SSS death benefits disbursements decline by 2.3% to P54.65B in 2020

The Social Security System (SSS) said Tuesday its disbursements for death benefit claims under the Social Security (SS) Fund stood at P54.65 billion reaching 1.05 million members, down 2.3% year-on-year.

In a statement, SSS president and CEO Aurora Ignacio attributed the decrease in disbursements for death claims to the quarantine protocols implemented as early as March 2020, which limited the movements of people. 

“Considering that filing of death benefit claims is still being done thru the drop-box system, branch appointment, or thru number coding system, the number of benefit claims received and processed were also affected,” Ignacio said.

“Our employees are also on an Alternative Working Arrangements (AWA)—in compliance with Civil Service Commission (CSC) guidelines which means only 50-70% of our personnel works in the office permanently,” she added.

In comparison with previous years, death benefit disbursements in 2016 reached P38.36 billion to 797,337 members; P52.29 billion to 0.95 million members in 2017; P53.38 billion to 1.01 million members in 2018; and P55.93 billion in 2019 to 1.06 million members. 

SSS grants death benefit cash allowance to beneficiaries of a deceased member, either as a monthly pension or lump sum amount.

A monthly pension is given to primary beneficiaries of the deceased member who has paid at least 36 monthly contributions before the semester of death.

They are also entitled to a 13th month pension payable every December and an additional P1,000 benefit on top of the monthly pension.

However, a one-time lump sum amount is given to the beneficiaries of a deceased member who has paid less than 36 monthly contributions before the semester of death.

Meanwhile, death benefit payments under the Employees Compensation (EC) Fund reached P1.05 billion in 2020 to 16,252 members.

This is lower than the P1.13 billion disbursements in 2019 to 16,264 members.

In previous years, disbursements for death benefits under the EC reached P1.34 billion in 2018 to 16,366 members, P851.19 million in 2017 to 15,971 members, and P848.76 million in 2016 to 13,929 members.

“Already in the pipeline is the opening of online applications for Disability and Death claims as part of our digitalization campaign called ‘ExpreSSS.’ This is our digital services program that aims to provide SSS members and pensioners with simpler, faster, and more convenient means for registration, filing of benefit and loan applications, and other transactions,” Ignacio said. —Ted Cordero/KBK, GMA News