State-run Social Security System (SSS) will no longer release checks for funeral benefit claims after the pension fund implemented the mandatory payment through banks and other alternative payment channels.
In a statement, Aurora C. Ignacio, SSS president and chief executive, said the funeral benefit, a cash benefit granted to whoever paid for the funeral expenses of a deceased member, is now released either through fund transfer or ATM.
The electronic fund transfer is through Philippine Electronic Fund Transfer System and Operations Network (PESONet) participating banks, e-wallets such as PayMaya, or Remittance Transfer Companies/Cash Payout Outlets (CPOs).
"Upon the filing of funeral claim applications, claimants who are also SSS members are required to have an enrolled disbursement account in the SSS' Bank Enrollment Module (BEM), if they don't have a UMID-ATM," Ignacio said.
To access the BEM, members must log in to their My.SSS account at the SSS website, www.sss.gov.ph, proceed to the E-services tab and click Bank Enrollment.
Members must select their preferred PESONet participating bank, e-wallet, or RTC/CPO. They must supply their bank account number to enroll their bank account or their mobile number for e-wallets or RTCs/CPOs.
The complete list of PESONet participating banks and electronic money issuers (including e-wallets) is available under the "ACH Participants" section of the Payments and Settlements tab of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas website at www.bsp.gov.ph.
Aside from banks and e-wallets, the DBP Cash Padala Thru M Lhuillier, an RTC/CPO, may also be selected in the BEM.
Members must provide their bank account numbers as a continuous string of numbers without dashes between non-numeric characters. Meanwhile, mobile numbers must also be in the same format, such as 09171234567 or 09181234567.
"Claimants, who are non-SSS members, are required to present and submit a copy of their disbursement account together with their funeral claims application and other documentary requirements," Ignacio said.