SSS Disability Benefit

SSS Disability Benefit. The Social Security System (SSS) provides financial assistance to its members who experience a total or partial disability that affects their ability to work. This SSS disability benefit is a crucial form of social protection, ensuring that individuals who suffer from disabilities receive the necessary financial support.

This guide covers everything you need to know about SSS disability benefits, including application requirements, types of benefits, and application processes.

PWD Claim SSS Disability Benefit

What Is SSS Disability Benefit

The SSS Disability Benefit is a cash benefit provided by the Social Security System (SSS) to its members who have suffered permanent disability, either partially or totally. The benefit can be given in two forms: a monthly pension or a lump sum amount, depending on the circumstances and eligibility of the member.

The Social Security System defines disability based on the World Health Organization’s (WHO) definition, which is as follows:

“Disability is any restriction or lack (resulting from impairment) of ability to perform an activity in the manner or within the range considered normal for a human being.”

This means that if an individual’s ability to perform daily activities is significantly impaired due to injury, illness, or medical conditions, they may qualify for the SSS Disability Benefit. The benefit ensures that those who cannot earn a living due to their condition receive financial aid to support their daily needs.

Disability Benefit Types

Monthly Pension: This is a cash benefit payable to disabled members who have contributed at least 36 monthly contributions to the SSS prior to the semester of disability.
Lump sum amount: A lump sum amount is granted to members who have failed to meet the 36 monthly contributions required to qualify for a pension. If the disability benefit is determined to be payable for less than 12 months, it is also given in a lump sum.

Required Documents of SSS Disability Benefit

BASIC DOCUMENTS

Application form for Disability Claim (DisCA) (downloadable at www.sss.gov.ph)
Form for Member’s/Claimant’s Photo and Signature (provided by the SSS Branch only for initial claims)
From the date of filing of a claim, a medical certificate form must be completed by an attending physician within six (6) months of the date it was filed
A certified true copy of the supporting medical records
Member’s or Filer’s Social Security cards or other valid identification cards/documents, such as:

Primary ID cards/documents

A Social Security card (SS)
UMID (Unified Multipurpose Identification) card
Obtain a valid passport
The driver’s license
The voter’s ID card
A NBI clearance
Postal ID
National ID
Any government-issued identification cards or documents

Important Reminders

Applications for disability benefits may be submitted through the representative of the member by the nearest SSS branch if the following conditions are met:

The member is either confined to a wheelchair, in respiratory distress, receiving IV fluids, or suffering from another debilitating condition; or
A member is assigned to an institution such as a hospital, correctional institution, penitentiary, rehabilitation center; or
The member resides abroad.

SSS Medical Specialists may require that the file be supplemented with additional medical records/documents that they deem necessary for evaluating the claim.

Qualifying Conditions for SSS Disability Benefits

If the member is suffering from partial or permanent total disability and has made at least one (1) monthly contribution to the SSS prior to the semester of contingency, the benefit may be available to him or her.

Permanent Partial Disabilities

Including complete and permanent loss of any of the following body parts:

One thumb	One index finger
One middle finger	One ring finger
One small finger	One big toe
One hand	One arm
One foot	One leg
One ear	A pair of ears
Hearing in one ear	Hearing in both ears
Sight in one eye

The following female generative organs may also be removed, provided that the female member has not yet reached the age of 45 at the time of the operation in order to qualify for any award (Per SSC Res#1433):

Loss of the uterus alone	Loss of a single ovary
Loss of the uterus and a ovary	Loss of both the ovaries
Loss of the uterus and both the ovaries

Permanent Total Disabilities

loss of the following abilities completely and permanently:

A complete loss of sight in both eyes	A brain injury resulting in incurable insanity or imbecility
Amputating or losing two limbs at or above the ankles or wrists	The SSS will determine and approve such cases
The paralysis of two limbs is permanent and complete

How to apply for disability benefits through SSS

Ensure that all the documents you need are available before applying.
You can enroll your bank or disbursement account on My.SSS.
Visit any SSS branch or representative office. Because of the pandemic, applications need to be submitted through Dropbox.
You may request your representative to file on your behalf if you are unable to go to the SSS branch yourself.
The attending physician will conduct a physical examination and determine whether additional documentation is needed to support your claim.
Please wait for your claim to be processed for 1-2 months. Upon approval, you will receive a notice indicating the amount of your disability pension and how to withdraw it from your bank account.

How to File SSS Disability Benefit Application Form

Here are some steps fill the application form:

Step 1: Download and Fill Out the Required Forms

Go to the E-Services tab and select “Disability Claim Application (DisCA)“
Download the Disability Claim Application (DisCA) Form
Also, download the SSS Medical Certificate Form, which must be completed by your doctor
Fill out all forms accurately and ensure no errors

Step 2: Upload Supporting Documents

Prepare scanned copies of the following documents:
Completed the DisCA Form
SSS Medical Certificate Form (signed by your doctor within 6 months)
Valid government-issued ID (e.g., passport, driver’s license).
Medical records, lab tests, or hospital reports supporting your disability
Upload these documents to the My.SSS portal under Disability Benefit section

Step 3: Submit Your Application

Review all uploaded documents carefully
Click “Submit” to send your application to SSS for processing

Step 4: Wait for confirmation and Medical Evaluation

SSS will review your application and request a video call for a medical evaluation
If additional documents are needed, SSS will notify you via email or SMS

Step 5: Receive Your Benefit Payment

Once approved, your SSS disability benefit will be deposited into your registered bank account
You will receive a notification when the payment has been processed

SSS Disability Benefit Application form

SSS Disability Benefit Application formDownload

When and where to file

An application for disability benefits must be filed at any SSS branch within ten (10) years after the occurrence of the disability. In cases where the Medical Specialist is unavailable due to unforeseen events, or there is no permanently assigned Medical Specialist in the branch, the Senior Clerk/Junior Nurse receives and screens the claim application and advises the member/representative to verify the status of the claim online. Through Medical Fieldwork Service, the Medical Specialist may conduct additional verification and physical examinations.

In the meantime, and based on the Alert Level status of the community surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, disability benefit applications can be submitted through Dropbox at all SSS branches nationwide. A copy of each document and valid identification is required and should be enclosed in an envelope with the member’s full name and contact information written outside. Once the application has been evaluated, a notification will be sent to the provided contact information.

Monthly Pension

A member’s monthly pension will be determined by his or her number of paid contributions, his or her salary credit for the previous semester, and the number of years of membership prior to the semester of contingency.

If a member has less than 10 credited years of service, he or she will receive a disability pension of P1,000 per month; if they have between 10 and 20 CYS, the pension will be P1,200 per month, and if they have more than 20 CYS, it will be P2,400 per month.

Benefits Payment

The disability benefit will be disbursed through the qualified payee’s Unified Multipurpose Identification (UMID) card enrolled as an Automated Teller Machine (ATM). In the absence of this, payments shall be made by the Philippine Electronic Fund Transfer System and Operations Network (PESONet), electronic wallets (E-Wallets), or accredited remittance companies/cash payout outlets (CPOs).

Qualified payees must therefore enroll the following details in the Disbursement Account Enrollment Module (DAEM) as well as upload a government-issued identification card/document in either JPEG or PDF format, as well as a selfie with the ID card/document and the uploaded POA for the disbursement account enrolled on the SSS website under the My.SSS Facility:

If through PESONet participating banks	Bank name & account number
If through E-wallet	Mobile number linked with bank account number
If through RTC and CPO	Mobile number

Members will receive a notification from SSS via email or SMS once their disability benefit claims have been credited to their PESONet bank accounts or if payment has already been made through RTCs/CPOs. A member may also view the status of a disbursement using the Inquiry Module of My.SSS.

From the date of settlement of the claim, the crediting of benefit payments shall take place within five (5) to seven (7) banking days.

However, in case of unsuccessful crediting of the benefit to the enrolled disbursement account of the member, the member shall be required to update the details of their existing disbursement account information or enroll a new disbursement account in the DAEM, and request the re-disbursement of disability benefits via the Benefit Re-disbursement Module within their My.SSS account. A request for re-disbursement of disability benefits should be submitted to any SSS branch office by a representative payee.

Lump Sum Amount

The lump sum amount may be calculated using one of two basic formulas.

When a person suffers a permanent total disability, the lump sum benefit is equal to the monthly pension multiplied by the number of monthly contributions paid to the Social Security System prior to the semester of contingency, or by twelve (12) times the monthly pension, whichever is greater.

For permanent partial disability, the lump sum is equal to the monthly pension multiplied by the number of monthly contributions, previous to the semester of a condition, multiplied by the percentage of disability in relation to the whole body; or the monthly pension times 12 times the percentage of disability, whichever is greater.

As an example, if a Member’s degree of disability is calculated as 20% of the body, and he or she has paid the equivalent of 24 months of contributions prior to the semester of contingency, then:

24 (monthly contributions) x P1,000 (monthly pension) x 20% (percentage of disability) = P4,800; or
12 x P1,000 (monthly pension) x 20% (percentage of disability) = P2,400

The lump sum benefit to be paid to the Member would be P4,800, which is the higher amount based on both computations

Other benefits

Besides the monthly pension, a disability benefit pensioner will also receive a P1,000 additional benefit starting in January 2017. In addition to P500 supplementary disability allowance paid to total or partial disability pensioners, this goes towards providing additional financial assistance for extra needs arising from disability.

The total disability pensioner is also entitled to receive a 13th month pension each December. A partial disability pensioner is entitled to a 13th month’s pension provided that the pension period is at least twelve (12) months long.

Dependent Pension

The dependent legitimate, legitimated, legally adopted and illegitimate children, conceived on or before the date of contingency of a total disability pensioner, will receive dependent pensions equal to ten percent (10%) of the member’s monthly pension, or P250, whichever is greater.

The dependent’s pension is available only to five (5) minor children, starting with the youngest. Substitutions are not allowed. Legitimate, legitimated or legally adopted minors are preferred when compared to illegitimate minors.

Meanwhile, the dependent children of a member who is receiving a pension due to a partial disability are not entitled to receive the pension of their parent.

The dependent’s pension ends when the child reaches 21 years of age, marries, obtains employment, or dies. There is, however, a possibility that the dependent’s pension will be granted for life to a child over 21 years of age who is incapacitated and incapable of self-support because of a physical or mental disability that was congenital in origin or acquired during the minority years.

NOTE

Upon re-employment, resumed self-employment, recovery from permanent total disability, or failure to appear for examination after receiving notice from SSS:

It is the member’s responsibility to cancel both the monthly pension of the member and the dependent’s pensions if the member reenters employment or resumpts self-employment or is recovered from permanent total disability. A member’s pension will be suspended if he or she fails to present the pensioner for examination at least once a year under the Annual Confirmation of Pensioners (ACOP) Program.

Death of a disability pensioner

Upon the death of a permanent total disability pensioner, the primary beneficiaries, as of the date of disability, are entitled to 100 percent of the pension. The dependents are entitled to the dependent’s pension, excluding the supplemental allowance.

If the totally disabled pensioner has no primary beneficiaries and dies within sixty (60) months of the start of the monthly pension, the secondary beneficiaries will have the right to receive a lump sum benefit equal to the total monthly pensions corresponding to the remaining five-year guaranteed period, excluding the supplemental allowance.

Upon retirement or death of a member receiving a partial disability pension, the pension entitlement of the member shall cease once the disability period approved by the SSS based on the degree of his disability has expired or upon the retirement or death of the member.

How Much Is SSS Disability Pension?

The amount of the monthly pension you will receive will depend on the number of years that you have been a member of SSS as well as the number of contributions you have made before your semester of disability started.

Years of service credited	Monthly Disability Pension Minimum
Less than 10 years	PHP 1,000
At least 10 years	PHP 1,200
At least 20 years	PHP 2,400

Who Can Receive a Lifetime Monthly Disability Pension?

The only members of SSS who are eligible to receive a monthly disability pension for life are those who are totally and permanently disabled. The SSS, however, stops paying the pension in the following circumstances:

Recovering from total and permanent disability
Employment resumption
When notified by the SSS that an annual physical examination is due, a person fails to attend

Prescriptive Filing Period Of SSS Disability Benefit

The application for disability benefits must be filed at any SSS branch within ten (10) years of the date of occurrence of the disability.

FAQs About SSS Disability Benefit

Who are qualified for SSS disability benefits?

Ans: In order to be eligible for SSS disability benefits, a member must have paid at least one monthly contribution before the semester in which the disability occurred and be unable to work due to illness or injury, requiring at least four days of confinement at home or in a hospital.

What is the maximum disability benefit?

Ans: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) – The maximum monthly benefit is $4,018. A disabled worker’s benefit plus the family benefit is approximately 85% to 150% of the disabled worker’s benefit. A full retirement payment of $4,018 per month is available at full retirement age. However, if you retire at the age of 62, your benefit is $2,831.

What are the most approved disabilities?

Ans: Social Security disability benefits are most commonly awarded to individuals with arthritis, musculoskeletal conditions, and other disabilities of the musculoskeletal system. It is due to the prevalence of arthritis that this is the case. Over 58 million people in the United States suffer from arthritis.

Conclusion

The SSS Disability Benefit provides essential financial assistance to members facing permanent total or partial disability, ensuring they receive the support they need. By offering either a monthly pension or a lump sum, SSS helps individuals cope with the financial challenges of being unable to work. Understanding the eligibility requirements, application process, and required documents is crucial for a smooth claim process. This benefit serves as a vital safety net, reinforcing social protection and improving the quality of life for disabled members and their families.

DISABILITY	WHEN TO FILE	REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
Fracture	Four (4) months from injury or operation	The following are certified true copies: 1. A record of the consultation, or 2. Discharge Summary/Hospital Abstract, or 3. Operational Record (if operated), or 4. X-ray plate of the affected part/s
Amputation		Copy of certified true copy of: 1. Discharge summary/hospital abstract and/or 2. Operation Record (if operated)
Coronary Artery Disease and Heart Attack		The following documents must be certified as true copies: 1. Consultation Record, or 2. Discharge Summary/Hospital Abstract, or 3. Operation Record (if operated), and 4. An ECG trace with a recent result, or 5. Results of 2D echo (if any)
Cerebrovascular Attack (Stroke)	After four (4) months of onset	The following are certified true copies: 1. Consultation Record, or 2. The hospital abstract/discharge summary, or 3. Operation record (if operated), or 4. Result of recent CT scan/MRI
PTB – Minimal	After two (2) years of onset	Recent and old chest X-ray plates with official results obtained at least two (2) years ago
PTB – Moderate	After six (6) months of onset	Recent and old chest X-ray plates with official results obtained at least two (2) years ago
PTB – Far Advanced		A recent chest X-ray with an official report
Pulmonary Diseases (COPD)		1. The result of a pulmonary function test taken within the last six (6) months, and/or 2. Results of recent chest X-rays (if any)
Mental Illness	After two (2) years of onset	1. Complete and recent Psychiatric Evaluation Report, and 2. A certified copy of the hospital abstract or discharge summary (if confined).
Diabetes Mellitus	After two (2) years of onset	Recent and serial FBS results taken over the past two (2) years, and Results of recent ECG tracing (if any)
Removal of Organ		A true and certified copy of: 1. Discharge Summary/Hospital Abstract, or 2. Operation Record, and Results of histopathology
Malignancy (Cancer)		A true and certified copy of: 1. Discharge Summary/Hospital Abstract, or 2. An operation record (if operated), and 3. Results of histopathology, or 4. Results of CT scan/MRI (if any)
Kidney Diseases		Copy of a true certified copy of: 1. A copy of the hospital abstract (if confined), and/or 2. Results of the laboratory, or 3. Dialysis treatment certificate (if any).
Hearing Loss		The copy of the Audiogram taken within the last six (6) months must be certified as true
Cataract Operation	After four (4) months of operation	Copies of the following certified true copies: 1. Operation Record, and 2. A recent visual acuity report issued by an Ophthalmologist.

SSS Disability Benefit – PWD Claim SSS Disability Benefit