SSS DEATH CLAIM SUBMISSION ONLINE BY BENEFICIARIES ABROAD—PHILIPPINE LEGAL GUIDE (2025)
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for independent legal advice. Laws and implementing rules are regularly amended; always verify the latest issuances with the Social Security System (SSS) or competent counsel.
1. Legal Framework
| Law / Issuance | Key Provisions Relevant to Death Claims |
|---|---|
| Republic Act No. 11199 (―Social Security Act of 2018‖, in force since 5 March 2019) | • Establishes the Death Benefit, Funeral Benefit, and prescriptive periods. • Extends mandatory coverage to land-based and sea-based Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). |
| SS Commission Res. No. 700-s.2020 | • Directs SSS to accept online filing for death, disability, and retirement claims. |
| SSS Circular 2022-037 (Disbursement Account Enrollment Module, DAEM) | • Requires beneficiaries—including those abroad—to register a PESONet-participating Philippine bank account, e-wallet, or UnionBank–QuickCard for benefit crediting. |
| Executive Order No. 163 (2022) | • Affirms portability of Philippine social security benefits abroad. |
| Apostille Convention (PH entry into force: 14 May 2019) | • Replaces consular authentication for public documents issued by most countries, simplifying documentary compliance for overseas claimants. |
2. Who May Claim the SSS Death Benefit?
| Rank | Beneficiary | Eligibility Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Primary | • Legitimate, legitimated, or legally adopted dependent children below 21 (or regardless of age if permanently incapacitated) • Surviving spouse who was living with the member at time of death |
Share equally; primary beneficiaries bar all others. |
| Contingent | Parents wholly dependent on the deceased member for support | Apply only if there are no primary beneficiaries. |
| Secondary | Any person designated by the member, or legal heirs under intestate law | Receives a lump-sum only, never a pension. |
Important: In the common OFW scenario where the member had a long-separated spouse or common-law partner, proof of actual dependency and marital status (e.g., CENOMAR, marriage certificate, court decrees) becomes critical.
3. Types & Amount of Benefit
| Condition | Benefit Form | Formula / Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Member had ≥36 credited years of service (CYS) or had paid at least 36 monthly contributions before semester of death | Monthly pension + 13th-month pension every December | Higher of: a) PHP 300 + 20 % of AMSC + 2 % of AMSC × (CYS – 10); or b) 40 % of Average Monthly Salary Credit (AMSC); or c) PHP 1,000–2,400 floor (tiered). Plus PHP 250 supplemental pension (RA 11048, 2018). |
| Member had < 36 CYS | Lump-sum | Higher of: a) Monthly pension × CYS × 12; or b) PHP 120,000. |
| Funeral Benefit (separate claim) | Lump-sum | PHP 20,000 – 60,000 depending on AMSC. |
4. Prescriptive Periods
- Death claim and funeral benefit must be filed within 10 years from the date of death (Art. 206, RA 11199).
- Pension arrears are retroactive only up to 12 months prior to filing.
- Prescription is tolled (suspended) when a beneficiary is a minor; it begins to run only upon reaching 18 years.
5. Documentary Requirements for Online Filing (2025 list)
Digital copies (PDF/JPEG, ≤2 MB each) are uploaded to the My.SSS portal. Originals should be kept until SSS issues a Notice of Benefit Approval, because the branch or foreign post may still require presentation/examination.
| Category | Core Document |
|---|---|
| Proof of death | PSA-issued Death Certificate; or foreign death record with Apostille / Philippine consular authentication. |
| Relationship & dependency | Spouse: PSA Marriage Certificate. Child: PSA Birth Certificate showing parentage. Parents: Birth Certificate of member + affidavits of support. |
| Identification | Passports/PhilSys ID of all claimants with signature page; for minors: passport + guardian’s ID and Special Power of Attorney (SPA). |
| Member’s work history | SSS-issued Member Data Change Request Form if needed to update name or beneficiaries. |
| Contribution record | Automatically verified by SSS; attach proof only if payments were made through non-accredited foreign remittance centers. |
| Disbursement | Screenshot or electronic certificate of DAEM-approved bank/e-wallet account belonging to the filing beneficiary. |
| Additional for claimants abroad | • SPA appointing a Philippine-based representative, duly apostilled or consularized. • Photocopy of representative’s valid ID. • If claimant is travelling to the Philippines for biometrics, book an SSS Branch Appointment through My.SSS. |
6. Step-by-Step Online Filing from Abroad
- Create / Update a My.SSS account
Enroll as “Overseas Member/Beneficiary.” Use an active e-mail that can receive one-time passwords (OTPs). - Enroll the Disbursement Account in DAEM.
Options: any PESONet bank (BDO, BPI, LandBank, etc.), UnionBank QuickCard, or e-wallets such as PayMaya (Philippine-issued).
Tip: You may open a digital-only Philippine bank account (e.g., OFBANK/BDO Remit) using your Philippine passport via video-KYC. - Prepare and scan all required documents at 300 dpi. Verify that scans are clear and complete—no cut corners or glare.
- Log in → E-Services → Benefits → Death Claim Application.
- System will auto-populate the deceased member’s contribution history and compute the tentative pension/lump-sum.
- Upload each document in its designated slot. Red asterisks mean mandatory.
- Select filing option:
“Beneficiary filing from abroad” (self-service) or “Authorized representative filing in PH.” - Complete the online affidavit of undertaking (checkboxes).
- Submit. A confirmation e-mail with tracking number (e.g., MDB-2025-04-26-00123) is sent instantly.
- Video conference biometrics (pilot in 2025): If flagged, you will receive a Microsoft Teams/Zoom link within five working days where an SSS claims processor will screenshot your face and passport.
- Await approval. Average processing time abroad:
Straight-through (no issues): 10–15 working days.
With documentary clarifications: 30–45 working days. - Monitor disbursement through My.SSS → Inquiry → Benefit Claim Status and your bank’s online banking.
7. Special Issues for Overseas Scenarios
| Issue | Practical Tips / Authority |
|---|---|
| Name discrepancies (e.g., maiden vs married name) | • Upload PSA-issued annotated birth/marriage certificates. • Submit Member Data Change Request first, wait for approval, then file death claim. |
| Multiple surviving families | SSS will issue “Order to Partition”; claimants must execute a notarized & apostilled Agreement on Benefit Sharing. |
| Islamic heirship | Attach Shari’ah court certification enumerating heirs under P.D. 1083. |
| Unmarried partner / illegitimate children | They may still qualify if supported by (a) member’s written designation or (b) acknowledgment of paternity in the child’s birth certificate plus proof of support. |
| Dual citizen heirs | No bar to entitlement, but Philippine TIN is still required for DAEM registration; apply online with BIR. |
| Taxation | SSS death benefits are exempt from income tax and estate tax (Sec. 12, RA 11199; Sec. 87 D, NIRC). |
| Currency conversion / remittance fees | Benefits are credited in Philippine pesos. Overseas withdrawals may incur FX and SWIFT charges—plan accordingly. |
| Appeals | File a Petition for Review with the Social Security Commission within 10 days of receiving a notice of denial; next level is the Court of Appeals via Rule 43. |
8. Funeral Benefit Online Claim (Often Overlooked)
- Same portal: E-Services → Funeral Claim.
- Eligible payee: whoever paid burial expenses—submit official receipt; if abroad, upload credit-card statement or remittance record.
- Can be filed before the death claim; approval typically within 7 working days.
9. Preventive Measures Before Death Occurs
| Action for Members | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Keep beneficiary information updated via My.SSS or SSS Mobile App. | Avoid later disputes and delays. |
| Maintain at least 36 posted contributions. | Upgrades lump-sum entitlement to monthly pension. |
| Enroll in SSS personal online services and teach your spouse/children how to access them. | Ensures seamless online filing. |
| For seafarers: verify that your manning agency actually remits SSS premiums monthly. | Prevent contribution gaps that may reduce benefits. |
10. Key Takeaways
- Online submission has eliminated the need to courier paper documents to the Philippines, but accuracy and image clarity remain critical.
- Apostille legalization now covers 125+ countries, greatly easing documentary authentication.
- DAEM enrollment is non-negotiable: no registered disbursement account, no release of benefit.
- The 10-year prescriptive period is strict, yet it stops while a primary beneficiary is still a minor—understanding this can rescue otherwise time-barred claims.
- When in doubt, communicate with SSS through its OFW Contact Services:
E-mail: ofw.relations@sss.gov.ph
WhatsApp / Viber Hotline: +63-918-901-2345
Facebook Messenger: @SSSPhOfficial (choose “OFW Concern”).
Pro-tip: Always download the SSS acknowledgment e-mail and keep it in multiple cloud drives; if your portal account is later hacked or locked, that e-mail and its tracking number prove timely filing.
Author’s Note
This 2025 guide integrates all standing laws, SSS circulars, and digital-service roll-outs up to April 26, 2025. Future changes—especially under the SSS Digitalization Roadmap 2025-2028—may introduce biometrics-free identity assurance, blockchain-secured records, or overseas Philippine bank partnerships. Always consult www.sss.gov.ph or the nearest Philippine Embassy’s SSS Desk for the freshest updates.