SSS online funeral benefit claims up 13.6% in first quarter

Online funeral benefit claims surged by 13.6% in the first three months of the year, state-run Social Security System (SSS) revealed Sunday.

The SSS said 11,088 online transactions for funeral benefit claims were recorded in January to March, up from the 9,762 transactions recorded in July to December 2020.

The latest figures come as the Philippines continues to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, but the SSS said the increase was due to the mandatory online transactions and checkless disbursements implemented in 2020.

"In line with our campaign ExpreSSS—fast, simple, and easy transactions with SSS—we committed to expanding our online services with the inclusion of funeral benefit applications last July 2020, as part of the available e-services under the My.SSS portal," said SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Aurora Ignacio.

Under the expanded online services, SSS said claimants can now receive benefits through checkless disbursements through their unified multipurpose identification (UMID) cards.

Funeral benefits may also be credited to the participating banks under the Philippine Electronic Fund Transfer & System Operations Network (PESONet); e-wallets; or remittances transfer companies.

Funeral benefits are granted to those who paid for the burial expenses of a deceased SSS member who made at least one contribution payment.

The SSS is mandated to promote social justice and provide protection to members and families against the hazards of disability, sickness, maternity, old age, death, and other contingencies resulting in loss of income or financial burden. — Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas/BM, GMA News