SSS makes it easier to process maternity leave claims

The Social Security System (SSS) has eased the guidelines on receiving and processing maternity benefit claims in line with the Ease of Doing Business Act and the Expanded Maternity Leave Law (EMLL).

The additional guidelines are applicable to maternity benefit claims of every delivery, miscarriage, or emergency termination of pregnancy that occurred on or after March 11, 2019, SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Aurora Ignacio said on Monday.

“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,” she said.

The amendments include simplifying the documentary requirements.

Additional documents indicating the type of delivery will no longer be required for cesarean deliveries.

Female members applying for maternity benefit claims now have the option to update or retain their maiden names.

Additionally, the SSS will now receive and process Maternity Claim Applications and supporting documents even with minor discrepancies or inconsistencies for as long as the member’s identity can still be established.

“Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) members in apostille countries may also submit their supporting documents issued with an apostille by the Foreign Ministry, Embassy or Consulate General, in place of authentication from the Philippine Embassy or Consulate General,” the pension fund for private sector employees noted.

An apostille is a legal certification that makes a document from one country valid in another as long as both are signatories to the 1961 Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement for Legalization for Foreign Public Documents.

SSS also eased the process for maternity reimbursement claims for employers whose employees did not return to work and were not able to submit the necessary documents.

Employed members are now required to submit along with their notification forms the proof of pregnancy, such as pregnancy tests signed by a physician or municipal health officer, or diagnostic test results like ultrasound or blood pregnancy tests.

Solo parents will be required to submit additional documents. They must present a solo parent ID issued within two years from the date of delivery or certification of eligibility.

Under the EMLL, solo parents may be given an additional leave of 15 days.

“With these new guidelines in place, we hope our members and their employers may conveniently access our maternity benefit program,” Ignacio said. —Julia Mari Ornedo/VDS, GMA News