Increase in maternity disbursements seen in 2019

MANILA, Philippines — State-run Social Security System (SSS) expects a sharp increase in maternity disbursements this year following the implementation of the 105-day expanded maternity leave law (EMLL).

SSS president and chief executive officer Aurora Ignacio said maternity benefit disbursements have already reached P1.34 billion with over 62,000 beneficiaries in the first two months.

“We are expecting that these disbursements will continue to increase this year following the implementation of the 105-day expanded maternity leave law with the implementing rules and regulations already signed on Labor Day last week,” she said. 

The new law expanded the current 60- to 78-day paid maternity leave to 105 days for live childbirth, regardless of the mode of delivery, with an additional 15 days for solo mothers and an option for an additional 30 days without pay.

A 60-day paid leave, on the other hand, will be given to a qualified female member in case of miscarriage or emergency termination of pregnancy.

The maternity benefit may be granted regardless of the frequency of deliveries or miscarriage.

Furthermore, the current maximum financial assistance would more than double to P70,000 from the current P32,000 based on the P20,000 monthly salary credit.

SSS reported over the weekend more than 326,000 female members were assisted last year with maternity benefit disbursements reaching to around P7.07 billion, 15.6 percent higher than the P6.11 billion recorded in 2017.

“We are glad that we are able to assist more of our female members financially during their pregnancy in 2018. We have recorded an increase of 12.6 percent or 36,550 female members more who availed themselves of the benefit in 2018 compared to that of the previous year,” Ignacio added.

Of the total number of beneficiaries in 2018, 68.2 percent or 222,551 are employee-members with total disbursements amounting to P5.98 billion. 

Voluntary members followed comprising 25 percent or 81,641 with total disbursements of around P850 million. This is followed by 4.5 percent or 14,692 self-employed members and 2.3 percent or 7,429 overseas Filipino worker members with total disbursements of around P80 million and P150 million, respectively.

Ignacio said the pension fund manager is motivated to continuously develop its benefit programs to provide more meaningful assistance to its members.