The Social Security System (SSS) has released P53.27 billion in maternity benefits from 2016 to 2021, the pension fund said in a statement yesterday.
SSS said a significant jump in disbursement was first noted in 2019 following the implementation of Republic Act No. 11210 or Expanded Maternity Leave Law. The highest peak of releases was recorded in 2021 amounting to P13.9 billion.
“The SSS, as a conduit agency, gave its full support to this endeavor through continuous disbursement of maternity benefits to our qualified female members since the law was implemented in March 2019,” Michael Regino, SSS president and chief executive officer, said.
“We have also recalibrated and simplified the application procedures through online submission of maternity benefit application for members and reimbursement for employers through the My.SSS Portal which started last May 2021,” he added.
Under the Expanded Maternity Leave Law, maternity leave was extended from 60 days (for normal delivery)/78 days (caesarean section delivery) to 105 days.
SSS female members may also avail of this benefit, regardless of the frequency, provided that the minimum of three qualifying contributions from the 12-month period prior the semester of childbirth or miscarriage/emergency termination of pregnancy has been met and were not paid on or after the semester of contingency.
“With the Expanded Maternity Leave Law, the increased amount of maternity benefit and number of maternity leave assisted our female members with their financial needs, providing extra time to recover from childbirth, and most importantly, to spend quality time with their newborn babies,” Regino said. – Angela Celis
