The Social Security System (SSS) has released P3.07 billion worth of funeral benefits to over 135,000 beneficiaries in 2020.

Over the years, the state-run insurance program recorded P3.58 billion to 163,589 members in 2016; P3.79 billion to 170,358 members in 2017; P3.91 billion to 175,024 members in 2018; and P4.23 billion in 2019 to 186,730 members.
SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Aurora C. Ignacio said on Tuesday, May 25, that the 27 percent drop in funeral benefit disbursements was due to the nationwide implementation of community quarantine since March 2020, which prohibits movements of transacting members of various government officers, including SSS.
"Since COVID-19 has been a global pandemic, precautionary measures are strictly being implemented in our branches such as wearing of face masks, face shields, accomplishing health declaration slip, and maintaining social distancing," Ignacio said.
SSS also implemented a number coding scheme and submission of benefit applications through the dropbox system.
"In compliance with Civil Service Commission (CSC) guidelines, only 50-70% of our workforce has been deployed in our offices while some are on alternative work arrangements (AWA) to protect our employees and transacting clients from the virus. Also, the majority of our members have postponed their personal visits to our branches for fear of being exposed to COVID-19, while some still wait for the availability of their supporting documents too, hence the decline of disbursements,” Ignacio added.
SSS funeral benefit is a cash grant given to anyone who paid for the burial expenses of the deceased member, amounting to a minimum of P20,000 to a maximum of P40,000 depending on the contributions paid effective until 2015.
SSS member-claimants to submit their funeral benefit claim application online via My.SSS.