By Chino S. Leyco
State-run Social Security System (SSS) is temporarily extending the filing periods of sickness notifications and sickness benefit claims for contingencies in March and April this year.
In a statement, Aurora C. Ignacio, SSS president and chief executive said the initiative is for its members and employers to avoid the penalties of late filing while there is the occurring threat of coronavirus diseases (COVID-19).
Ignacio said that employed members may submit their sickness notification forms to their employers within 60 calendar days after the end of their confinement, while employers are also given 60 calendar days from the receipt of the forms to submit to SSS.
Self-employed (SE), voluntary members (VM), and Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) members are likewise given 60 calendar days after the end of their confinement to submit their applications to SSS.
Ignacio, meanwhile, said that sickness benefit claims for home and hospital confinement with filing deadlines that fall within the temporary extension period of March 1 to 30 April, 2020. will not be reduced or denied.
Employers and SE/VM/OFWmembers may still file their sickness benefit claims until June 30, 2020.