The Social Security System (SSS) will soon start accepting online Maternity Benefit Applications (MBA) and Maternity Benefit Reimbursement Applications (MBRA) through the My.SSS portal.

SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Aurora C. Ignacio said the online filling of MBA and MBRA starts on May 31, in line with its scheduled mandatory implementation, which would take effect on Sept. 1.

Dropbox or over-the-counter filing will still be allowed at the SSS Branch Officer, Foreign Representative Officer, and Medical Evaluation Center until August 31.

“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. 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,” Ignacio said in a statement released Friday, May 28.

Maternity benefit covers all self-employed, voluntary, overseas Filipino workers, non-working spouse members, and 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.

Online filing through the member or employer’s My.SSS account applies to all initial or new claims as well as cases for adjustments, including the following instances:

• Member is qualified as a solo parent
• With correction on the type of delivery from normal to caesarian delivery or from miscarriage to ectopic pregnancy with operation
• SSS computation is higher than the employer’s computation
• Additional posted contributions will increase the benefit amount
• Correction of the approved number of compensable days from 60 (normal delivery) or 78 (caesarian section delivery) to 105 days
• Allocation of leave credits not used due to separation from employment of child’s father or qualified alternate caregiver

For MBRAs, the receipt of the advance payment by an employer must be confirmed or certified by the female employed member within seven working days from the date of the email 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. The online service offerings are part of our brand campaign through ExpreSSS for faster, easier, and simpler means of transacting with SSS," Ignacio said.

"Our main objective is to give members and the general public a safe and convenient means of applying for benefits and loans without personally going to our offices."