SSS reports over 122,000 women benefitted from expanded maternity leave

The Social Security System (SSS) on Wednesday reported that more than 122,000 female members have benefitted from the Expanded Maternity Leave Law in the first four months of the year.

In a press briefing, SSS President and CEO Aurora Ignacio said 122,571 female members received higher benefits under the new law in January to April 2019.

The four months to April, the SSS has disbursed P2.67 billion in maternity benefits.

This is 15.09% higher than the P2.32 billion disbursed in the same period last year.

By January 2020, the maximum maternity financial assistance will be increased to P70,000 from P32,000, Ignacio said.

Aside from sickness, disability, retirement, funeral, death or survivor pension, and unemployment, higher maternity benefits form part of the seven benefits provided under the SSS Law.

Ignacio said the increase in monthly contributions will result in higher amounts of benefits. She cited the sickness benefit which will increase to P600 per day from P480, and the monthly average pension from P6,400 to P8,000.

“Our actively paying members today are assured that their pension, their pension fund, will take care of them upon their retirement,” Ignacio said. —VDS, GMA News