How To Apply for SSS Unemployment Benefit: An Ultimate Guide

ByemmaUpdated OnNovember 7, 2023

Losing your job suddenly can be an extremely terrifying experience, especially if you are the primary provider for your family. How To Apply for SSS Unemployment Benefit: An Ultimate Guide This is an unfortunate reality for many Filipinos who rely solely on their employment for income. Fortunately, the Social Security System (SSS) offers an unemployment benefit as a key provision of the Social Security Act of 2018 (Republic Act 11199). This benefit can provide temporary financial assistance for Filipino employees who have recently been laid off while they search for new employment. This guide will walk you through the process of applying for and filing an SSS unemployment benefits claim so that you can maintain financial stability during this challenging time. Remember, while unemployment may be difficult, it is not the end of the world.

What Is the SSS Unemployment Benefit?

The SSS unemployment benefit, also known as unemployment insurance or involuntary separation benefit, provides cash assistance to Filipino employees, including kasambahays and Overseas Filipino Workers (both sea-based and land-based), who have lost their jobs unexpectedly. This benefit is not a loan and does not need to be repaid. It is the newest benefit offered by the Social Security System (SSS), which also provides other benefits such as maternity, sickness, disability, retirement, funeral, and death benefits.

The Social Security Act of 2018 (RA 11199) made unemployment benefits a reality and is implemented through Rule 27 of its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). During the COVID-19 pandemic, SSS approved over Php 1.2 billion in unemployment benefits for up to 60,000 premium-paying members who lost their jobs due to the pandemic. As of September 2021, the total number of recipients has reached 196,000 members, who have received PHP 2.35 billion worth of SSS unemployment benefits since March 2020.