Amid the economic uncertainty of the past few months, more and more Filipino women still choose to become mothers. The average number of babies born every day in the Philippines is 7,487, which is around 311 live births per hour. [1] This number contributes to the 115+ million total population of the country (as of September 2023) and composes 1.42% of the world population. [2]
At present, the government continues to assist Filipino mothers through SSS and PhilHealth maternity benefits. The 60-day maternity leave period has also been increased to 105 days because of the Expanded Maternity Leave Law. [3]
In this article, learn more about SSS and PhilHealth maternity benefits and other forms of assistance that expectant mothers can receive from the government.
Here are the top five countries with the best maternity leave benefits in the world: [4]
Compared to these countries, the Philippines offers up to 15 weeks of paid maternity leaves. However, the number of days is not the only factor that puts these countries at the top.
The Philippines lags behind in terms of child health interventions, medical facilities, and economic status. Still, through initiatives such as the SSS and PhilHealth maternity benefits and the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), the government makes an effort to address the health and nutrition needs of the poorest households with children and pregnant women.
As a paying member of SSS and PhilHealth, it's important to learn what your maternity benefits are, how they work, and how you can avail of them. Here's what you need to know:
This maternity benefit granted by the SSS [5] is a daily cash allowance for covered female members who cannot work due to childbirth, miscarriage, or emergency termination of pregnancy (including stillbirth).
Who can receive SSS maternity benefits in the Philippines? Female private employees, government employees, self-employed individuals, and national athletes covered by the SSS can avail of maternity benefits upon meeting the following requirements:
Under the Expanded Maternity Leave Law (Republic Act 11210), [6] the SSS pays qualified SSS members a cash benefit equivalent to 100% of their average daily salary credit. (See the SSS maternity benefits computation in the next section).
The paid leave lasts for up to a certain number of days as specified by the law:
Before the Expanded Maternity Leave Law was passed, the SSS granted only 60 days of paid leave for normal delivery and 78 days of paid leave for caesarian delivery. The extended maternity leave duration gives mothers a longer time to prepare for childbirth, recover after giving birth, and take care of their newborns.
Your employer may provide longer maternity leaves beyond what the law mandates. Check your employment contract and collective bargaining agreement (CBA) or ask your HR department about it.
Another change imposed by the new maternity leave law is that there's no limit to the number of covered pregnancies. Regardless of how often you get pregnant, you'll receive maternity benefits from the SSS each time you give birth or have a miscarriage/stillbirth. Previously, the granting of SSS maternity benefits was limited to the first four child deliveries or miscarriages.
While on maternity break, make your bonding moments with your newborn matter. Here are some lullabies you can play and hum along to put your baby to sleep.
On top of the mandatory 105 days of paid leave, SSS members who gave birth may choose to extend their maternity leave for 30 additional days without pay. You can avail of the maternity leave extension as long as you notify your employer in writing at least 45 days before the end of your maternity leave.
You also have the option to transfer seven days of your paid maternity leave to the baby's father, whether you're married to him or not. This applies only to cases of live childbirth.
If the child's father is deceased, missing, or incapable of childcare, you can allocate the seven-day leave credits to a relative or your current partner you're living with, regardless of gender identity.
If you're availing of the optional maternity leave allocation, you should notify your employer about it. The father or alternate caregiver who will receive the allocated leave credits must notify their employer as well.
Eligible SSS members may receive maternity benefits of up to ₱80,000. The maximum benefit applies to members with a monthly salary credit (MSC) of ₱20,000 (those earning ₱19,750 and above per month).
If you want to know how much you'll receive, here's the formula for SSS maternity benefits computation:
Total amount of SSS maternity benefit = (Average monthly salary credit ÷ 180) x Number of paid leave days
Using the formula above, here’s how to compute your SSS maternity benefits. If you want to know how much the SSS maternity benefit is for voluntary members, you can use the same formula.
Based on the details above, here's an example of an SSS maternity computation for 2023.
That's the amount you'll receive from the SSS if your salary is in the maximum MSC of ₱20,000.
Note that you should also receive your full pay for the entire duration of your maternity leave. The Expanded Maternity Leave Law requires employers to pay for the salary differential, which is the difference between their covered employees' full salary and the actual cash benefit from the SSS.
Your employer is required by law to pay your full maternity benefit within 30 days since you filed your maternity leave. The SSS will then reimburse the total amount your employer paid you. If you’re self-employed or a voluntary member, the SSS will pay the benefit directly to you.
As mandated by the Social Security Commission Resolution No. 189.s2021, [8] Filipinos can apply for maternity benefits claims online.
Here’s how self-employed or voluntary members, OFWs, non-working spouses, or members separated from employment can claim SSS maternity benefits
Note: Make sure to submit your maternity notification as soon as you learn about your pregnancy so you can submit your Maternity Benefit Application (MBA) via the SSS member portal. Next, enroll your disbursement account for approval. Then proceed to the steps below:
The process is the same when you apply for Adjustment of Maternity Benefit. Simply choose the corresponding tab from the E-services menu.
Important reminders:
To confirm that you received your maternity benefit in advance, you can either click the link in the SSS email or go to My.SSS.
You need to register for a My.SSS account. Also, you need to enroll in the Disbursement Account Enrollment Module (DAEM), which you can do on My.SSS, too.
You can file applications for adjustments using your SSS online account if you meet any of these conditions:
The SSS no longer accepts applications for maternity benefits over-the-counter and through dropboxes. All filings and submissions must now be made online.
Members who received their maternity benefits in advance should confirm receipt within seven days from the date in the SSS email.
The Maternity Benefit Reimbursement Adjustment (MBRA) will be canceled, and your employer will refile or re-submit it as a new application.
The Expanded Maternity Leave Law doesn't require claimants to be married to be eligible for maternity benefits. All female workers who meet the required number of contributions can apply for SSS maternity benefits regardless of their civil status or the child's legitimacy.
Moreover, unmarried pregnant employees can also apply as Solo Parents upon submission of supporting documents.
Your employer should give your maternity leave benefits payment within 30 days after filing your application. The SSS will reimburse the payment of your employer once proof of payment is submitted.
Those who avail of the SSS maternity benefit shall have the security of tenure (Section 15). Availing of leave credits should not be a basis for demotion or termination.
PhilHealth maternity benefits refer to social health insurance coverage that provides women about to give birth with financial access to health care before, during, and after childbirth. It consists of complete essential health care services for qualified PhilHealth members throughout their pregnancy and childbirth.
All Filipinos, including dual citizens and naturalized Filipinos, have immediate eligibility [9] for PhilHealth benefits under the Universal Health Care Act.
Here are the conditions to qualify for maternity benefits for PhilHealth members who are direct contributors (employed, self-employed, professional practitioners, OFWs, dual citizens, kasambahays, and Filipinos at least 21 years old with a capacity to pay the contributions):
Note: Under the Universal Healthcare Law, PhilHealth members may still avail of maternity benefits even if they don't consistently pay their monthly premiums as long as they meet the required minimum number of paid contributions.
If you’re pregnant and haven’t registered for a PhilHealth membership, you need to register before you can avail of the maternity benefits. You can do so via the PhilHealth online registration facility or a representative at any PhilHealth branch via its dropbox system.
If you wish to avail yourself of the maternity benefits on your first day of confinement, you can do so. There’s a designated PhilHealth desk at accredited hospitals and surgical clinics where you’ll be assisted with your registration. Prepare the documentary requirements in advance to facilitate a faster registration process and avoid any delays upon your discharge.
Employed members need the following PhilHealth maternity requirements this 2023:
You might also be requested to provide a certification of contribution/proof of payment of contributions. From there, PhilHealth representatives can check your records online and process your maternity benefit claim.
4Ps and indigent members can coordinate with their local government units or social welfare offices to get the certification for PhilHealth enrollment or maternity benefit availment.
Under the Expanded Maternity Leave Law, PhilHealth is mandated to cover the healthcare needs of its active pregnant members and their newborns through different maternity benefit packages.
PhilHealth also covers health care services for caesarian delivery and other types of delivery in accredited hospitals, such as breech extraction.
Newborns within their first hours of life can receive the following PhilHealth benefits, regardless of the type of delivery:
These are benefit packages for expectant moms (24 to 36 and 6/7 weeks pregnant) who are at risk of premature delivery, as well as premature newborns (fetal age of 24 weeks to less than 37 weeks) and small babies (500g to 2,499g fetal weight).
PhilHealth shoulders the following child delivery costs for qualified members:
| PhilHealth Maternity Benefit | Coverage |
|---|---|
| Antenatal Care Package | ₱ 1,500 in PhilHealth-accredited non-hospital facilities |
| Maternity Care Package | ₱ 6,500 (PhilHealth-accredited hospitals) / ₱ 8,000 (Maternity clinics, infirmaries, birthing homes, and other accredited non-hospital facilities) |
| Normal Spontaneous Delivery Package | ₱ 5,000 (accredited hospitals) / ₱ 6,500 (accredited non-hospital facilities) |
| Maternity Benefits for Other Types of Childbirth | ₱ 19,000 (caesarian delivery) / ₱ 12,120 (vaginal delivery after C-section/breech extraction) / ₱ 9,700 (complicated vaginal delivery) |
| Newborn Care Package | ₱ 1,750 |
| Z Benefits for Premature and Small Newborns | ₱ 600 to ₱ 4,000 (prevention of premature delivery) / ₱ 35,000 to ₱ 135,000 (premature newborns with a fetal age of 24 weeks to less than 32 weeks) / ₱ 24,000 to ₱ 71,000 (premature newborns with a fetal age of 32 weeks to less than 37 weeks) |
There’s no minimum number of PhilHealth contributions. But to keep enjoying PhilHealth’s health benefits and medical services, members should regularly pay their contributions. This will also ensure the fund’s sustainability for continuous development.
Yes. You can avail of the maternity benefits regardless of your marital status as long as you’re a PhilHealth member.
Yes, all Filipino citizens automatically qualify for PhilHealth benefits, including maternity benefits, under the Universal Health Care Act. But members with the financial means must keep their PhilHealth membership updated.
There’s no limit to the number of pregnancies PhilHealth covers, so yes, your second pregnancy will be covered. But from a medical standpoint, it’s recommended that you give your body enough time to recover and focus on taking care of your newborn before getting pregnant again.
Unlike the SSS maternity benefit, PhilHealth maternity benefits are automatically deducted from your hospital bill when you get discharged. After the PhilHealth benefit is deducted, you’ll settle the remaining amount with your HMO, if any, out-of-pocket.
Yes. All indigents duly identified by the DSWD are automatically enrolled in and covered by PhilHealth. The female spouse is also usually designated as the primary member.
To ensure you get SSS and PhilHealth maternity benefits, check or update your membership status with these agencies. Ask for a Member Data Record (MDR) from PhilHealth and a Static Information Sheet from the SSS. You must also regularly check your SSS and PhilHealth contributions to confirm if your employer is remitting them.
If you need extra cash to fund any remaining hospital costs, consider getting a personal loan. Compare your options from top providers in the Philippines:
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Sources:
Rouselle has over eight years of writing experience in the personal finance niche. She has written feature stories, articles, and how-to guides on various personal finance and trending lifestyle topics. Before that, she briefly worked in banking and was a licensed life insurance advisor. When not writing, Rouselle likes to read books and binge-watch films and series. Follow Rouselle on Linkedin.
