THE Social Security System (SSS) on Wednesday announced an increase in the maximum amount of funeral benefits to P60,000.
On Oct. 20, the state pension fund started the implementation of the enhanced guidelines for its funeral benefit program.
“The new guidelines provided under SSS Circular 2023-009 aim to incentivize active membership by raising the maximum amount of funeral benefit to P60,000 and streamline the provision of funeral benefits to claimants, especially for surviving legal spouses,” SSS president and chief executive officer Rolando Ledesma Macasaet said.
Under the guidelines, claimants of deceased members with 36 or more monthly contributions may receive a variable amount from P20,000 to P60,000 in funeral benefits depending on the member’s number of paid contributions and average monthly salary credit.
The funeral benefit for members who paid at least one but less than 36 monthly contributions up to the month of death shall be a fixed amount of P12,000.
The enhanced funeral benefit shall cover embalming services, burial transfer services and permits, funeral services, including church fees or its equivalent in other religions), cremation or interment services, purchase or rent of coffin, purchase, or rent of niche/cemetery/memorial lot/columbarium, and memorial/funeral insurance plan.
The funeral expenses as indicated in the proof of payment, shall be reimbursed, but not to exceed the computed funeral benefit due.
According to Macasaet, the surviving legal spouse of a member would be given priority over other claimants.
An applications for funeral benefit would have a prescriptive period of filing of 10 years from the month of death of the member or pensioner, subject to terms and conditions as may be determined by the SSS.
A funeral benefit application can be coursed through online via My.SSS account at www.sss.gov.ph.
“As we continue to pursue the provision of meaningful social security protection through simpler, faster, and more convenient processes, we also want to emphasize that actively paying SSS contributions will not only enable our members to qualify or remain qualified to our benefit and loan programs but also allow them to attain higher and better benefits,” Macasaet said.