During the first quarter of the year, moms and expectant moms alike rejoiced when the Expanded Maternity Law was implemented. We all know about the increase in the number of days of maternity leave from 60 for normal delivery and 78 days for Caesarean to 105 days for both. But what else does this law mean for us in terms of our SSS benefit?
Here are 10 of the most important things to know.
1. The SSS Maternity Benefit can be enjoyed regardless of whether the mother is employed, voluntary, self-employed, or an OFW. The maternity benefit is applicable regardless of the mother’s marital status. In order to avail, she must have at least 3 months contribution within a year prior to the semester of her expected delivery date.
2. All qualified female workers are given one hundred five (105) days of paid maternity leave benefits for live childbirth and sixty (60) days for miscarriages or emergency termination of pregnancy. In addition, the law also grants those qualified an option to extend her leave for another thirty days without pay. This leave should be availed either before or after the actual period of delivery in a continuous and uninterrupted manner.
3. An additional fifteen (15) days paid leave is granted for qualified female workers who are solo parents under Republic Act No. 8972 or the Solo Parents Welfare Act of 2000.
4. There is no limit to the number of times the benefit can be availed for childbirth or miscarriages, unlike before, where SSS only pays up to four (4).
5. The maternity benefit shall only be paid once for every delivery or pregnancy regardless of the number of babies.
6. Seven (7) days of the maternity benefit may be optionally allocated by the mother to the child’s father regardless of marital status.
7. Private employers (with a few exceptions) are required to pay the difference between the SSS salary benefit and the mother’s monthly salary. For example, if the member’s salary is P40,000 and she only receives P20,000 from SSS, then the employer is obliged to pay the difference of P20,000.
8. The SSS Maternity Benefit is not a loan. It is freely given to those qualified and does not impact your loan eligibility or balances.
9. Currently, the Monthly Salary Credit ranges from P2,250 to P20,000. For more information on computing your expected SSS Maternity Benefit, refer to this.
10. To avail of the benefit, submit the MAT1 Form or SSS Maternity Notification as soon as you find out that you are pregnant. Also make sure you have an account with an SSS accredited bank for your benefit to be deposited.
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