Did you know that SSS provides Funeral Benefits to its Members?

One of the not-so-much-talked-about benefits is the Funeral Benefits provided by our Social Security System (SSS). From August 2015, deceased members can receive a Php 20,000 to Php 40,000 funeral benefit from the SSS, depending on how their Average Monthly Salary Credit (AMSC), which varies on the amount of SSS contributions.

For easier reference, here’s the post flow on how to avail of the SSS Funeral Benefits, which is summarized into SIX (6) Q&As:

1. Who are Qualified for SSS Funeral Benefits?
2. How Much Funeral Benefit Can You Get?
3. What Requirements Do I Need to Submit to Avail of SSS Funeral Benefits?
4. Where Do I Go to Apply for the SSS Funeral Benefit?
5. Can We File for the SSS Funeral Benefit Online?
6. How Will We Get the Money Approved by SSS?
   
   ————————————————
   

A. Who are Qualified for SSS Funeral Benefits?

• For self-employed/ non-working spouse/ OFW members: The deceased SSS member must have paid at least ONE (1) monthly contribution, for his/her beneficiaries to be entitled to the funeral benefit. If there are zero contributions paid for during the lifetime, there is no SSS funeral benefits.
• For those who are employed or are those separated from employment: The deceased must have been reported for coverage by his/her employer, that’s it. If it was reported and even if there was no contribution was paid, his/her beneficiaries will still be entitled to the SSS funeral benefit.
  • The rationale is that it is the EMPLOYER’s responsibility to have paid for the SSS contributions when the employee was employed. Sometimes, the Employer fails to fulfill their duty at no fault of the employee.  When this happens, SSS can go after the employers to collect damages for their failure to remit their employees’ contributions before the date of contingency.

B. How Much Funeral Benefit Can You Get?

A minimum funeral grant of P20,000 is given to whoever pays the burial expenses of the deceased member or pensioner. It can reach up to Php 40,000.00 if you have enough hulogs.

The amount of funeral benefits shall be computed as follows (Source: SSS Circular No. 2015-009):

Php 20,000 + (0.005 x Number of Contributions x Average Monthly Credit
IMPORTANT: But should NOT exceed Php 40,000.00

Definition:

• Number of Contributions: How Many Contributions Paid Until the Member Died?
• Average Monthly Salary Credits (ASMC) is the higher number of the two options:Add the last SIXTY (60) Monthly Salary Credits immediately before the Semester of Contingency, and DIVIDE the total by SIXTY (60) or
  • Divide the TOTAL of all monthly salary credits before the semester of contingency by the total number of monthly contributions paid in the same period.

NOTE: Monthly Salary Credit is NOT the total amount of contributions you hulog. It’s this part in the SSS table:

• To qualify for a funeral benefit higher than Php 20,000, the deceased member should have a higher number of contributions and/or Monthly Salary Credit shown in the below Annex A on the “Number of Monthly Contributions Required for Varied Funeral Benefit Amounts.”

Source: SSS Circular No. 2015-009, June 26, 2015.

Here are some examples to help you understand the formula:

Php 20,000 + (0.005 x Number of Contributions x Average Monthly Credit

If you’re having problems with the Math, just go to the SSS branch so they can compute it for you. Again, the maximum amount for funeral benefit is Php 40,000.00 so if you spend more for the funeral, Php 40,000.00 is the only thing you’ll get.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: 

My suggestion is to compute the SSS Funeral Benefits first so you know how much is your maximum budget to spend on funeral arrangements.

1. Total amount of funeral expenses:  The total expense is encoded. No breakdown required online. The number should be the exact number written on the funeral Official Receipt, but not exceeding the Funeral Benefit amount that can be claimed from SSS.
   1. For example, if SSS Funeral Benefit is only Php 20,000 and the total funeral expenses spent with OR is Php 35,000, you can only claim Php 20,000, or
   2. If the SSS Funeral Benefits you’re qualified for is Php 25,000, but the amount on the receipt is only Php 20,000, you can only claim Php 20,000.

C. What Requirements Do I Need to Submit to Avail of SSS Funeral Benefits?

You will need the following documentation as follows:

     1. Completed SSS Funeral Claim Application Form (SSS Form BPN-103)

     2. Death Certificate of the Deceased Member issued by any of the following:

• Registered death certificate from the Local Civil Registry and signed by the authorized representative from the Office of the Civil Registry (OCR): Every locality has their own Local Civil Registry. Kindly Google the correct office closest to your home.
• Death certificate from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)
• Death certificate that’s signed AND sealed by the OCR’s authorized representative 

Here’s how to apply for a PSA Death Certificate or at the Census Serbilis Centers.

Photo Source: Balikbayan.Info, Guide on How to Obtain PSA Death Certificate.

     3. Notarized Filer’s Affidavit (Sinumpaang Salaysay)

Downloadable Form: Sinumpaang Salaysay

     4. Notarized Affidavit of Funeral Expenses (English) or Sinumpaang Salaysay sa Pinagbayaran sa Pagpapalibing (Tagalog)

Downloadable Form: Affidavit of Funeral Expenses (English)

Downloadable Form: Sinumpaang Salaysay sa Pinagbayaran sa Pagpapalibing (Tagalog)

     5. Official Receipt of Payment issued by the Funeral Parlor

     SSS is clear. They need the ORIGINAL for smooth filing. Some notes:

• If the name on the Official Receipt is NOT the claimant, an extra notarized waiver or “Pagpapaubaya” (Download from link) from the person named in the Official Receipt is needed by SSS. The  Tagalog version can be downloaded here.
• If the Official Receipt is NOT original (e.g., lost or missing), claimant can submit
• If there is really no Official Receipt or the deceased has yet to be buried, you can submit the Funeral Service Contract signed by the funeral parlor.
• If there is no Official Receipt or the funeral parlor has not yet been paid, you can submit a Provisional Receipt from the funeral parlor.

     6. One of the following:

• SSS Card or Unified Multi-Purpose ID Card (UMID) Card of Deceased, or
• Member Data Change Request (SS-Form E-4), or
• Contribution Collection List (SS Form R-3), or
• Validated Contributions Payment (SS Form ML-1), or
• Personal Record Form (SS Form E-1), or
• Other SSS membership application forms such as Self-Employed Data Record (RS-1), SSS Non-Working Spouse Record (NW-1), or SSS Overseas Workers Record (OW-1) duly received by the SSS

     7. CLAIMANT’S ID and Photo:

SSS will require one (1) Primary ID or if without primary ID, Two (2) Secondary IDs, both of which has Claimant’s signature and one photo:

     Samples of Primary IDs: You only need ONE (1)

• Social Security (SSS) Card
• Driver’s License
• Passport
• Voter’s ID Card
• Alien Certificate of Registration
• Firearm Registration or License to Own and Possess Firearms
• NBI Clearance
• Postal ID Card
• Seafarer’s Identification and Record Book (Seaman’s Book)

If the claimant has an authorized representative, the following must brought by the representative:

• Special Power of Authority or Letter of Authority
• ID of the authorized representative of claimant

Please note that SSS may require other documents, but this is a good list to prepare for for now.

D. Where Do I Go to Apply for the SSS Funeral Benefit?

Applications for funeral benefit are filed at any SSS branch or representative office.

For Claimants who are non-SSS members and SSS members without UMID-ATM card, you can file for the SSS Funeral Benefits at at the nearest SSS branch. Simply download all forms that you need and accomplish them completely. Submit the required documents altogether.

HELPFUL TIP: Always photocopy the documents. SSS can sometimes lose the hard copy of documents. You need to have a xerox copy on hand just in case.

E. Can We File for the SSS Funeral Benefit Online?

Claimants who have the following are eligible to file for the SSS Funeral Benefits online:

• If they are registered to .MySSS Online Account at www.sss.gov.ph
• They have an SSS UMID card or a pending UMID card application
• They have enrolled their disbursement account under the Bank Enrollment Module of .MySSS for check-less payment. IMPORTANT: You need to first enroll your bank account to DAEM BEFORE you file your funeral claims.

E-Filing Process via the SSS website

F. How Will We Get the Money Approved by SSS?

Since June 2020, SSS is now following a check-less system in dispersing the funeral grant to qualified claimants.

2. If the claimant is a registered SSS member: Here are the steps:

• Enroll the claimant’s bank account or remittance details to their My.SSS Online:
  Members must log in to their My.SSS account at the SSS website.Proceed to the E-services tab and click Bank Enrollment.
  
  • Members must select their preferred PESONet participating bank, e-wallet or RTC/CPO. They must supply their bank account number to enroll their bank account or their mobile number for e-wallets or RTCs/CPOs. (NOTE: Bank account numbers must be written as a continuous string of numbers without dashes between non-numeric characters).
    
    
  • The complete list of PESONet participating banks and electronic money issuers (including e-wallets) is available under the ACH Participants section of the Payments and Settlements tab of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas website. 
  • Aside from banks and e-wallets, the DBP Cash Padala Thru M Lhuillier, an RTC/CPO, may also be selected in the BEM. (NOTE: Mobile numbers must be written continuously, e.g., as 09171234567 or 09181234567).
• Provide the corresponding documentary requirement for his/her disbursement account. Please note that sometimes, the ATM Card number is DIFFERENT from the Savings Account Number. Only input the correct account number.

2. If the claimant is NOT an SSS member:

IMPORTANT: Please ensure that the cellphone number you provide SSS is correct. SSS is NOT liable if you do not get your reimbursement if you gave them an incorrect number, lost your phone or an inactive number.

To Contact SSS for More Details

You can message them through Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SSSPh/