The Social Security System of the Philippines offers an Unemployment Benefit to qualified members who are separated from their employment involuntarily. If you are struggling with job loss, you can check the full details of the benefit here.
Losing a job brings a sudden loss of income; hence, to provide some financial relief to the SSS members, the department has started the unemployment insurance under the Social Security Act of 2018 (RA 11199). The eligible members should file the claim within one year of the unemployment.
The recipients will receive unemployment benefits up to 50% of their average monthly salary credits for two months after their claim. This benefit is for household employees and overseas Filipino workers to support everyone from a sudden loss of a job.
What makes you eligible for the SSS Unemployment Benefit?
If you wish to take advantage of the SSS Unemployment benefit, you can check the eligibility requirements below:
- You should not be over 60 years of age when you involuntarily get unemployed, except:
- You are a racehorse jockey and not aged over 55 years old;
- You are a surface mineworker, underground, and aged over fifty years.
- You have at least made 36 monthly contributions to the SSS, and the 12-month contribution should be in the 18 months before your unemployment.
- You have not claimed the unemployment benefit for three years before the involuntary separation.
- The involuntary separation from employment due to any reason, but not due to the following reasons:
- Termination under Articles 298 (283) and 299 (284) of PD No. 442 of the Philippines Labour Code.
- Termination under Article 300 (285) of the Labor Code 442, that is, an employee has to leave the job, such as serious insult by the employer, inhuman treatment, crime by the employer against the employee, or others.
- Economic downturn
- Other analogous cases
- The employee under the Unemployment benefit includes Overseas Filipino workers and Kasambahay.
What will the SSS Unemployment Benefit payment amount be?
Eligible unemployed people who have applied for the Unemployment benefit can receive the payment based on their Monthly salary credit for two months. Hence, the payment amount can be different from one person to another. You can calculate your Unemployment benefit payout based on the following points:
- It would be 50% of your average MSC of the two months before you were involuntarily separated from your employment.
- Suppose your average MSC was PHP 10,000, so your benefit amount will be PHP 5000
How to claim the SSS Unemployment Benefit?
If you meet the SSS Unemployment benefit eligibility requirements and want to file a claim, first prepare the following documents:
- UMID card enrolled as an ATM or DAEM-approved disbursed account
- Electronic certification of the Involuntary separation that you can get from the POLO/DOLE/POEA office
Now, let’s move on to the claim process for the SSS Unemployment Benefit that we have listed below:
- Go to the My.SSS account and log in to the portal.
- Next, navigate to the Benefits tab and click the Unemployment Benefit.
- Now, select, provide, and confirm the information, such as employment category, involuntary separation date, UMID- ATM card, company name, and others.
- Now, submit the Unemployment Benefit application on the portal.
When can you expect the SSS Unemployment Benefit?
The SSS would review and verify your Unemployment benefit application, and once it is approved, the SSS would send you an email of approval. The claim process for the unemployment benefit can take around three weeks, and afterwards, you can expect the payment.
Remember, before the benefit is paid, you must serve the one-week waiting period before any benefit is paid, and the application must be processed.
Some tips for the SSS Unemployment Benefit
If you are planning to apply for the SS Unemployment benefit, here are some tips for you to ensure you apply correctly and get the payment:
- You should apply within a year of unemployment and ensure your SSS contributions are updated before separation.
- You must get the electronic certification of involuntary separation from the respective offices.
- The amount of the unemployment benefit can be deducted (full or partial) from future benefits in the following cases:
- If the unemployment benefit overlaps with other benefits,
- If the employee filed the case against the employer for the involuntary separation from employment.
- When the employee again got the job in the same company within a reasonable period, or two months after the unemployment.
- The system detected fraud or suspicious activity in the Unemployment benefit; your payment can be deducted.
The SSS offers great support to people involuntarily separated from their jobs and left to face a sudden loss of income until they find a new job.
Disclaimer: SSS Unemployment Benefit details are for general awareness only. Confirm eligibility and amounts with the SSS.
