WHO CAN AVAIL?

A female pregnant member of the Social Security System is qualified for the Maternity Benefit if she paid at least 3 monthly contributions within 12 months immediately before the semester of delivery.

HOW TO KNOW IF YOU CAN AVAIL?

You can avail of the SSS Maternity Benefit if you are in one of the following situations:

• If you're month of delivery is January, February or March and you have paid contributions for 3 months within the previous October to September.
• If you're month of delivery is April, May or June and you have paid contributions for 3 months within the previous January to December.
• If you're month of delivery is July, August or September, and you have paid contributions for 3 months within the previous April to March.
• If you're month of delivery is October, November or December and you have paid contributions for 3 months within the previous July to June.

HOW MANY DELIVERIES ARE COVERED?

The maternity benefit will only be paid for the first four deliveries or miscarriages.

HOW WILL SSS COMPUTE THE MATERNITY BENEFIT AMOUNT?

SSS will look into the 6 highest monthly contributions within the previous year before the semester of your delivery. They will choose the 6 highest contributions to find your 6 highest Monthly Salary Credits.

The 6 highest monthly salary credits will be added. And then divide the total salary credits by 180. The result will be multiplied by 60 if the delivery is normal. However, if you are in caesarian delivery, the result will be multiplied by 78. The end result will be the amount of your SSS Maternity Benefit.

But if you have paid only 3, 4 or 5 months of the previous year before the semester of your delivery, the SSS will only add up those 3, 4 or 5 months to be your salary credit.

HOW WILL THE MEMBER BE PAID?

For employed members, the employer will give the benefit to her female employee in advance within 30 days upon filing the maternity leave application. The SSS will reimburse to the employer 100 percent of the maternity benefit amount advanced to the female employee upon receiving the proof of payment and checking the validity of its legality.

For separated, voluntary or self-employed members, it will be given directly to them by the SSS.

IMPORTANT REMINDERS:

A claimant must file the SSS Form MAT-1 (Maternity Notification) duly stamped and received by SSS after the 60th day of pregnancy and before the delivery date of the child. Keep this SSS approved and stamped MAT-1 because it is one of the documents needed when filing your MAT-2 or the Maternity Reimbursement Form. Other documents needed are the certificate of pregnancy or the ultrasound report, the certified true or authenticated copy of duly registered birth certificate; SSS digitized ID or SSS ID application stub and two valid IDs with photo.