As an expectant mother in the Philippines, you are entitled to maternity benefits under the Social Security System (SSS). These benefits are provided to help you during your pregnancy and childbirth, and to support you financially during your maternity leave. However, computing your SSS maternity benefit can be a bit confusing, especially if you’re not familiar with the process.
If you are a pregnant and a member of the Social Security System (SSS), you may be eligible for maternity benefits. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to compute your SSS maternity benefit:
- Check your eligibility: You must have paid at least three monthly contributions within the 12-month period immediately preceding the semester of your childbirth or miscarriage to qualify for SSS maternity benefits.
- Determine your average daily salary credit (ADSC): Your ADSC is the average of your daily salary credit for the last 6 months immediately preceding your semester of contingency (the semester when your expected date of delivery or miscarriage falls).
- Compute your daily maternity allowance: To compute your daily maternity allowance, multiply your ADSC by 120% (or 1.2). The result is your daily maternity allowance.
- Compute your total maternity benefit: To compute your total maternity benefit, multiply your daily maternity allowance by the number of days of your approved maternity leave. Your approved maternity leave will depend on your delivery or miscarriage date:
- For normal delivery: You are entitled to 105 days of maternity leave, with an additional 15 days for single mothers.
- For miscarriage or emergency termination of pregnancy: You are entitled to 60 days of maternity leave.
- Deduct your cash allowance: If you received your full maternity benefit as a cash advance, you need to deduct the amount of cash allowance you received from your total maternity benefit.
- Receive your SSS Maternity Benefit: Once your claim has been approved, your SSS Maternity Benefit will be credited to your bank account or sent to you through a check.
It is important to note that SSS maternity benefits are subject to a monthly salary credit limit and a maximum benefit amount. The current maximum daily maternity benefit is PHP 500 per day. If your daily maternity allowance exceeds this amount, your benefit will be reduced to the maximum amount.
Computing your SSS maternity benefit in the Philippines may seem complicated, but following these simple steps can help you determine how much you are entitled to receive. Remember to check your eligibility, determine your ADSC, and compute your daily maternity allowance and total maternity benefit based on your approved maternity leave.