The funeral and death benefits are the two advantages that the beneficiaries of a dead member may get. A lump sum is given as the SSS funeral benefit.
However, depending on who is claiming and how many payments were made prior to the semester of death, the SSS death benefit may be given as a lump sum or a pension. This comprehensive guide will assist you in obtaining the two benefits.
How to Claim the SSS Funeral Benefit
The funeral benefit is one of the simplest claims you can make through SSS. The funeral stipend is available to everyone who paid for the funeral costs. Depending on the quantity of contributions made, the average monthly wage credit, and the presented receipt, the benefit can range from 20,000 to 40,000.
The below formula is utilized to calculate the funeral benefit:
Php 20,000 + (0.005 x Number of Contributions x Average Monthly Salary Credit (AMSC)
This benefit must be handled as a reimbursement-type benefit.
Here is where things could become a bit challenging. The maximum benefit you may be eligible for, or should I say repay for, is equal to the amount stated on your computed funeral grant or filed OR, whichever is smaller.
For instance, if the amount shown on the receipt is Php35,000 but the funeral benefit was calculated using the technique above to be Php40,000, the funeral benefit is the lower amount. The claim in this instance is only worth Php 35,000.
In Recommendation:
- After you have completely covered the funeral costs, if you don’t need the money, claim this benefit.
- Ask the funeral home get a temporary receipt for the entire amount you need to pay if you need it right away.
- Ask the funeral home anything; they will know what to do. Some could even offer you assistance.
The processes for claiming the SSS funeral benefit are shown below.
1. Go to the nearest SSS branch.
Find the closest SSS branch in your location and ask about the necessary list of prerequisites. Use this opportunity to inquire about the death benefit.
The branch has forms easily available. However, if you’d like, you may print them. If you do, you may submit the claim on your initial visit. This is so that death certificates properly attested by the Local Civil Registrar’s Office can be accepted by the SSS. The city hall where you submitted the death certificate is where you may get it.
Here is a list of prerequisites:
- Claim for Funeral Benefit (SSS Form BPN-103)
- Death certificate duly certified by the Local Civil Registrar
- Receipt of payment issued by the funeral parlor
- Affidavit of funeral expenses
- Report of Death (if the cause of death is work-connected)
- Photo of the filer and valid IDs
- Original or certified true copies of the supporting documents should be presented during the filing of the claim.
2. Submit the required documents.
If you have the required documents, you can make an SSS funeral claim right away. Of course, you have to endure the lengthy claimant process. Once you’ve filed the necessary paperwork, be sure to inquire when you may come back and to acquire their phone number.
3. Claim the cheque
Visit the SSS branch on the designated day to claim it if you’d rather get it in the form of a check. However, payments might not be made with checks because SSS is encouraging chequeless transactions. You must enroll a disbursement account in a Bank Enrollment Module (BEM) on your My.SSS portal if you are an SSS member.
Any participating bank in PESONet, an e-wallet, or a Remittance Transfer Company/Cash Pay-Out (RTC/CPO) like M Lhuillier are just a few of the disbursement accounts that members can sign up for.
If you are not a member of the SSS, you must provide a copy of your ATM card, bank certification, or deposit slip that contains your bank account number. Your bank must also be a PESOnet Participating Bank, or for non-bank payments like those made through e-Wallets like Paymaya and RTC/CPOs like M. Lhuillier, you must provide an active mobile number.
4. File it online
You may simply file it in the comfort of your own home if you feel confident utilizing technology. Just access your My.SSS members account. After filling out the form and selecting how you wish to be paid in the “Disbursement Account Enrollment Module,” click the “Proceed” button to authenticate your submission and allow you to upload the necessary documents. You will get a confirmation email from the SSS once the process is complete.
How to Claim SSS Death Benefit
You may now submit the SSS death benefit claim. But don’t anticipate it to be as pleasant as when you received the funeral benefit.
These are the procedures for requesting SSS death benefits.
1. Go to the nearest branch
If you have already visited an SSS branch, you may skip this section. If not, use this opportunity to inquire about the eligibility, restrictions, and claim procedure. The majority of us are unaware that there are four different categories of recipients, not all of whom are qualified.
So you may use this to determine who is or are qualified to submit a claim.
4 Types of Beneficiaries:
- The member’s spouse is the main beneficiary.
- The parents of the deceased person may be the secondary beneficiary if there is no spouse or if the spouse remarried.
- The designated beneficiary listed on the SSS E-1 record may submit the claim if there are no parents.
- Last, if there is no designated beneficiary, the legal heir(s) may file the claim in accordance with the Civil Code of the Philippines’ succession law.
You need to give yourself at least a half-day for queuing. This is due to the fact that many claimants queued up before the branch even opened.
2. Get a list of requirements
- Death claim application (SSS DDR-1)
- Affidavit of claimant or Filer’s Affidavit
- Death certificate of the member duly certified by PSA
- A death certificate of the spouse duly certified by PSA
- Death certificate of the member’s parent duly certified by PSA
- Affidavit for Death Benefit Claim (SS Form CLD-1.3A)
- Affidavit of Legal Heirs (SS Form CLD-1.3)
- Marriage Contract
- Marriage Contract of parents
- Birth/Baptismal Certificate of dependent children
- Birth/Baptismal Certificate of member
- A Birth/Baptismal Certificate of the member’s brother(s)/sister(s)
- Birth/Baptismal Certificate of the minor beneficiary/ies
- Proof of relationships such as the record of birth, a statement before a court of record, or any document acknowledging the relationship
- Medical Certificate of incapacitated child/spouse
- Accident Report/Report of Death (SS Form BPN-105)
- Application for Guardianship (SS Form CLD-15)
- Guarantor’s Form (SS Form BPN-107)
- Joint affidavit of two (2) disinterested persons attesting to the fact, if such is the case, that _________ and _____________are one and the same person, stating therein the correct name.
- Passbook /ATM card with a name or copy of validated deposit slip (original and photocopy) or Cash Card Enrollment Form, if pension
- Recent residence certificate of the filer
- Latest 1 x 1 picture of the claimant
- Original and photocopy of claimant’s Social Security Card, Passport, PRC Card, Seaman’s Book, Driver’s License, or any two valid Ids, at least one with photo(e.g., Company ID, Senior Citizen’s ID, Police or NBI Clearance, Voter’s ID, etc.)
- Other documents deemed necessary by the SSS
3. Compile the necessary documents
Filling out the proper documents is one of the most difficult aspects of making a claim for the SSS death benefit. If there are many claims, you must gather their supporting documentation. Additionally, they only recognize death certificates that have been properly validated by PSA, which might take many months before they appear on their database.
A dependent pension equivalent to 10% of the monthly annuity or Php 250, whichever is higher, is available to the dead member’s dependents in addition to the beneficiary.
- Unless they are disabled and financially reliant on the dead member, dependents must be younger than 21.
- No substitutions are permitted, and up to 5 children may claim it starting with the youngest.
- Children must be naturally born, lawfully adopted, or adopted legitimately.
- Illegitimate children may also file for adoption if there are less than five legally adopted, legally legitimated, or legally dependent children.
- The dependents can’t be employed.
- The dependents cannot be married.
4. Submit the necessary requirements.
Now, once you have finished the prerequisites, you can submit them to the SSS branch that is the closest to you. The SSS will provide you a paper with the list of specifications you provided them with when it has been filed. You’ll be told when to return and how long it will take.
5. Claim the cheque
Usually, a month after the requirements are submitted, the check is prepared. To obtain your check, simply visit the branch where you submitted the claim. However, they don’t provide any computation, summary, or even a breakdown to help you plan your expectations. They might not be able to provide you one even if you ask.
The benefit will rely on two factors, namely, how many monthly contributions are paid and who is claiming the benefits if you want to know how much you could anticipate getting.
- The beneficiary is eligible to receive a lump sum benefit if the deceased member has less than 36 monthly payments. The computed monthly pension multiplied by the total number of credited monthly payments yields the lump-sum amount. (For instance, if the dead member made 35 monthly payments and their computed monthly pension is PHP 5,000, the lump payout will be PHP 175,000.)
- The beneficiary may be eligible for a monthly pension if the deceased member has more than 36 monthly payments.
Note: The method used to calculate the SSS Retirement benefit also applies to the computation for the monthly pension.
In 2019, a check was the sole acceptable form of payment for this benefit. You can now get your SSS death benefit through your favorite PESONet participating bank, e-wallet, or Remittance Transfer Company/Cash Pay-Out (RTC/CPO), such as M Lhuillier, since they are striving for a checkless transaction.