HR Talk: Top 10 Questions Re: SSS Sickness Benefit Answered

What happens when you get sick?

Uso na ang COVID-19 positive ngayon. At 95,000 confirmed cases, you will meet a suspected COVID-19 patient as you go on your daily lives. Everywhere I look, someone is positive.

Too Many People are Contracting COVID-19

My aunt’s adopted son was tested positive of COVID-19.

He is a BPO worker. Despite all health precautions, he still tested positive. Given that BPO workers work in closed air-conditioned areas with possible shared headsets and breathing space, it is easier for them to contract COVID-19. There’s just too many BPO workers running around and factors to consider that getting COVID-19 is just a matter of time. While positive, he is asymptomatic and is finishing up his 14-day home quarantine.

A factory that shut down last week.

All workers were tested via rapid test of COVID-19 and turned out negative. By the end of the week, the operations manager died at their home after complaining about COVID-19 like symptoms earlier. After testing, 8 out of 12 head office workers were positive! 6 were completely asymptomatic (no symptoms), one had a mild flu and loss of smell/taste, while the 8th one narrowly escaped being confined in the hospital after taking Lian Hua, a therapeutic drug that ex-San Juan Mayor Abalos took when he got COVID-19.

The rules are clear. According to Labor Advisory No. 4, Series of 2020, if you are under home quarantine, those 14 days are unpaid if there’s no more leaves available.

Labor Advisory No. 4

If you get hospitalized, there is limited PhilHealth hospitalization coverage to help. Here is the maximum Philhealth coverage you can get:

Philhealth

However, there is also SSS Sickness Benefit which allows you to claim if you test positive for COVID-19. Regardless too of COVID-19, you can apply for this benefit for any prolonged sickness so long as you’re affected for 4 days or more. Excited? I am!

Tell Us More About the SSS Sickness Benefit

sick

The SSS Sickness Benefit is a benefit paid to a member for not working due to illness or accident. It is 90% of the Average Daily Salary Credit, with a maximum of 120 days in a year, up to 2 years.

SSS Sickness Benefit

The process sounds complicated but it is actually very easy. All you need to do is submit complete documents to the SSS and you will get the money. The problem is that most people don’t have their documents ready when they see their physician/get hospital confined. So when they ask HR on how to have their sickness reimbursed, they need to return to the doctor/hospital again to get their requirements. Because of the delay, employees don’t get their full reimbursements!

So here you go, para mabilis, I wrote this all-in-one post regarding SSS Sickness Benefit para lahat na ng requirements, ma-arrange na ng applicant and company. It’s a bit long because there’s small changes between an applicant who is employed and an applicant who is paying voluntarily. But once you get the gist of it, it becomes easy and convenient. Thank you talaga to SSS for providing this benefit. Imagine, at 120 days max, this is even bigger than the maternity benefit. All you need is to follow the steps when you apply. So here goes.

Here are the Top 10 Questions Re: SSS Sickness Benefit:

     1. What are the Qualifications of the SSS Sickness Benefit?
     2. How to Compute for the SSS Sickness Benefit? Do you have a convenient Sickness Benefit Calculator to share?
     3. How will SSS pay out the SSS Sickness Benefit?
     4. How many days of benefit can you claim?
     5. Can you claim this benefit if you’re an OFW? What happens if you get sick overseas?
     6. What is the Deadlines for Applying for SSS Sickness Benefit?
     7. How to Apply for the SSS Sickness Benefit if You Pay SSS Voluntarily?
     8. How to Apply for the SSS Sickness Benefit if You’re Employed
     9. What are the additional documents a company needs to provide if the SSS Sickness Benefit Claim is filed through Company Representative?
    10. What IDs Can You Use to Apply for SSS Sickness?

1. What are the Qualifications of the SSS Sickness Benefit?

a. You need to be out sick for FOUR (4) OR MORE days. It may be sick at home or in the hospital, but doctor has to verify you are sick.
b. There’s no more sick leaves left in the present year.
c. You have promptly informed the company if you’re employed. If you’re a voluntary member, inform SSS.
d. You had paid at least THREE (3) SSS contributions in the first 12 months before the semester of contingency.

Contingency Chart

IMPORTANT: You must be sick to avail of the SSS Sickness Benefit. A doctor must certify you are sick. If you are merely in home quarantine and not COVID-19 positive, do not lie on your medical certificate to claim SSS Sickness Benefit.  

Warning

2. How to Compute for the SSS Sickness Benefit?

The calculation for the SSS Sickness Benefit is very similar to the SSS Maternity Benefit — The only difference is that it’s 90% of your Average Daily Salary Credit:

  1. Check out if you have enough SSS contributions.It is the yellow box highlighted in YELLOW. You need at least 3 hulogs for the period. For example, you got sick this August 2020, you need to have at least 3 hulogs in April 2019 to March 2020 to qualify for ANY SSS sickness benefit.

Contingency Chart

          2. Get your Average Monthly Salary Credit = Top 6 Highest MSC Divided by 6

Check out the total amount of hulogs to check your Average Monthly Credit. Similar to SSS maternity benefit, get only the top 6 premium contributions. In this case, there’s Php 2,400.00 six times between April 2019 to March 2020. 

EDDCheck out the SSS 2019 Contribution to see how much is the Monthly Salary Credit for Php 2,400.00 average. In this case, Php 20,000.00, the highest.

SSS-Contribution Table

3. Multiply the Average Monthly Credit by 0.9. That’s 90% of the Average Salary Credit. At Php 20,000, that’s Php 20,000 x 0.9 = Php 18,000.

4. Multiply the Php 18,000 x 6 and divide it by 180.

In our example, Php 18,000 x 6 divided by 180 = Php 600.00 per day.

That’s the Sickness Benefit you will get per day sick, multiplied by number of days. If you’re sick for 14 days, multiply Php 600.00 x 14 days = Php 8,400.00 sickness benefit.

Do you have a convenient Sickness Benefit Calculator to share?

Yes, I’ve made a convenient Sickness Benefit Calculator for convenience — Simply input the data on the Yellow boxes and the calculator will compute the estimated SSS Sickness Benefit for you:

SSS Sickness CalculatorDownload here for Free Excel: FINAL SSS Sickness Benefit 080120 (Please use the PC for smoother access)

DISCLAIMER:  This online calculator is made available solely for the convenience of public. It follows the SSS schedule of contribution tables and is based on the author’s own interpretation. It provides calculations based on the information you provide. All data entered are not stored. It is suggested, however, to clear your browser cache after completing your transaction. Should you find any inaccuracy, or have suggestions to improve this calculator, please PM me.

But even without the sickness calculator, it’s so easy to calculate. Just follow the table below:

Sickness Computation

3. How will SSS pay out the SSS Sickness Benefit?

If you are paying your SSS voluntarily, SSS will directly deposit the approved SSS sickness benefit onto your bank account.

If you are employed, your employer will pay for the SSS sickness benefit via your payroll. “The payment of the daily sickness allowance is advanced by the employer every regular payday. The SSS will then reimburse the employer of the amount legally advanced upon receipt of satisfactory proof of such payment and legality thereof.”

passbook

Applications may be filed in any SSS branch that is most convenie​nt to employer.

4. How Many Days of Benefit Can You Claim?

The maximum number of sickness benefit is 120 years within a year ONLY. If you exceed 120 days, SSS will not cover. If you get sick in December, SSS will only cover 31 days of the year.

120 days

If the person’s sickness continues to the next year, they can still claim the next 120 days on the second year. However, they cannot exceed 240 days total for the same sickness.

5. Can you claim SSS Sickness Benefit if You’re an OFW and an SSS Contributing Member and you got sick? What happens if you got sick overseas?

Yes, if you’re an OFW and underwent home confinement, you can file your SBA form within the first 35-day period from the onset of your sickness to avail of the benefit.

ofw

If you got sick overseas, the documents must be in English and has either been certified by the Philippine Embassy or Consulate Office, or notarized abroad.

6. What is the Deadlines for Applying for SSS Sickness Benefit?

You can apply at the SSS Branch near you. Please take note the following deadlines when applying for SSS sickness benefit:

DeadlinesWARNING: Please take note of the tight deadlines!

run out of time

It is only when you are a voluntary paying member and home confined for sickness that you have a stricter deadline that you need to notify . If you were hospital confined, it’s still a year from your first day of sickness.

If you were late in your notification filing, the sickness benefit will only start no sooner than the five days you have informed SSS.

Example, Jane was home confined from July 1 to 31, 2020 (31 days). Jane should have filed between July 2 to 6 (5 days). Instead, she filed on July 8, 2020, a delay of 3 days. Hence, minus 5 days, even though she was sick from July 1, SSS will only count it from July 3, 2020. This means, only the sickness from July 3 to 31 (29 days) will be paid by the SSS.

If you are Employed

If you are employed, your employer will be the one to file for your SSS Sickness Benefit.

Filing of notification

If you are sick and has NOT been hospitalized, you have to notify the employer within five (5) calendar days after the start of sickness or injury. If an employee fails to notify their employer within 5 days, the SSS will only count the confinement five days before you notified them.

The employer, in turn, must notify the SSS of the confinement within (5) calendar days after receipt of the notification from the employee member.

IMPORTANT: If the ER fails to inform SSS within the five-day rule, then the employer will be reimbursed only for each day of confinement from the 10th calendar day before he notified SSS.

For example,  Karen was home confinement was from March 1 to March 31, 2020 (31 days).

  • Karen informed ER on March 5, 2020 (must be within March 2 to 6) — No delay
  • Company informed SSS late on March 15, 2020 (must be within March 7 to 11).
  • SSS should have paid for 31 days from March 1-31, 2020
  • But commensurable period is only 27 days, which SSS will reimburse to Company: March 5 to March 31, 2020 only (31 days applied by ER will be reduced to only 27 days for the ER’s reimbursement).

If the sick and non-hospital confined employee has given the required notification to the employer, but the company did NOT notify the SSS of the confinement within the prescribed period. This resulted to the reduction of the benefit or denial of the claim, and the ER shall have no right to recover the daily sickness allowance advanced to the EE.

Notification to the employer is not needed if the member’s confinement is in a hospital or if member got sick or was injured while working or while he was within the company premises. In this case, the employer has ten (10) calendar days from the start of the employee’s sickness or injury while he was working or while he was within the company premises to inform SSS.

While notification carries a strict deadline, the employer have the flexibility to have the SSS Sickness Benefit reimbursed within the ONE year of the start of sickness, which was paid for by the Employer to the employee.

To notify SSS in the time of COVID-19, here are the instructions:

COVID SSS

7. How to Apply for the SSS Sickness Benefit If You are A Voluntary Paying Member?

IMPORTANT: If you’re a voluntary member and was home confined, you must submit to SSS your Sickness Benefit Application Form (SBA Form) within YOUR FIRST 5 days of your sickness. If you’re hospital confined, deadline is 1 year.

Step 1: If you’re a Voluntary Member, please download and fill up this Sickness Benefit Application Form (SBA) HERE.

Make sure that you put N/A if the data is not applicable. Initial every part where there’s a correction:

Voluntary

Step 2: Make sure your attending physician carefully and properly fills up:

          a) Medical Certificate Form on the SSS Sickness Benefit Application Form, and
b) Your SSS Medical Certificate.

Medical Certificate

Here is the SSS Medical Certificate Form you need your physician to fill up. Attach this to the completed SBA Form:

SSS Medical Certificate Download: SSS Medical Certificate Form

If this is blank, your application will NOT be approved.

Step 3: Make sure you have opened a Bank Account in an SSS-accredited bank. SSS will directly deposit the SSS sickness benefit there.

You need to submit a photocopy of any of the following so SSS can ensure your bank account truly exists:

     a. ATM Card with account number
     b. Bank account passbook with your name
     c. Bank Certificate or Statement
     d. Deposit slip showing your savings account number

BDOPhoto Source: The Daily Mad Cat WordPress Blog

If you don’t have a bank account yet, SSS will provide you a Letter of Introduction (LOI) so you can open an account in their accredited bank. After you have a bank account, put the information here on the SBA Form:

Savings account

Step 4: Submit the form with the other supporting documents:

IMPORTANT: Make sure all the documents you submit have your Complete Name and SSS Number.

If you were hospitalized, you need to submit the following:

  • Original or Certified True Copy of the Discharge Summary or Clinical Abstract, AND
  • Any of the following: Laboratory, X-ray, ECG or any diagnostic result or
    • If operated, the Operating Room Record
    • If you’re using the SSS Medical Specialist, he/she may still ask you to provide additional documents as proof of sickness.

If your sickness happened while you were still employed, and yet you are currently separated from the employer, you need an additional a) Certificate of Separation from Employment where the date of separation is clear, stating that you have not received SSS Sickness Benefit from your employer, and b) the Employer’s L-501 Form. If you are self-employed, you do not need to provide this anymore.SSS SicknessDownload: Certificate of Non Advancement of SSS Sickness Benefit

This is what the L-501 Form looks like:L-501 FormImage Source: Specimen Signature Card (L-501 Form)

If your employer does not want to give you the above, you can alternately fill up, notarize and submit an Affidavit of Undertaking in either English, Tagalog or Visayas along with your other documents. This is what the Affidavit of Undertaking looks like:

Affidavit of Undertaking

IMPORTANT: Please have it notarized before submitting it to SSS. Notarization is not expensive. Some charge only Php 50. Make sure you print two copies, one for you and the other to the notary.

Step 5: Submit all of the above to SSS with a copy of your Primary ID or Two Primary IDs.

Valida-IDs-in-the-Philippines

Step 6: If your representative is applying for you, ask him to bring his valid ID and a Transmittal List:

Below is the SSS Transmittal List:

Individual Transmittal List

He/she must also bring his/her ONE Primary ID or two secondary ID Cards with signature and 

IDs

8. How to Apply for the SSS Sickness Benefit If You are Employed?

Step 1: Print and fill up the the Sickness Benefit Notification Form (Download HERE).

Bring this with you when you see your attending doctor so he/she can fill up the Medical Evaluation (Part V) on the second page. Submit this to the company with your Sickness Benefit Reimbursement Form:

This is what the Sickness Benefit Notification Form looks like:

Sickness benefit notification formPage 2

IMPORTANT: Make sure your attending physician fills up Part VI. Medical Evaluation of your Sickness Notification Form so you can file for reimbursement. 

medical evaluation

Step 2. Attach the Sickness Notification Form, and fill up and submit it to your employer with the Sickness Benefit Reimbursement Form, which looks like this:

Sickness benefit reimbursement formRemember, both the Sickness Notification Form and the Sickness Benefit Reimbursement Application must be ORIGINAL. If the data is not applicable, write N/A. All alterations should be initialed by the member or the company representative.

The Reimbursement requires the money to be advanced to you by your employer. Sign this if you have already been advanced.

Step 3 : If you were hospitalized, you also need to submit the following:

  1. Original or Certified True Copy of the Discharge Summary or Clinical Abstract, AND
  2. Any of the following: Laboratory, X-ray, ECG or any diagnostic result:
    • If operated, the Operating Room Record
    • If you’re using the SSS Medical Specialist, he/she may still ask you to provide additional documents as proof of sickness.

IMPORTANT: Make sure all the documents you submit have your Complete Name and SSS Number.

Step 4: Submit the above with your Valid ID.

Either a) One Primary ID (e.g., UMID, Passport, PRC ID or Seaman’s Book) or Two (2) Secondary ID one of which should have your photograph and signature:

SSS Secondary

9. What are the additional documents a company needs to provide if the SSS Sickness Benefit Claim is filed through Company Representative?

You need to submit the following documents:

  1. Letter of Auth​orization (LOA) issued by the employer’s authorized signatory reflected in the Employer Specimen Signature Card (SS Form L-501)
  2. Original company ID of company representative.
  3. System-generated Transmittal List (TL) or System-generated Acknowledgment Letter, if filed through Electronic Notification (three copies); or Employer TL (three copies)
  4. Member’s Sickness Notification Application
  5. Member’s identification card/s or document/s (photocopy)
  6. All attached medical documents and reports, if any – Make sure the applicant’s name and SSS number is written on each page.

This is what the Employer Transmittal List looks like:

Transmittal ListDownload: SSS Sickness Benefit Transmittal List HERE

10. What IDs Can You Use to Apply for SSS Sickness?

Valida-IDs-in-the-Philippines

Primary IDs include the following:

  • Philippine passport – Department of Foreign Affairs
  • Driver’s License – Land Transportation Office
  • SSS UMID Card – Social Security System
  • GSIS eCard – Government Services and Insurance Corporation
  • Digitized Postal ID – Philippine Postal Corporation
  • PRC ID – Professional Regulation Commission
  • IBP ID – Integrated Bar of the Philippines
  • OWWA ID – Overseas Worker’s Welfare Administration
  • Diplomat ID – Philippine Embassy
  • OFW ID – Department of Labor and Employment
  • Voter’s ID – Commission on Election
  • GOCC and Government Office ID – branch or agency of government (Example; PNP ID, AFP ID, DENR ID, DepED ID, etc.)

Here are the list of Secondary IDs:

  • TIN ID
  • GSIS ID
  • Voter’s ID or Affidavit or Registration
  • Postal ID *Primary for banking purposes
  • School ID
  • NSO Birth Certificate
  • Baptismal Certificate
  • NBI Clearance
  • Police Clearance
  • Barangay Clearance
  • Health Card/Medical Card
  • Fisherman’s Card (Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic
  • Credit Card
  • OWWA ID (Overseas Workers Welfare Admnistration)
  • Bank Account Passbook
  • ATM Card with Cardholder’s Name
  • Senior Citizen ID
  • PhilHealth ID

FINAL NOTE: Best to Enlist to SSS

Please note the important thing about the SSS Sickness Benefit — You need to have enough hulogs to be covered.

Contingency Chart

What’s more, the hulogs must not be done retroactively so that one can receive the benefit. The contributions must be paid on time.

No SSS contributions that are paid RETROACTIVELY (or pahabol) based on the deadline will be included in determining your eligibility for the maternity benefit. This is most important when the contingency date of payment is within or after the semester of contingency.

SOURCE: SSS Corporate Communications Department, July 2019

I hope that by seeing all the benefits that SSS can provide, Filipinos will be more vigilant in paying their SSS contributions on time, and take advantage of many of the benefits offered by the SSS:

Have a wonderful MECQ week ahead!

Disclaimer

Posted by

www.TinainManila.com Thank you for subscribing and commenting if you like what you read. ❤

75 thoughts on “HR Talk: Top 10 Questions Re: SSS Sickness Benefit Answered

  1. Hi miss tina! thank you for this informative post. i would like to ask what if i notified my employer about my sickness from day 1 and they didn’t submit the sickness notification to sss. Is there anything that I can do? its been a month not having any salary. hope you can help me. thank you!

    1. Followup with your employer. Did you submit the Sickness Notification Form? It requires your signature and a doctor’s signature. Once you have it received, then you have all the right to followup.

    2. Go to SSS and followup. They should have informed SSS about it already. Was your SSS sickness benefit request approved?

  2. Paano po kapag hindi maasikaso yung notification kasi naka quarantine ng 14 days at walang relatives na mag aasikaso pra sakin? Pde ba after ng quarantine o dapat within 5 days parin to notify?

    1. It has to be arranged timely. Otherwise, you will get less than what you should have gotten.

  3. ako mam,one month sickleave,nag additional one month,ung doctor.pero hanggang ngayun po wla pko natatanggap kahit piso.ano po dapat gawin salamat po.

  4. Hi Ma’am,

    May I know lang if the employer has the access to check if approved ni SSS yung na-submit na SSS Sickness notification ng employee nila? If yes, where to check kaya sa Employer’s account kaya? Thanks

  5. WOW THIS INFORMATIVE. Mam can I have po sana excel copy ng sickness computation. Medyo nalilito pa kasi ako sa pagcompute sa sc ng mga employees namin. (starting company) thank you in advance

  6. Hi Ma’am,
    Ask ko lng po:
    1. allowed or not allowed po ba ang e-signatures for SSS Sickness Notification form / SSS SBRA? Or do we need to originally sign it?
    2. Para po sa pag fill-up ng forms, pwede po ba i-fill out nmin ito thru pdf? or should we write it manually nalang po?
    3. Sa pg-notify ni Employer sa SSS, do need to wait first sa Sickness Notification form to be submitted by the Employee? Or we can notify SSS kahit wala pa po yung form para hindi ma late sa notification? Addt’l info: Employee is confined in a hospital as of the moment.

    Thank you in advance!

    1. 1. So far, we have always done it hard copy. SSS is not as advanced.

      2. Write manually.

      3. You can have the Employee submit the Notification SO LONG AS there’s doctor’s signature. Can he send you the signed SSS Sickness Notification Form?

  7. Helow poh ask lng poh pg kumuha b Ng bank account sa sss for sickness Hindi n poh bkailngn ung sss letter?

  8. Hi Maam Tina, thank you for this blog. I have question po sana hope you can answer me po.

    1. How much po ang maximum sss sickness benefit?
    2. If three days lang po naconfine si employee, qualified pa rin po ba sia for the benefit?
    3. If the employee didnt exhaust yung SL benefit nia sa company, and was given a privilege to work from home after operation, di po ba disqualify na sia for the benefit?

    Hope you can answer me Maam.

    1. Need to exhaust all leaves before can qualify for SSS sickness benefit.

      The maximum number of sickness benefit is 120 years within a year ONLY. If you exceed 120 days, SSS will not cover. If you get sick in December, SSS will only cover 31 days of the year.

      Doctor must verify you’re truly sick. The form requires doctor’s signature and additional docs.

      Employee can apply for sickness benefit if ubos na ang sickness leave and he has enough SSS hulogs.

      Hope this helps!

  9. Hi ma’am,
    This is so informative. Thank you so much. May God bless you always and your family.

  10. Hi po, what if COVID positive siya and home quarantined lang. Walang attending physician na nagmomonitor? Sino po magfill up ng sa medical certificate niya?

  11. question po sino po ang pipirma sa form ng sss ng nagpositive na covid patient? kasi hindi daw po ang ospital

    1. SSS Sickness Notification must be signed by your employer AND a licensed physician. who can confirm that you are COVID-19 positive. Needs to be a licensed doctor, NOT the hospital itself.

  12. Hi Ms. Tina
    Ask ko lang po if pwede po ako magfile for sickness benefit, if positive result sa rapid test at naghome quarantine ng 14days.?

    1. No, you need a swab test. Maraming false positive sa rapid.

      And you need enough SSS hulogs to qualify for the benefit. Do you have enough hulogs?

  13. Hi Ms. Tina, this information is very helpful po. Ask ko lang din po is ever na mag file si EE ng sickness notification kasi covid-19 positive sya, is there additional requirements needed po ba pag home confinement/quarantine lang?

    1. If you are CONFIRMED COVID-19 POSITIVE via RT-PCR, you can avail of the SSS Sickness Benefit and EC Benefit.

      Staff can apply for SSS Sickness Benefit and Employee Compensation (EC) Benefit IF he/she is confirmed POSITIVE of COVID-19. Only apply for ECC if you got COVID-19 at work.

      IMPORTANT: You must be confirmed sick by a doctor to abail of the two benefits. A Licensed physician input and PRC license is required to sign the SSS Sickness Notification Form to avail of the SSS Sickness Benefit and EC Benefit. Otherwise, more medical docs may be required for approval. Approval depends on SSS (though if your EC Benefit is denied, you can appeal this to the ECC).

      1. What are the Qualifications of the SSS Sickness Benefit?

      a. You need to be out sick for FOUR (4) OR MORE days. It may be sick at home or in the hospital, but doctor has to verify you are sick.
      b. There’s no more sick leaves left in the present year.
      c. You have promptly informed the company if you’re employed. If you’re a voluntary member, inform SSS.
      d. You had paid at least THREE (3) SSS contributions in the first 12 months before the semester of contingency. See chart below kung eligible ka.

      2. What are Qualifications of EC Benefit?

      NOTE: Can apply so long as you’re employed and company has been paying SSS contributions which incorporate the EC payment. So kahit second month of work ka pa lang, covered ka na.

      To claim EC benefit, staff must be POSITIVE via RT-PCR swab test. Company must inform SSS within 5 days of sickness and records incident in the EC logbook. The EC logbook is important. Staff must have confirmed to have gotten sick AT WORK. Company can certify this. But as I said, dapat RT-PCR positive, informed si SSS and nakarecord sa EC Logbook yung sickness acquired through work.

      How to apply for SSS Sickness: https://www.google.com.ph/amp/s/tinainmanila.com/2020/08/05/hr-talk-sss-sickness-benefit/%3famp

      How to apply for EC benefit: https://tinainmanila.com/2021/04/05/hr-talk-top-15-questions-answered-re-the-employee-compensation-program-where-you-get-paid-if-you-get-sick-injured-die-at-work/?amp

      1. HI Ms. Tina, good day! Just want to ask lang po.

        Here po the scenario:

        Si employee nagkasymptoms ng COVID and he was advised by his employer to take self quarantine (no assistance/compensation). After that, he had his teleconsultation and the doctor advised to have swab test. The swab test result is negative but as he follow up his doctor he was recommended to extend for additional 5 days quarantine dahil nagkasymptoms ule sya and he need to have follow up consultation that. In his case, pwede po ba ito maifile sss sickness?

        Thank you!

        1. 1. Quarantine time is truly no work no pay. Company is not obliged to pay him when he did not work.

          2. Given the swab test and no doctor can certify he is not sick, he is ineligible for SSS Sickness Benefit.

          So the answer is no. Sorry about your friend.

      2. HI Ms. Tina, Good day!

        May I ask, if there is official annoucement of any advisory from SSS regarding SSS Sickness benefit for employees who had tested positive in COVID-19?

        TIA!

        1. You can apply for SSS Sickness so long as you have enough SSS contributions and if you’re positive of COVID-19 via RT PCE

  14. Hi Ms. Tina, HR po ko and magsesend na po ako siickness notification sa SSS online ng mga affected employees namin. Meron dun 2 option SSS or EC. What is the difference of this two? At ano mas maganda piliin dito?

    1. If you are CONFIRMED COVID-19 POSITIVE via RT-PCR, you can avail of the SSS Sickness Benefit and EC Benefit.

      Staff can apply for SSS Sickness Benefit and Employee Compensation (EC) Benefit IF he/she is confirmed POSITIVE of COVID-19. Only apply for ECC if you got COVID-19 at work.

      IMPORTANT: You must be confirmed sick by a doctor to abail of the two benefits. A Licensed physician input and PRC license is required to sign the SSS Sickness Notification Form to avail of the SSS Sickness Benefit and EC Benefit. Otherwise, more medical docs may be required for approval. Approval depends on SSS (though if your EC Benefit is denied, you can appeal this to the ECC).

      1. What are the Qualifications of the SSS Sickness Benefit?

      a. You need to be out sick for FOUR (4) OR MORE days. It may be sick at home or in the hospital, but doctor has to verify you are sick.
      b. There’s no more sick leaves left in the present year.
      c. You have promptly informed the company if you’re employed. If you’re a voluntary member, inform SSS.
      d. You had paid at least THREE (3) SSS contributions in the first 12 months before the semester of contingency. See chart below kung eligible ka.

      2. What are Qualifications of EC Benefit?

      NOTE: Can apply so long as you’re employed and company has been paying SSS contributions which incorporate the EC payment. So kahit second month of work ka pa lang, covered ka na.

      To claim EC benefit, staff must be POSITIVE via RT-PCR swab test. Company must inform SSS within 5 days of sickness and records incident in the EC logbook. The EC logbook is important. Staff must have confirmed to have gotten sick AT WORK. Company can certify this. But as I said, dapat RT-PCR positive, informed si SSS and nakarecord sa EC Logbook yung sickness acquired through work.

      How to apply for SSS Sickness: https://www.google.com.ph/amp/s/tinainmanila.com/2020/08/05/hr-talk-sss-sickness-benefit/%3famp

      How to apply for EC benefit: https://tinainmanila.com/2021/04/05/hr-talk-top-15-questions-answered-re-the-employee-compensation-program-where-you-get-paid-if-you-get-sick-injured-die-at-work/?amp

  15. Very helpful po ito, Ms. Tina! Thank you. Ask ko lang po may employee ako CONFIRMED COVID-19 POSITIVE via RT-PCR pero asymptomatic naman sya. Can he avail SSS Sickness Benefit?

    1. Yes he can apply so long as there’s an RT-PCR result and a licensed doctor’s certification.

      1. Hi mam regarding licensed doctor’s certification, is tele consultation or e-certification from a doctor po ay pwede na as attachement sa requirements po ng SSS Sickness. or need nya ng doctor to directly fill up yung Sickness Notification medical portion nya po. thank you po

        1. I had a licensed doctor directly fill up the form because it requires a signature. You can try it with an ecert but there’s a possibility it will be denied. Hope this helps!

  16. Hello Ms. Tina, for EC benefits, may minimum amount and maximum amount of bills lang po ba ang pag-avail nito? Thank you so much!

  17. Hi ms.tina ask ko lng po about sa sickness benefits ko im a cancer patient nag start po ako ng chemo august 2020 nkapag file po ako ng 30dayd sickness benefits nung 2020 ung 90days po na sickness benefits ko to complete the 120days max pra sa year 2020 Naifile ko na sia march 2021 na po pero lhat ng medical cert, lab test na date is 2020 so na approved nman na sia ni sss last march 2021. My question is, ung oncologist ko po binigyan nia ulit ako ng medical cert pra sa sss sickness benefits another 120days for the year 2021 month of january to may 2021. Hindi po ba sia kumplikado since ung 90days ko for 2020 eh 2021 ko na po na file then mag file ulit ako another 120days for 2021 nman po. Thank you in advance

    1. Complicated but you need to go through the process. File repeatedly and see which one SSS approves. No harm to file and see. Hope this helps!

  18. HI MS. TINA, MAY I ASK A QUESTION. NAGPOSITIVE KASI BAYAW K NUNG MARCH 17 LUMABAS RESULT, AND LAST DAY IS MARCH 28, 2021.. IS HE ENTITLED PO BA SA 30,000 SA SSS SICKNESS BENEFOT

    1. SSS Sickness Benefit amount depends on the employee’s amount of contribution. Kung mababa ang hulog, mababa din ang makukuha ng employee.

      Your bayaw needs to check what is the 6 highest hulogs between October 2018 to September 2019. You need 3 hulogs at least to qualify. Hope this helps!

    2. Sorry it’s October 2019 to September 2020 if you’re sick on March 2021

  19. Hi Tina, May i ask for the password for the File FINAL SSS Sickness Benefit 080120? I already downloaded the excel file, but unfortunately it requires password so i can access it. Thank you so much.

    1. You only have to input the info on the spaces which are relevant. If you click on any other areas, you require a password.

  20. Hi Ms Tina,

    Been separated from employer for a year now. Last hulog was in April 2020. If i got sick this month can i avail sickness benefit even if i didn’t update or paid contributions for the past 12mos? (still unemployed).

    Thank you!

    1. You have to be sick on or by June 2021 to still be covered. Afterwards you are no longer eligible.

  21. Hello Ms Tina,

    Symptomatic Covid 19 positive po ako. Gusto ko po sana mag avail ng SSS sickness benefits. Possible pa din po ba yun? Complete po ako ng documents. Filled up na din by me and doctor ung form. Meron din po ko lhat ng sinabi nyo requirements sa taas. Kaso po the only priblem is mukhang ayaw iallow ni Employee for the reasons na. I still have unused leave – which is supposed to be wala na po but considering may situation i was granted for an isolation leave. May natira po ako leave na 7 pero po yung leave na natira is not paid day offs kung hindi po yung leave na forced kami itake for auditng purposes. They decided while im away to used it and bigla ako bigyan isolation leave. Elligible po ba ako for sss ai kness benfits? 28 days po ako nagbed rest.. includinf na sa 28 days yung pag stay ko sa isolation favility for 10 days. Thank you po in advance sana ll mannotice nyo question ko.

    1. You have to use up all your paid leaves first before you can apply for SSS Sickness Benefit. Once ubos na yung Leaves mo from company, then you can apply for the SSS Sickness Benefit.

      Hope this helps!

  22. ask ko po…1. if you have a exposure to covid , asymptomatic and rt-pcr negative, can you avail sss sickness. 2. if you are symptomatic, with covid exposure, rt-pcr negative, can you avail sss sickness benefits since you are required quarantine for 14 days. Thanks po.

  23. Hi! What if the company compensates the 14 days that the employee is on a quarantine (employee is COVID19 positive) in forms of PTOs/leaves, can she still apply for SSS Sickness Benefit? Or SSS will no longer provide the benefit? Thank you!

  24. Hi Ms Tina
    I would like to ask for a remedy to correct filed SSS notification in SSS website. How can I correct the number of days applied? Do I need to resubmit a SSS Notification on the SSS website again to make necessary correction?
    Thank you and keep safe.
    L.Gomez

    1. Uh-oh. Resubmit and coordinate with your SSS Representative that’s assigned to your company. May be approved or not, at least you tried.

      1. Hi Ms Tina, can you have my name change here in your blog. It should be L.Gomez not my companys’ email add. Thanks

  25. Hello ma’am, if GCQ po ba, okay lang po ba magfile ng sss sickness notification after 1 month? thank you

  26. Do SSS sickness benefit rules require that we consume vacation leaves too, on top of aick leaves?

  27. How will be na notification po online, may leaves pa po ako this week and will be leave without pay next week. Next week lang po ako magbbigay ng Sickness notification form? submission of Sickness Notification form po ba after web notification ni Employer I have to submit it within 30 days sa branch po or email lang?

  28. Ano incentives Makukuha sa Sickness Notification kapag case ay positive covid 19.
    Sabi ng hr sakin ay Makukuha lang na incentives ay mga nagastos kong Gamot Ibabalik ng SSS. Tama po ba o hindi cash allowance?

  29. Hi Ms Tina,

    Thanks for the very impormative blog. Also would like to request for an updated format of your Final SSS Sickness Benefit excel computation, since the nag increase na ang SSS. Also with regards to your excel file, the row 47 or Total Number of Sick Leave is a protected sheet.
    Thanks a lot..

  30. Hi Miss,

    Pagkasend po ng sickness notification ano ng susunod? kaya lang po positive covid 19 ang employee aug 29-sept 10 sya naka isolate. Nag file kami ng sickness notification Sept 11 na. Maka avail pa kaya ng benefits?

    TIA

  31. Hello Ms. Tina,

    Regarding po sa Sickness Application ng kaibigan ko, the status is returned – need to submit official swab test result.
    Ano po dapat gawin? Need po ba mag file nang notification ulit?

  32. Hi Ma’am Tina, good day! I filed a sickness notification from SSS and it was already approved for 20 days, but the employee has remaining 2 sick leave balance. is it okay to file sickness reimbursement and indicate the remaining sick leave balance? thank you in advance

  33. What if separated from previous employer, applied after 3 days from separation. Then i have new employer right away and they paid me for those days i got sick. I have separation and non advancement certificate from previous employer. Eligible po ba ako sickness benefit?

    1. Additional information lang po, i got sick when i was in my previous employer pa, ang nangyari ngkasabay po sila employer ko when i got sick.

Leave a Reply