By Leslie Ann G. Aquino
The Employees Compensation Commission (ECC) has laid down benefits that healthcare workers who are found positive for COVID-19 or are persons under investigation (PUIs) may avail of.
These include a daily sickness benefit, medical benefits, death with funeral benefits, and cash assistance.
The ECC explained what these benefits entail. It has also posted the application procedure in its Facebook page.
According to the ECC, the daily sickness benefit provides healthcare workers with a maximum amount of P480 for up to a maximum of 120 days, which can be extended up to 240 days for private sector workers.
For government sector workers, the maximum daily income benefit is P200 or P340 if the worker opts to avail of the sickness benefit under the GSIS Insurance Act of 1997 or Republic Act 8291.
The ECC also said it does not require exhaustion of leave credits to avail of the daily sickness benefit.
For medical benefits, healthcare workers are entitled to a reimbursement of medical expenses and medicines.
The death with funeral benefits include a survivorship pension, which is computed based on the number and amount of premium paid by the employer.
The ECC said the minimum survivorship pension for private sector workers is P2,000 per month, while the funeral benefit is P30,000.
To avail of the daily sickness benefit, medical benefits, and death with funeral benefits, healthcare workers diagnosed positive for COVID-19 and those diagnosed with respiratory infections or similar illnesses related to the disease can apply at SSS or GSIS offices.
As for the cash assistance, the ECC has a provision for P10,000 for disability/sickness claims and P15,000 for death claims.
To avail of cash assistance, workers may apply at the ECC Central Office or Regional Extension Units (REUs). They must present proof of being tested positive for COVID-19 and certificate of employment.
“Apply at ECC or REUs with a voucher of approved EC claim from the SSS or GSIS as proof of work-relatedness of illness during quarantine period,” the ECC said.