SSS Sickness Benefit Covers COVID-Hit Workers in Home Isolation

Here's how you can avail of the benefit.

by Arianne Merez

Photo/s: Jerome Ascaño

Workers infected with COVID-19 who are in home confinement can avail of the Social Security System sickness benefit, the state-run insurer said Thursday as infections continue to rise in the Philippines.

Employees who cannot report for work for at least four days due to an illness or injury and are confined either at the hospital or at home can avail of the benefit, SSS said.

Aside from employees, SSS said the sickness benefit could also be availed by overseas Filipino workers, self-employed, and voluntary members.

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Here's what you need to know about the SSS sickness benefit program:

What is the SSS Sickness Benefit Program?

The SSS Sickness Benefit Program is a cash allowance paid for the number of days that a worker cannot report for work due to sickness and injury, including COVID-19. Members, according to the SSS, can avail up to 120 days in sickness benefit in a calendar year.

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Who can qualify for the SSS Sickness Benefit Program?

For employed members, SSS said they could qualify for the benefit if they have used all their current company sick leave with pay and notified their employer about their sickness.

For self-employed, voluntary, OFW members, and those separated from employment, SSS said they need to file a sickness benefit application.

For members infected with COVID-19, they can qualify if they have paid at least three monthly contributions within the last 12 months before the semester of sickness or injury, and are confined either in a hospital or at home for at least four days.

Members infected with COVID-19 also need to present any of the following as proof of illness:

A positive RT-PCR or Antigen test result from a Department of Health-accredited facility
A positive Antigen test result using a Food and Drug Administration-approved test kit
A non-FDA-approved positive Antigen test result and a copy of Certificate of Completion of Quarantine issued and signed by a medical officer from the local government unit or the Barangay Health Emergency Response Team

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