounts to register their disbursement account through the Bank Enrollment Module (BEM) for the disbursement of the funeral benefit. For SSS member-claimants, their disbursement account should be under a PESONet participating bank or E-wallet or cash payout outlet/remittance transfer company.
However, for non-SSS member-claimants, they should provide a copy of their ATM card deposit slip if it’s a PESONet participating bank or their updated cellphone number if their preferred disbursement is through E-wallet via Paymaya or cash payout outlet/remittance transfer company via M-Lhuiller.
In case online applicants already have a UMID card enrolled as ATM, the system will automatically credit the benefit to the said card.
To submit their applications online, they should log-in to their My.SSS account and click “Submit Funeral Claim Application” under the E-Services Tab. The required information of the deceased SSS Member should be provided, including civil status, claimant’s relationship with the deceased and their disbursement account. They should also submit their application by uploading the required documents such as proof to establish SSS membership of the deceased member, death certificate, and official receipt as proof of defrayal of funeral expenses.
Online applicants are also advised to read the Certification carefully before clicking the “Submit” box to agree and proceed with the application. After the successful submission of the application, SSS will send a notice through e-mail regarding the said application.
Indeed, SSS will always be every working Filipino’s arm in providing social security protection when members need it most, especially during these difficult times.
And going back to the old woman, I later learned that her husband was an SSS member, after all!
Aurora C. Ignacio is SSS president and chief executive officer.
We welcome your questions and insights on the topics that we discuss. E-mail mediaaffairs@sss.gov.ph for topics that you might want us to discuss.
1 comment
Paano po makakapag request ng E1 ng member deceased? Kailangan po kasi sa burial claim application