SSS creates online system for sickness notification

MANILA, Philippines - The Social Security System has created an online “sickness notification system” in order to make it easier for members to apply for and claim sickness benefits.

In its Circular No. 2015-015, the fund said employers would be required to use the E-Sickness Notification System through the SSS website to alert the fund of their employees’ absences.

“To facilitate the submission of Sickness Notifications and to avoid reduction or denial of sickness claims, an online notification system for sickness benefit through the SSS website is hereby established,” the SSS said.

“With the establishment of the E-Sickness Notification System through the web, employers shall use this facility to notify SSS of their employees’ absences,” the fund said.

Employers need to fill up the E-Sickness Notification Form online which would include the member’s social security number, start of confinement or sickness, claim type, the number of days being claimed, hospital confinement details, and attending physician’s license number.

Within 30 days from the electronic submission, employers would need to file at any SSS branch a system-generated transmittal list, the hard copy of the encoded E-Sickness Notification, and any supporting documents.

The circular was signed by SSS president and CEO Emilio de Quiros Jr. last Oct. 12.

SSS has paid out P512 million in sickness benefits in the first quarter and another P26 million for sickness claims under the employees’ compensation program.

The fund raked in P32.2 billion in contributions as of March and P8.8 billion in investments and other income, bringing gross revenues to P41 billion during the period.

Operating expenses, meanwhile, reached P1.9 billion in the first quarter.

SSS has 23.68 million employees and 921,825 employers registered as of end-March this year. Self-employed members comprised 4.41 million during the period, while voluntary members were 4.44 million.