SSS Unemployment Benefits 2022 FAQ (v2022-1)
Q: I will be terminating some employees due to business reverses, labor saving devices and/or redundancy. Are there any SSS benefits that they will be entitled to while they are looking for other employment?
Yes. The SSS has a program for Unemployment Insurance also known as Separation Benefit.
Q: What is provided by the SSS Unemployment Benefits Program?
Cash assistance to involuntarily separated employees.
Q: What kind of employees are covered?
All employees including household employees and overseas Filipino workers (sea-based and land-based).
Q: How much cash assistance is provided?
An amount equivalent to 50% of the average monthly salary credits (AMSC) of the separated employee for a maximum period of two months.
Q: If my employee has an AMSC of Php20,000.00, how much is the maximum that he will receive?
He/she can receive a maximum of Php20,000.00.
Q: Are all employees automatically qualified?
No. There are qualifications. The benefit also only applies to specific causes of termination.
Q: What are the qualifications/requirements?
- The employee must not have availed of or received unemployment checks for the last three years;
- The employee must have made at least 36 monthly contributions; 12 of those contributions should have been paid within the last 18 months prior to the separation;
- The employee should be 60 years old and below;
- If the employee is an underground or surface mine worker, he must not be over 55;
- If the employee is a racehorse jockey, he must be not over 55.
Q: What causes of termination are covered?
Some examples are:
- Installation of labor-saving devices;
- Redundancy;
- Retrenchment or downsizing;
- Closure or cessation of operation;
- Disease/illness of the employee whose continued employment is prohibited by law or is prejudicial to his or her co-employees’ health;
- Disease/illness of the employee whose continued employment is prohibited by law or is prejudicial to his or her co-employees’ health
The above list is not comprehensive.
If I terminated the employee for some kind of wrong-doing (just cause), can he/she avail of the unemployment benefit?
No.
If my employee resigned, can he/she avail of the unemployment benefit?
No.
Can I assist my former employees in applying for the unemployment benefit?
No. The SSS provides an online procedure for members to avail of the unemployment benefit. They will need to log in to their own SSS account to apply.