SSS raises maximum funeral benefit to P60,000

The Social Security System (SSS) said Wednesday that it has increased the maximum amount of funeral benefit for its members to P60,000.

SSS said it began implementing the enhanced guidelines for its Social Security (SS) Funeral Benefit Program last Friday, October 20. 

Under the new guidelines, claimants of deceased members with 36 or more monthly contributions may receive a variable amount from P20,000 to P60,000 in SS funeral benefits, depending on the member’s number of paid contributions and average monthly salary credit.

As for members who paid at least one but less than 36 monthly contributions up to the month of death, they will be granted a fixed funeral benefit of P12,000.

“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 CEO Rolando Macasaet said in a statement.

SSS said that the increased funeral benefit would 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, or columbarium, and memorial or funeral insurance plan.

The funeral expenses, as indicated in the proof of payment, would also be reimbursed, but would not exceed the computed funeral benefit due.

Applications for funeral benefit would be given 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.

SSS member-claimants must file their funeral benefit applications online through their account at www.sss.gov.ph. Non-member claimants, meanwhile, may file their applications at any SSS branch.

“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 added. —Giselle Ombay/ VAL, GMA Integrated News