SSS relaxes maternity benefit claims processing

The guidelines will be used for maternity benefit claims of every delivery, miscarriage or emergency termination of pregnancy that occurred on or after 11 March 2019.

State-run Social Security System (SSS) has adopted guidelines speeding up the processing of the recently legislated 105-day Expanded Maternity Leave Law (EMLL).

Among the amendments adopted by the pension fund was the simplification of documentary requirement for the EMLL and the removal of additional documents for cesarean deliveries.

“Also, instead of returning maternity claim applications and supporting documents with minor discrepancies or inconsistencies, the SSS will now receive and process them if the member’s identity can be established in them,” the SSS said.

SSS president and CEO Aurora Ignacio said the guidelines will be used for maternity benefit claims of every delivery, miscarriage or emergency termination of pregnancy that occurred on or after 11 March 2019.

“These new service procedures and standards, fitted to the provisions of the EMLL, are designed to expedite maternity benefit processing while still ensuring that there will be no fraudulent claims,” Ignacio said.

“With these new guidelines in place, we hope our members and their employers may conveniently access our maternity benefit program,” she added.

The pension fund said overseas Filipino worker members in apostille countries now have the efficient and less costly option of submitting supporting documents issued with an apostille by the Foreign Ministry, Embassy or Consulate General, in substitute of authentication from the Philippine Embassy/Consulate General.