SSS expedites release of benefit claims

MANILA, Philippines - The state-run Social Security System (SSS) has expedited the release of benefit claims to the victims of the fire which hit a factory of House Technology Industries. Ltd. (HTI) in Cavite last February.

SSS president and CEO Emmanuel Dooc said it has decreased the documentary requirements needed to be submitted by the beneficiaries to fast-track the payment of funeral and death benefits to them.

“We have expedited the processing of EC and SSS funeral benefits to ensure that beneficiaries of our members will get the help that they need during these hard times. We hope that SSS is able to extend the care and assistance that our members and beneficiaries need,” Dooc said in a statement.

Instead of asking for a death certificate, Dooc said the SSS used a masterlist of affected members provided by the HTI to process and release funeral grants. The same masterlist would be used in the processing of death benefits, he said.

As the administrator of the Employees’ Compensation Commission (ECC), Dooc said the SSS also used the same masterlist to release funeral benefits provided by the commission.

According to the SSS, the relatives of the five casualties from the HTI fire had already filed and received their SSS and ECC funeral claims.    

The amount of funeral benefits from the SSS ranged from P20,000 to P40,000, depending on the member’s contribution, while benefit claims from the ECC were fixed at P20,000.