The Social Security System (SSS) said its disbursements for death benefit claims shrank last year. SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Aurora Ignacio blamed the decrease in disbursements for death claims to the quarantine protocols implemented as early as March last year, which limited the movement of the people. “Considering that filing of death benefit claims is still being done thru the drop-box system, branch appointment, or through number coding system, the number of benefit claims received and processed were also affected,” she added. The state-run agency explained it grants death benefit cash allowance to beneficiaries of a deceased member, either as a monthly pension or lump sum amount. “Already in the pipeline is the opening of online applications for Disability and Death claims as part of our digitalization campaign called ‘ExpreSSS,” Ignacio said.

Source: Manila Times March 23, 2021 16:28 UTC