SSS death benefits rise to PHP 63.74 billion

QUEZON CITY – The Social Security System (SSS) released PHP 63.74 billion in death benefits during the first nine months of 2026, a 10.4% increase from PHP 57.74 billion in the same period last year, as more beneficiaries received higher monthly pensions following the early implementation of a pension increase in June.

SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Victor Alfonso A. Limlingan said the state pension fund disbursed an average of PHP 7.08 billion in death benefits monthly from January to September, providing financial assistance to families who lost their loved ones.

“The rise in death benefit disbursements shows that SSS is delivering on its mandate to protect Filipino workers and their families, especially during the most difficult moments of their lives,” Limlingan said.

“By implementing the second tranche of the pension increase earlier, we were able to provide immediate relief to surviving spouses and other qualified beneficiaries.”

Limlingan said the largest quarterly increase occurred in the third quarter of 2026, when death benefit payouts rose by nearly 5% from the second quarter.

Growth between the first and second quarters was less than 1%.

He attributed the acceleration to the early implementation of the second tranche of the SSS Pension Reform Program in June 2026, which increased monthly pensions for surviving spouses and other death pensioners by 5%.

The increase was originally scheduled for September but was advanced by three months to provide earlier financial relief to pensioners facing rising living costs.

Under the three-year Pension Reform Program covering 2025 to 2027, survivor pensioners are entitled to annual pension increases of 5%, while retirement and disability pensioners receive annual increases of 10%.

Death benefit recipients increase

The number of SSS death benefit beneficiaries increased by 5.7% to 1.4 million during the first nine months of 2026, compared with 1.3 million in the same period of 2025.

Surviving spouses or death pensioners accounted for approximately 89.8% of beneficiaries.

As of September 2026, the average monthly death pension stood at PHP 4,568, with the minimum pension at PHP 2,000 and the highest at PHP 23,422.

The SSS death benefit provides financial assistance to the qualified beneficiaries of a deceased member, either through a monthly pension or a one-time lump sum payment.

A monthly pension is granted to the primary beneficiaries of a deceased member who paid at least 36 monthly contributions before the semester of death.

Primary beneficiaries generally include the dependent legal spouse and qualified dependent children, subject to SSS eligibility requirements.

If the deceased member paid fewer than 36 monthly contributions before the semester of death, the primary beneficiaries are entitled to a lump sum benefit instead.

In the absence of primary beneficiaries, qualified secondary beneficiaries may receive a lump sum payment.

These benefits are designed to provide financial protection to families who lose a source of income following the death of an SSS member.

Funeral benefit payouts reach PHP 3.25 billion

Apart from death pensions, SSS funeral benefit disbursements increased by 5% to PHP 3.25 billion in the first nine months of 2026, from PHP 3.09 billion during the same period in 2025.

The pension fund released an average of PHP 360.98 million in funeral benefits monthly during the nine-month period.

The number of funeral benefit beneficiaries also increased by 3.5% to 151,844 from 146,666 in the corresponding period last year.

On average, 16,872 beneficiaries received funeral assistance each month.

Limlingan said the increased disbursements reflected the agency’s continuing efforts to ensure that financial assistance reaches bereaved families promptly.

“Funeral benefits may be smaller than other SSS benefits, but they provide meaningful and immediate assistance to families dealing with the loss of a loved one,” he said.

“SSS will continue to strengthen the delivery of these benefits so that members and their families receive the protection they have earned.”

The SSS funeral benefit is a cash grant intended to help cover funeral expenses following the death of a member, a permanently and totally disabled member, or a retiree.

For deceased members who paid at least 36 monthly contributions, qualified claimants may receive a variable funeral benefit ranging from PHP 20,000 to PHP 60,000.

The amount depends on the deceased member’s total paid contributions and average monthly salary credit.

For members who paid at least one but fewer than 36 monthly contributions up to the month of death, the funeral benefit is fixed at PHP 12,000.

The benefit may cover embalming, burial transfer services and permits, funeral services, cremation or interment, and the purchase or rental of a coffin.

It may also cover the purchase or rental of a niche, cemetery lot, memorial lot or columbarium, as well as memorial or funeral insurance plans.

Funeral expenses supported by proof of payment may be reimbursed, but only up to the amount of the computed funeral benefit.

How beneficiaries can claim SSS assistance

Under SSS rules, the surviving legal spouse of a deceased member is given priority over other funeral benefit claimants.

Applications for funeral benefits must be filed within 10 years from the month of death of the member or pensioner.

Limlingan said qualified claimants may file death and funeral benefit applications online through the My.SSS portal, subject to the agency’s eligibility and documentation requirements.

Online death benefit applications are available to qualified surviving legal spouses registered with My.SSS, while other claimants may file their applications at an SSS branch.

For funeral benefits, SSS member-claimants may submit applications through their My.SSS accounts, while nonmember claimants may apply at any SSS branch.

The agency requires supporting documents to establish eligibility, including proof of the deceased person’s SSS membership, a death certificate and, when applicable, proof of funeral expenses.

By expanding access to online claims and increasing pension benefits, SSS aims to strengthen financial protection for Filipino workers and their families during periods of bereavement. (SSS)