Definition

Funeral Benefit is a cash benefit granted to help defray the cost of funeral expenses upon the death of a member, including permanently totally disabled member or retiree

Starting 20 October 2023, the amount of funeral benefit shall be as follows:

  • Variable amount from a minimum of P20,000 to a maximum of P60,000 if the member/pensioner paid at least 36 contributions up to the month of death
  • Fixed amount of P12,000 if the member/pensioner paid at least 1 but less than 36 contributions up to the month of death

Qualifying Conditions

Qualified to claim for Funeral Benefit are those who defrayed the cost of funeral expenses upon the death of a member, permanent total disability pensioner or retirement pensioner.

How To Apply Online

Applications to Funeral Benefits is done online for SSS member-claimants, while non-SSS member-claimants must file for the benefit over the counter at any SSS branch office.

Prerequisites for Online Filing


  1. Claimants must be issued an SS number and registered in the SSS website to be able to apply for funeral benefit through the My.SSS portal.
  2. Claimant must have a disbursement account enrolled in the Disbursement Account Enrollment Module (DAEM) of the My.SSS portal in the SSS website.

Important: having an issued SSS Unified Multi-Purpose ID (UMID) or SSS Digitized ID, or application for UMID card, is no longer a pre-requisite for online filing.

 

Steps


1. Log in to your My.SSS account.

2. Click Submit Funeral Claim Application under the E-Services tab.

3. Provide all the following information of the deceased SSS member and click Proceed:

  •   SS Number/C.R.N.;
  •   Surname and Given Name;
  •   Date of Birth;
  •   Date of Death; and
  •   Amount of Funeral Expense/s

Note: The SSS shall validate if all information is correct and confirm if deceased member is qualified for funeral benefit.

4. Provide information as follows:

  •   Civil status of the deceased;
  •   Your relationship with the deceased member; and
  •   Choose your preferred disbursement account in the DAEM under the E-Services Menu.

Note: The system shall automatically credit the benefit proceeds to the claimant’s UMID card enrolled as ATM, if applicable. If without UMID-ATM card, claimant must have a disbursement account enrolled in the DAEM for the crediting of benefit proceeds.

5. Upload supporting documents as follows:

  •   Proof to establish SSS membership of deceased member;
  •   Death certificate of deceased member; and
  •   Proof of defrayal of funeral expenses (if applicable)

Note: Allowed files are images and pdf only, with maximum file size of 2MB per document.

6. Read the Certification carefully and click the “Submit” box to agree and proceed.

7. Check your email for the funeral benefit claim application notice from SSS.

 

Benefit Payment


Funeral benefit shall be credited to the claimant’s UMID card enrolled as ATM. If without UMID card enrolled as ATM, funeral benefit shall be credited to the preferred disbursement account registered by the claimant through the DAEM under the E-Services menu of the My.SSS Portal.

 

Over-the-Counter Filing

List of Documentary Requirements

  1. PRE-REQUISITE FOR ONLINE APPLICATION
    1. Must be registered in the SSS Website.
    2. Must have an approved disbursement account with SSS through the Disbursement Account Enrollment Module (DAEM) in the My.SSS Portal of the SSS Website
  2. BASIC DOCUMENTARY REQUIREMENTS
    1. Proof to establish SSS membership of deceased member (Upload any one 1 of the following):
      • Social Security Card/Unified Multi-purpose ID (UMID) card of deceased member
      • Duly received SSS Records of deceased member (e.g. E-1/RS-1/NW-1/ OW-1/E-4)
      • Employment Records with member’s SS no. (e.g. company ID, payslip)
      • Letter/Certification document with indicated correct SS Number previously issued by SSS prior to the death of member.
    2. Death certificate of deceased member duly registered with the Local Civil Registry (LCR)/ issued by the Philippines Statistics Authority (PSA) or Certification of Death issued and signed by the authorized signatory of the Office of the Civil Registry and bearing the official seal
    3. Official Receipt (OR) with BIR registration bearing the name of the claimant and the deceased member (submit 1 original).
If filed by the surviving legal spouse

The following documents may be submitted in lieu of OR:

      1. Marriage Certificate issued by any of the following authorities:
        • Local Civil Registrar (LCR) or Municipal Civil Registrar (MCR);
        • Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA);
        • Foreign vital statistics office (with English translation) if married abroad.
        • National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) if deceased member or pensioner is an Indigenous People (IP); or
        • Shari’a Circuit Clerk of Court if deceased member or pensioner is Muslim; and
      2. Online certification, stating that the claimant – surviving legal spouse paid for the funeral expenses.

 

If filed by claimant other than the surviving legal spouse (Child/ren, parent/s or any other natural person):

The following documents may be submitted in lieu of OR:

      1. Certification of availment of memorial/ funeral insurance plan or any other acceptable funeral expense paid by the member or pensioner prior to his/her death, may be submitted in lieu of OR (For child/ren, parent/s or legal heir/s of the deceased member or pensioner only).
      2. Any of the following additional documents shall be submitted together with the OR, whichever is applicable:
        • Duly notarized waiver in favor of the claimant duly signed by the surviving legal spouse; or
        • Duly notarized affidavit as attested by two (2) disinterested persons, stating that the surviving legal spouse did not pay for the funeral expenses or cannot be located; or
        • Death Certificate of the legal spouse duly registered with LCR or issued by the PSA, including Marriage Certificate with the deceased member or pensioner duly registered with the LCR or issued by the PSA, if the legal spouse is already deceased; or
        • Certificate of No Marriage Record (CENOMAR) of the deceased member or pensioner, if civil status of the deceased member or pensioner is single.

 

List of other/additional documentary requirements

A. Death Certificate

In the absence of the Death Certificate, submit the following:

    1. Certification of non-availability issued by LCR and PSA; and
    2. Any one (1) of the following:
      • Certification of Death issued by the Parish/Church
      • Certification of Burial from the Cemetery Administrator
      • Certification of cremation
If member died and buried/cremated abroad
      • Death certificate issued by the Vital Statistics Office/County of Host Country or its equivalent
If member died abroad and buried/cremated in the Philippines
      • Death certificate issued by the Vital Statistics Office/County of Host Country or its equivalent/PSA

Note: For death certificate not written in English language, official English translation from the Department of Foreign Affairs/Philippine Embassy is required.

 

B. Proof of defrayal of funeral expense

If original Official Receipt (OR) is not available (e.g. lost, original copy submitted to other agency), submit any of the documents below:

    • Certified true copy of OR; or
    • Certification issued by the funeral parlor/memorial service indicating the details of payment in defrayal of funeral expenses of the deceased member.
In lieu of Official Receipt, submit (original copy):

If Memorial/Insurance was in the name of the deceased member (deceased member is the plan holder), submit the document below (for child/ren, parent/s or legal heir/s of the deceased member or pensioner only):

      • Certification of Availment from the memorial/insurance plan company

If Memorial/Insurance was in the name of the claimant (claimant is the plan holder), submit the document below:

      • Certification of Availment from the memorial/insurance plan company indicating the name of deceased member, claimant and date of death; and
      • Proof of payment for memorial/funeral insurance plan indicating the name of claimant.

 

C. Additional Documentary Requirements:
    1. In the absence of Marriage Certificate
      1. Certification of non-availability from PSA/LCR or issued by foreign government indicating that marriage records of the office/agency concerned is intact but there is no record of marriage for the requesting party; and
      2. Certificate of marriage issued by the parish/church/ministry/congregation/sect/other religious organizations/LGU/other person authorized to administer marriage or Alien Certificate of Registration showing name of spouse.

In the absence of the certificate of marriage:

      • Certification of non-availability from the parish/church/ministry/congregation/sect/other religious organizations; and
      • Any of the following:
        • Affidavit/Certificate of solemnizing officer stating the following together with authority to administer marriage, if applicable
          • date of marriage
          • place of marriage
          • reason for non-registration
        • Joint Affidavit of two (2) disinterested person who witnessed the marriage; and
        • If with children, birth certificate of at least two (2) children wherein under both documents the names of parents and the date and place of marriage are indicated
    1. In the absence of Birth Certificate
      1. Certification of non-availability from PSA/LCR or issued by foreign government indicating that birth records of the office/agency concerned is intact but there is no record of birth for the requesting party; and
      2. Baptismal/Dedication certificate or its equivalent issued by the parish/church/ministry/ congregation/sect/other religious organizations (with date of birth of child and name of parents)

In the absence of the baptismal/dedication certificate or its equivalent:

      • Certification of non-availability from the parish/church/ministry/congregation/sect/other religious organizations; and
      • Any of the following documents where the name of dependent, date of birth and the name of the parents are indicated:
        • School cards/record of dependent
        • Educational/insurance plans/health card record
        • Employment records of member
        • Philhealth/GSIS/Pag-IBIG records
        • Income Tax Return of member
        • Member’s record duly received by SSS prior to May 1997

Note:

a) Baptismal/dedication certificate or its equivalent certificate must bear the original signature of the parish priest/head of church/ministry/congregation/sect/other religious organizations or his authorized signatory.

b) Dedication Certificate or its equivalent certificate issued by the ministry/ congregation/sect/other religious organizations in lieu of baptismal certificate must bear the date of birth and the name of the parents.

    1. Additional document if deceased member is married abroad and has previous marriage in the Philippines, whichever is applicable.
      1. Certificate of finality of the judgment of annulment/nullity of marriage or annotated marriage certificate
      2. Certificate of naturalization prior to marriage abroad and decree of divorce after acquiring foreign citizenship, or its equivalent
    2. Additional documents for legally adopted children and birth certificate is without annotation.
      • Decree of Adoption and Certificate of Finality of Judgment

Note: Date of adoption should be prior to date of death.