|
|
Social Security:
What is the maternity benefit?
The maternity benefit is a daily cash allowance granted to a female member who was unable to work due to childbirth or miscarriage.
What are the qualifications for entitlement to the maternity benefit?
- She has paid at least three monthly contributions within the 12-month period immediately preceding the semester of her childbirth or miscarriage.
- She has given the required notification of her pregnancy through her employer if employed or to the SSS if separated, voluntary and self-employed member.
- The maternity benefit may be given to a separated female employee provided that the female member was pregnant and has given the required notification prior to the date of separation from her employer.
Is a voluntary or self-employed member also entitled to the maternity benefit?
Yes, a voluntary or self-employed female member is entitled to the maternity benefit, provided that she meets the qualifying contributions using the new contribution scheme under RA 8282.
How much is the maternity benefit?
The maternity allowance is equivalent to 100 per cent of the member's average daily salary credit multiplied by 60 for normal delivery or miscarriage, 78 days for cesarean cases.
How is the maternity benefit computed?
- Exclude the semester of contingency (delivery or miscarriage).
A semester refers to a period of two consecutive quarters ending in the quarter of contingency.
A quarter refers to a period of three consecutive months ending on the last day of March, June, September or December.
- Count 12 months backwards starting from the month immediately before the semester of contingency.
- Identify the six highest monthly salary credits within the 12-month period.
Range of
Compensation |
Monthly
Salary Credit |
| 1,000 - 1,249.99 |
1,000 |
| 1,250 - 1,749.99 |
1,500 |
| 1,750 - 2,249.99 |
2,000 |
| 2,250 - 2,749.99 |
2,500 |
| 2,750 - 3,249.99 |
3,000 |
| 3,250 - 3,749.99 |
3,500 |
| 3,750 - 4,249.99 |
4,000 |
| 4,250 - 4,749.99 |
4,500 |
| 4,750 - 5,249.99 |
5,000 |
| 5,250 - 5,749.99 |
5,500 |
| 5,750 - 6,249.99 |
6,000 |
| 6,250 - 6,749.99 |
6,500 |
| 6,750 - 7,249.99 |
7,000 |
| 7,250 - 7,749.99 |
7,500 |
| 7,750 - 8,249.99 |
8,000 |
| 8,250 - 8,749.99 |
8,500 |
| 8,750 - 9,249.99 |
9,000 |
| 9,250 - 9,749.99 |
9,500 |
| 9,750 - 10,249.99 |
10,000 |
| 10,250 - 10,749.99 |
10,500 |
| 10,750 - 11,249.99 |
11,000 |
| 11,250
- 11,749.99 |
11,500 |
| 11,750
- 12,249.99 |
12,000 |
| 12,250
- 12,749.99 |
12,500 |
| 12,750
- 13,249.99 |
13,000 |
| 13,250
- 13,749.99 |
13,500 |
| 13,750
- 14,249.99 |
14,000 |
| 14,250
- 14,749.99 |
14,500 |
| 14,750
- O V E R |
15,000 |
Monthly salary credit means the compensation base for contributions and benefits related to the total earnings for the month. Please refer to the table above.
- Add the six highest monthly salary credits to get the total monthly salary credit.
- Divide the total monthly salary credit by 180 days to get the average daily salary credit. This is equivalent to the daily maternity allowance.
- Multiply the daily maternity allowance by 60 (for normal delivery) or 78 days (for caesarean cases) to get the total maternity allowance.
For example, let us say that a female SSS member gives birth in November 1998:
- The semester of contingency would be from July 1998 to December 1998.
- The 12-month period before the semester of contingency would be from July 1997 to June 1998.
- Let us assume that the six highest monthly salary credits are P11,000 each. Thus, the total monthly salary credit is P66,000 (P11,000 x 6).
- The daily maternity allowance would be P366.67 (P66,000 /180).
- The total maternity allowance due would be P22,000 (P366.67 x 60) or P28,600 (P366.67 x 78) for caesarean cases.
For more questions on Social Security, check out http://www.sss.gov.ph/.
|
|
|
|
