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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider SSS: P10-B maternity benefits released in 2020

SSS: P10-B maternity benefits released in 2020

Published Apr 7, 2021 10:54 am

The Social Security System (SSS) released P10.49 billion under its maternity benefit program with some 290,000 members as beneficiaries in 2020, almost double the amount paid by the state pension fund in 2016.

(ULISES RUIZ/AFP/Getty Images)

SSS president and chief executive officer Aurora C. Igancio said Wednesday, April 7, that the steep jump in benefit release occurred in 2019 when an additional P3.35B in maternity disbursements was recorded, following the implementation of the Republic Act 11210 or the 105-day Expanded Maternity Leave Law.

"Since the allowed maternity leave was extended up to 105 days, it is expected that the benefit releases will also dramatically increase," Ignacio said.

According to Ignacio, based on the state-run pension fund's data, the annual disbursement in 2016, three years before the passage of the law, is at P6.6B. The current annual release is now pegged at P10.45B.

However, the SSS chief noted a slight decrease in the total number of beneficiaries last year, attributing this to quarantine restrictions imposed by the government since March 2020 to curb the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infection.

"Since the community quarantine affected the transacting public wanting to visit government offices and the fact that pregnant women are considered high-risk individuals during this pandemic, pregnant and even lactating mothers who are SSS members chose to stay at home and postponed their appointments. Hence, we expect a higher number of benefit applications this year," she added.

The SSS Maternity Benefit is a cash allowance granted only to women SSS members. To qualify, she should have paid at least three monthly contributions within the 12-month period immediately preceding the semester of her childbirth, miscarriage, or emergency termination of pregnancy.

The 105-Day Expanded Maternity Leave Law increases the compensable number of days for maternity leave benefit from the initial 60 days for normal delivery, 78 days for cesarean section delivery to 105 days for live childbirth, regardless of the type of delivery, and an additional 15 days paid leave if the member qualifies as a solo parent.

In case of miscarriage or emergency termination of pregnancy, the entitlement is 60 days of paid maternity leave.

The law also gave additional consideration to women by further expanding the allowed maternity leave for pregnancy, miscarriage, or emergency termination, regardless of frequency, from the previous limit of only the first four deliveries or miscarriages.

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