State-run Social Security System (SSS) will soon start accepting online maternity benefit applications as part of the pension fund’s digitalization initiatives.
Aurora C. Ignacio, SSS president and chief executive officer said online filing of Maternity Benefit Applications (MBA) and Maternity Benefit Reimbursement Applications (MBRA) would start on May 31, 2021 through the My.SSS portal on the SSS website.
Ignacio said the May 31 launch is in line with SSS scheduled mandatory implementation of online application of MBA and MBRA in September.
“As part of our digitalization initiatives, the SSS has now allowed maternity benefit applications to be filed online, along with sickness benefit reimbursement, unemployment, retirement, and funeral,” Ignacio said in a statement.
“We recognize the current situation of our female members who are high-risk individuals to COVID-19 infection. Their health and safety remain our top priority,” she added.
Drop box or over-the-counter filing, however, will still be allowed at the SSS Branch Office, Foreign Representative Office, and Medical Evaluation Center until August 31, 2021.
Maternity benefit covers all female self-employed, voluntary, overseas Filipino worker (OFW), non-working spouse members, and female members who are separated from employment and have not yet received any advance payment of maternity benefit from their previous employers.
Meanwhile, maternity benefit reimbursement covers all employers, including household employers.
Required supporting documents corresponding to the type of claim need to be scanned and uploaded by the filer for review by SSS.
For MBRAs, the receipt of the advance payment by an employer must be confirmed/ certified by the female employed member within seven working days from the date of the e-mail notification sent by SSS.
“We encourage our members and employers to register at My.SSS and enroll their bank accounts in the Disbursement Account Enrollment Module (DAEM) to receive their benefits at the soonest possible time,” Igancio said.