State-run Social Security System (SSS) received more than 17,000 online maternity benefit applications one month after its initial implementation.
In a statement, Aurora C. Ignacio, SSS president and chief executive officer said the My.SSSPortal on the SSS website received 17,726 maternity benefit applications (MBA) since May 31, 2021.
The online submission was implemented to provide faster, easier, and more convenient options for female members to transact with the SSS, Ignacio said.
“As one of the vulnerable sectors of our society, the SSS immediately responded to the needs of our pregnant members especially during this pandemic,” Ignacio said.
Qualified to submit MBA online are female self-employed, voluntary, overseas Filipino worker (OFW), non-working spouse members, and members who are separated from employment and have not receive any advanced payment of maternity benefit from their previous employers.
They should also meet the standard qualifying conditions including the contribution requirement of at least three monthly contributions within the 12-month period immediately preceding the semester of the childbirth, miscarriage, or emergency termination of pregnancy (ETP).
“We would like to remind our members that only contributions paid prior to the semester of childbirth, miscarriage, or ETP will be considered in determining eligibility for maternity benefits. That’s why it is very important for individual members to pay their contributions regularly,” she said.
In the case of employed members, they should notify their employers upon learning about their pregnancy. Meanwhile, employers should pay them their maternity benefits in advance and file for maternity benefit reimbursement application online.
The SSS chief also reminded its members and employers to enroll their bank accounts first in the disbursement account enrollment module (DAEM) before submitting their applications and reimbursements.