THE Christmas season is upon us. Everywhere we go, there are crowds of people rushing to do their Christmas shopping. Traffic in Metro Manila is almost at a standstill during rush hour, as people hurry across town for a reunion with family and friends, or simply to party. Now that the nine-day misa de gallo (early-morning Mass) has begun, many who observe this tradition have shorter sleeping hours and have to brave the chilly morning temperature that usually goes with the season. It’s no wonder, then, that Christmastime is one of the busiest times for most hospitals and medical facilities in the country.
According to medical experts, it is usually during this period that there is a considerable increase in stress-related confinements or deaths. Stress, lack of sleep, excessive eating and drinking often take their toll on most people’s health. And let’s not forget the effects of lighting fireworks during New Year’s Eve that victimize adults and children alike.
Given all these, it is timely to remind Social Security System (SSS) members to observe the sickness-notification rule in order to make the most of their sickness benefit. The SSS sickness benefit is a daily cash allowance paid for a number of days that a member is unable to work because of sickness or injury.
To qualify for this benefit, a member must have been sick for at least four days, either in or out of the hospital; have at least three monthly contributions within the 12-month period immediately before the semester of sickness or injury; have used up all company sick leaves with pay; and have notified the employer of his or her sickness or injury by filling out the sickness-benefit notification form, or the SSS if he or she is an unemployed, voluntary or self-employed member.
A member should notify the employer within five calendar days from the start of sickness or injury. The employer, in turn, must notify the SSS within five calendar days after receiving the notification from the employee-member. If the member was confined in a hospital, he or she has one year from the start of the confinement within which to notify his or her employer. If the sickness or injury was work-related, sickness notification should be done within 10 days from the start of confinement. The employer, in turn, has 10 calendar days to notify the SSS of the member’s work-related sickness or injury.
What happens if either the employee or the employer fails to notify the SSS during the prescribed period? In the case of the employee, voluntary or self-employed members, the confinement or sickness period to be considered shall not be earlier than the fifth day immediately preceding the date of notification.
If the employer notifies the SSS beyond five calendar days after the notification was received, the employer shall be reimbursed only for each day of sickness or confinement starting from the 10th calendar day immediately preceding the date of notification to the SSS.
If the employee has given the required notification to the employer, but the employer fails to notify the SSS within the prescribed period, which results in the reduction or denial of the claim, the employer has no right to recover the daily sickness allowance advanced to the employee.
Filing the sickness notification might be the last thing in people’s minds when they are sick, but it is important to do so. It should be an automatic thing to do when informing one’s employer of his or her absence from work due to sickness or injury.
Have a blessed, joyful and healthy Christmas season, everyone!
For more information about the SSS sickness benefit, call the SSS 24-hour call center at (632) 920-6446 to 55, Monday to Friday, or visit the SSS website at www.sss.gov.ph.
Susie G. Bugante is the vice president for public affairs and special events of the SSS. Send comments about this column to susiebugante.bmirror@gmail.com.