Mothers are placed at significant medical and financial risk during pregnancy. Aside from the health risks of pregnancy, women are also expected to take breaks from their careers to accommodate the changes of a new family member. 

To give due support to working Filipino women, Republic Act 11210 ¹ was signed in 2019. This act expands the number of maternity days from 60 days to 105 days of paid leave, with seven days transferable to fathers with added paid leaves and benefits. 

The Social Security System (SSS) was established to provide social security protection to Filipino members in disability, sickness, maternity, old age, death, loss of income, or financial burden. It fully supports the additional benefits of RA 11210. 

To know more about the benefits of RA 11210 and availing maternity benefits through SSS, read on. 

Table of Contents

• What Is the SSS Maternity Benefit Program?
• Who Is Eligible for SSS Maternity Benefits?
• SSS Maternity Program Requirements
  • 1. Basic Requirements
  • 2. Additional Requirements
    • a. Additional Requirements Depending on the Case of Maternity
    • b. Additional Required Documents According to Status and Change in Circumstances:
• How To Apply for SSS Maternity Benefits
  • 1. Inform SSS of Your Pregnancy
    • a. Through My.SSS for Employer/Member
    • b. Through Self-Service Express Terminals (SET) for Self-Employed/Voluntary Member
    • c. Thru Text Notification
  • 2. File Your Application for Maternity Benefit Reimbursement
    • a. Online Application Through My.SSS
    • b. Onsite Application
    • c. Procedure in Filing for Special/Exemption Cases
    • d. If You Were Paid Less Than Expected by SSS Based on Computation, You May File for Adjustment of Maternity Benefit Through My.SSS
• How To Compute for SSS Maternity Benefit Amount
  • 1. Definition of Monthly Salary Credit
  • 2. Steps To Calculate
  • 3. SSS Maternity Benefit Calculator (Excel)
• Tips and Warnings
• Frequently Asked Questions
  • 1. How long is the processing for SSS Maternity Benefit?
  • 2. Is it possible to be terminated while I am on my 105-day leave?
  • 3. Do I need to be legally married to avail of the benefits?
  • 4. How many months minimum should I pay to avail of SSS Maternity Benefits?
  • 5. Can single moms avail of the SSS Maternity Benefits?
  • 6. How many pregnancies are covered by the SSS Maternity Benefits?
  • 7. Can I still apply for the benefits after the child’s birth?
  • 8. Can I avail of PhilHealth and SSS Maternity Benefits at the same time?
• References

What Is the SSS Maternity Benefit Program?

The SSS Maternity Benefit Program² is daily cash allowance coverage for female members who cannot render work because of pregnancy and childbirth or maternal emergency conditions like miscarriage or pregnancy termination. 

Under RA 11210, these are the covered number of maternity benefit days:

• Live Childbirth (Normal or CS) – 105 paid days
• Miscarriage/Emergency Termination of Pregnancy – 60 paid days
• Solo Parent – Additional 15 days, a total of 120 paid days 

Who Is Eligible for SSS Maternity Benefits?

To determine if you are eligible for SSS Maternity Benefits, you need to identify first your expected delivery date. 

Your OB-Gyne will tell you the month of expected delivery. You can also manually compute the expected delivery date by doing the following: 

1. Determine the first day of your last normal menstrual period
2. Count back 3 calendar months from that date
3. Add 1 year and 7 days to that date 

For example, if your last menstrual day was July 9, 2021, counting back 3 months from that is April 9, 2021. For the last step, we add 1 year and 7 days to get your estimated due date. In this example, doing that will give us an expected due date of April 16, 2022. 

You may also use an online EDD calculator or your ultrasound report to estimate the EDD. 

Once you have determined the expected delivery month, identify the quarter of the year it belongs to. So an April EDD will fall in the second quarter of the year. This is important because we need to know the semester of contingency. A semester is 2 consecutive quarters.

In the given example, add another quarter before the quarter covered by your delivery month. So the semester of contingency covers the first and second quarter of the year or January-June 2022.

Why is this important in terms of eligibility? SSS will only cover your pregnancy if your paid contributions are at least 3 of the 12 months immediately before your semester of contingency. 

Take note that just because you had previous contributions in the previous years, it does not automatically mean that you will be covered. You need to have paid at least three monthly contributions within the 12 months before your semester of contingency. 

In our example, an April 2022 month of contingency means that 3 monthly contributions should have been paid from January 2021-December 2021. 

To check eligibility, you may check your contributions online at sss.gov.ph. 

SSS Maternity Program Requirements

The following documents will be required once you apply for SSS Maternity Reimbursements. 

1. Basic Requirements

Member Category	Basic Requirements
Employed Members and Self-Employed/Voluntary Members	– Maternity Notification Form duly stamped and received by SSS* – Maternity Reimbursement Form – SSS UMID or two valid IDs with signature. One should have a photo and date of birth
Separated Members	– Maternity Notification Form duly stamped and received by SSS – Maternity Reimbursement Form – SSS UMID or two valid IDs with signature. One should have a photo and date of birth – Your last employer should issue a certificate stating separation with the effective date – Certification that no advance payment was made by the employer

2. Additional Requirements

a. Additional Requirements Depending on the Case of Maternity

Case of Maternity	Case Additional Requirements
Normal Delivery	Certified True Copy/Authenticated Copy of Birth Certificate of child  – If live birth subsequently results in the death of offspring: 1. Certified True Copy or Authenticated Copy of Birth  Certificate 2. Certified True Copy or Authenticated Copy of Fetal Death Certificate – If stillborn: 1. Certified True Copy/Authenticated Copy of Death/Fetal Death Certificate – Report of Child’s Birth (if abroad)
Caesarean Delivery	– Certified True Copy/Authenticated Copy of Birth Certificate of child – Certified True Copy of Operating Room Record/Surgical Memorandum – Medical Abstract  – Clinical Discharge Summary – Delivery Report – Billing Documents: Invoice with details about cesarean delivery charges (if abroad)
Miscarriage/ Emergency Termination of Pregnancy	With Maternity Notification filed before the SSS:  – Pregnancy test result – Ultrasound result – Histopathological Report Without Maternity Notification filed before the SSS: – Result of pregnancy test signed by attending physician/municipal health officer or – Result of ultrasound – Results of Blood Pregnancy Test (beta HCG) – Early Pregnancy Factor
Ectopic Pregnancy	– Certification from Attending Physician (with printed name, signature, and license number) with records of Obstetrical history – One of the following: 1. Certified True Copy of hospital records 2. Operating Room Records 3. Histopathological Report 4. Pregnancy test (positive test and after miscarriage)

b. Additional Required Documents According to Status and Change in Circumstances:

Status	Additional Requirements
Solo Parent	– Solo Parent ID from the Local Government Unit issued within 2 years from the date of delivery and signed by the Social Worker and the Mayor or  – Certification of eligibility of the Solo Parent issued by the LGU and signed by the Social Worker/Mayor
Qualified caregiver in case of Death or Permanent Incapacity of the Member and the Maternity Benefits have not been settled	The Qualified Caregiver shall be entitled to the unexpired leave and the monetary benefit:  – Duly notarized or administered Undertaking Form of a Qualified Caregiver – Certified True Copy of member’s Death Certificate or Medical Certificate/Abstract

How To Apply for SSS Maternity Benefits

1. Inform SSS of Your Pregnancy

If you plan to avail of the SSS Maternity Benefits, you have to notify your employer and SSS of your pregnancy within 60 days of confirming your pregnancy. A Maternity Notification from SSS is a requirement when filing reimbursement. 

There are multiple ways to notify SSS. 

a. Through My.SSS for Employer/Member

1. Go to My SSS Portal at www.sss.gov.ph.
2. Access your SSS account by logging in with your user ID and password. You need to have an existing account to do so. If you are not registered with SSS yet, you may create an account by entering the required details in the registration form. 
3. Once logged in, select the maternity notification from the transaction options of the main menu. 
4. Fill in the required information and click the Submit button.
5. Copy the transaction number issued as proof of maternity notification submission. SSS will also send an email to the member regarding the transaction. 
6. Print the acknowledgment page or the email notification to serve as your documentation. 

b. Through Self-Service Express Terminals (SET) for Self-Employed/Voluntary Member

1. Login at the Self-Service Express Terminal at SSS using your SSS UMID Card. 
2. Scan your SSS card barcode to the scanner. 
3. Place your right index finger on the fingerprint scanner.
4. Select “Submission of Maternity Notification” from the Main Menu.
5. Fill in all information and choose Yes if all information is correct. 
6. Keep the acknowledgment receipt generated by SET for documentation. 

c. Thru Text Notification

1. You can also notify SSS thru text message. Type in SSS REG <SS NUMBER><DATE OF BIRTH> SSS MATERNITYNOTIF, then send to 2600.
2. You’ll receive an SMS confirming your notification. 

2. File Your Application for Maternity Benefit Reimbursement

a. Online Application Through My.SSS

If you are currently employed, your employer will pay your SSS Maternity Benefits in advance, and SSS will reimburse this. 

If you are employed, inquire with your employer about the filing process. If your employer does the filing, you will need to submit the requirements for employed members from the previous section to your employer. 

If you are Self/Employed or a Voluntary Member/Member Separated from Employment, you may file online using the My.SSS Portal at www.sss.gov.ph. 

1. Make sure you have a My.SSS Account at www.sss.gov.ph. Members should also have a disbursement account with SSS through the Disbursement Account Enrollment Module (DAEM) of the SSS website. 

You may secure a disbursement account with the following: 

• PESONet Participating Banks
• E-Wallet Participants
• Remittance Transfer Companies (RTCs) 
• Cash Payout Outlets (CPOs)

2. Log in at My.SSS Portal of the SSS website. 

3. Select the “Submit Maternity Benefit Application” under the E-services tab. 

4. Fill in the required information in the Maternity Benefits Screen and click Proceed. 

5. Upload the required supporting documents. See the requirements section above for reference. 

6. Click the I certify and submit button. The screen will show the transaction details and if the submission was successful. SSS will also send an email notification to the client’s registered email address. 

b. Onsite Application

You may also file onsite at any SSS branch near you. While you can file onsite at any branch near you, it will be processed and reimbursed by the branch where you are registered. 

1. Fill out the Maternity Reimbursement Form. 
2. Make sure you have the necessary documentary requirements depending on your specific case, as indicated in the requirements section. Present proof of Maternity Notification as well. 
3. Get a queue number and wait to be called. 
4. Submit the forms and all documents for checking and verification. 

c. Procedure in Filing for Special/Exemption Cases

As per SSS, special cases include: 

1. Denied claim reconsidered for payment
2. The unclaimed benefit of deceased member
3. The unclaimed reimbursement of inactive/closed/terminated/retired employer 

Filing for special cases may be done in SSS Branch Offices. Follow these steps: 

1. Get a queue number. 
2. Submit the accomplished Maternity Benefit Application form with the supporting documents and present a valid ID.
3. An acknowledgment stub will be issued to you for receipt documentation. 

d. If You Were Paid Less Than Expected by SSS Based on Computation, You May File for Adjustment of Maternity Benefit Through My.SSS

1. Log in at My.SSS Portal of sss.gov.ph.
2. Select “Adjustment of Maternity Benefit” under the E-services tab.
3. Fill in the required information, including the selected reason for the adjustment and click Proceed.
4. Upload the required supporting documents and click I certify and submit. 
5. The system will provide the transaction number, and an email notification will be sent to the client. 

How To Compute for SSS Maternity Benefit Amount

1. Definition of Monthly Salary Credit

The computation of benefits will depend on the SSS Contribution Monthly Salary Credit. The Monthly Salary Credit is the compensation base for contributions and benefits depending on the total earnings per month. 

Click here to check the updated monthly salary credit tables.

The higher your monthly earnings and SSS contribution, the higher the monthly salary credit and the benefit you will receive. Based on the SSS table, if you are self-employed and earning ₱25,000 per month with total contributions of ₱3,280, you will receive the maximum MSC of ₱20,000. 

Incomes higher than ₱24,750 will remain at the maximum MSC of ₱20,000. 

2. Steps To Calculate

1. To compute the benefit, go back to identifying your Semester of Contingency. Start one month before your semester of contingency, then count 12 months backward.
2. Identify the six highest monthly salary credits in the 12-month period. Make sure to include only the months that you paid the SSS contribution.  Once identified, get the total of the six highest monthly credits. 
3. Divide the total from the second step by 180. This is to get the average salary credit per day or the daily maternity allowance.
4. Multiply the daily allowance by the number of days covered by SSS per condition:

• Live birth (Normal or CS) – Multiply by 105 days
• Abortion/Miscarriage – Multiply by 60 days
• Solo Parent – Multiple by 120 days 

Sample Computation: 

Going back to our previous example, if your expected delivery month is April 2022: 

1. Semester of Contingency:  January to June 2022
2. 12-month period before the semester of contingency: January 2021-December 2021
3. Refer to the SSS MSC table for the MSC. For example, if the six highest salary credits during this period are ₱10,000, this would be ₱60,000. 
4. To get the daily maternity allowance, divide ₱60,000 by 180 = ₱333.00. 
5. If this was a normal livebirth, we multiply the daily allowance by the number of covered days: ₱333.00 x 105 days = ₱34,965.00 (Total SSS Maternity Benefit).

3. SSS Maternity Benefit Calculator (Excel)

You can also use our provided Excel sheet to compute your SSS Maternity Benefit. Simply download this free calculator and encode the required values to compute your expected SSS Maternity Benefit. 

Tips and Warnings

• The eligibility and coverage of your SSS Maternity Benefit will depend on your month and date of delivery. Make sure to confirm your EDD with your OB-Gyne or compute based on the instructions provided in this article. 
• Failure to notify the employer or SSS of pregnancy will not allow you to receive SSS Maternity Benefits except in emergency cases. Ensure to inform your employer and SSS within 60 days after confirmation of pregnancy. 
• Under RA 11210, you may transfer seven days of your maternity leave to the father of your child. If you do this, it will be deducted from the SSS Maternity Benefit (98 days paid instead of 105 days). 
• You need to open an account with an SSS Accredited Bank if you want to access your Maternity Benefit easily. 
• The maximum benefit from SSS Maternity is ₱70,000 with a maximum of ₱20,000 MSC and a monthly contribution of ₱2,400. 
• Only the female SSS member may apply for SSS Maternity Benefit. The program does not cover male spouses. 
• Other sources of Government Maternity Assistance include the PhilHealth Maternity Package. 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How long is the processing for SSS Maternity Benefit?

For employed members, your employer will pay your SSS Maternity Benefit in advance within 30 days from filing the maternity leave application. SSS will reimburse this. For self-employed/voluntary, approval and processing take around 10-30 days, depending on the case.  

2. Is it possible to be terminated while I am on my 105-day leave?

No. Under the law, you cannot be terminated by your employer while you are on your Maternity Leave. 

3. Do I need to be legally married to avail of the benefits?

No. As per RA 11210, you may enjoy the benefits even if you are a single or solo parent or not legally married. 

4. How many months minimum should I pay to avail of SSS Maternity Benefits?

SSS will only cover your pregnancy if you have paid the contributions for at least 3 of the 12 months before the semester of contingency. 

5. Can single moms avail of the SSS Maternity Benefits?

Yes. Solo parents are also entitled to an additional 15 days of coverage of the benefits or 120 days of paid leave. 

6. How many pregnancies are covered by the SSS Maternity Benefits?

Benefits can now be applied per pregnancy compared to the previous limitation of just four pregnancies. 

7. Can I still apply for the benefits after the child’s birth?

The application can be made for SSS Maternity Benefits until the child is ten years old. You may inquire at the nearest SSS branch for your particular case. 

8. Can I avail of PhilHealth and SSS Maternity Benefits at the same time?

Yes. As long as your membership to both government agencies is active and you are paying contributions and eligible for the programs, you may avail of these benefits.

References

1. Official Gazette. Republic Act No. 11210 (2019).
2. Social Security System (SSS). (2021). Citizen’s Charter (p. 54).