SSS resumes prescriptive sick leave, unemployment benefits
At A Glance
- State-run Social Security System (SSS) is resuming benefit claims for prescription sick leave, involuntary unemployment, or separation.<br>The filing period for submitting benefit claims varies depending on the circumstances.<br>Sickness notifications for home confinements should be submitted within five calendar days.<br>Sickness notifications for hospital confinements should be submitted within one year from the date of discharge.<br>Employers are responsible for reminding workers to submit necessary documents for the sick notification.<br>The Sickness Benefit Reimbursement Application (SBRA) is used for medical compensation.<br>An SSS-approved employer's sickness notification is required for filing the SBRA.<br>If an employer's sickness notification is not available, the Sickness Benefit Application (SBA) can be filed as a notice from a self-employed/voluntary member or an OFW.<br>Employees who have been involuntarily separated from their positions must file for an SSS benefit within one year from the date of contingency.
State-run Social Security System (SSS) will resume its benefit claims for prescription sick leave, and involuntary unemployment or separation.
In a memorandum, SSS said there will be a prescriptive period for submitting or filing for this benefit as accomplished by the employer, employee, self-employed, and overseas Filipino worker (OFW).
The employee is required to provide a sickness notification within five calendar days from the start of home confinement. However, if the confinement is due to hospitalization, it is not necessary.
Once the employer receives a receipt from the employee, they are required to submit the notification within five calendar days to the SSS.
However, if hospitalization is involved, the employer must report to the SSS within one year from the date of hospital discharge.
To avoid reduction or denial of claim, the employer’s responsibility is to remind the worker to submit the necessary documents for sick notification.
Meanwhile, the Sickness Benefit Reimbursement Application (SBRA) or the Sickness Benefit Application (SBA) is a way to have medical compensation.
An SSS-approved employer’s sickness notification must be ready in order to file for the SBRA.
Otherwise, the filing of the SBA will be deemed as a notice of the self-employed/voluntary member, or OFW to be given to the SSS.
The employer must follow the SBRA-prescribed filing period depending on two circumstances; if it’s filed under home confinement, the employer must report within one year from its start. If it’s a hospital confinement, it should be submitted within one year from the date of hospital discharge.
For SBA Filing, home confinements are prescribed within only five calendar days of submission. Hospital confinements will have a duration of one year from the date of discharge.
Meanwhile, employees who have been involuntarily removed from post will receive an SSS benefit if they were able to file within one year from the date of contingency.
SSS also noted that if the resumed deadlines for the benefit claims fall under March 1, 2020 until this resumption takes effect, the claim can still be submitted within 60 calendar days. (Gabriell Christel Galang)