Republic Act No. 8282 May 01, 1997 hundred pesos (P2,500.

00) per diem for each

meeting actually attended by them but not to exceed
AN ACT FURTHER STRENGTHENING THE SOCIAL Ten thousand pesos (P10,000.00) a month:: Provided,
SECURITY SYSTEM THEREBY AMENDING FOR THIS That members of the Commission shall also receive a
PURPOSE, REPUBLIC ACT NO. 1161, AS AMENDED, per diem of at least Two thousand five hundred pesos
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE SOCIAL SECURITY LAW (P2,500.00) but not to exceed Fifteen thousand pesos
(P15,000.00) a month: Provided , further, That said
Section 1. Republic Act No. 1161, as amended, members of the Commission shall also receive
otherwise known as the "Social Security Law", is reasonable transportation and representation
hereby further amended to read as follows: allowances as may be fixed by the Commission, but
not to exceed Ten thousand pesos (P10,000.00) a
"SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as month.
the "AN ACT FURTHER STRENGTHENING THE SOCIAL
SECURITY SYSTEM THEREBY AMENDING FOR THIS "(b) The general conduct of the operations and
PURPOSE, REPUBLIC ACT NO. 1161, AS AMENDED, management functions of the SSS shall be vested in
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE SOCIAL SECURITY LAW." the SSS President who shall serve as the chief
executive officer immediately responsible for
"SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the carrying out the program of the SSS and the policies
Republic of the Philippines to establish, develop, of the Commission. The SSS President shall be a
promote and perfect a sound and viable tax-exempt person who has had previous experience in the
social security service suitable to the needs of the technical and administrative fields related to the
people throughout the Philippines which shall purposes of this Act. He shall be appointed by the
promote social justice and provide meaningful President of the Philippines and shall receive salary
protection to members and their beneficiaries to be fixed by the Commission with the approval of
against the hazards of disability, sickness, maternity, the President of the Philippines, payable from the
old age, death, and other contingencies resulting in funds of the SSS.
loss of income or financial burden. Towards this end,
the State shall endeavor to extend social security "(c) The Commission, upon the recommendation of
protection to workers and their beneficiaries. the SSS President, shall appoint an actuary, and such
other personnel as may be deemed necessary, fix
"SEC. 3. Social Security System. - (a) To carry out the their reasonable compensation, allowances and other
purposes of this Act, the Social Security System, benefits, prescribe their duties and establish such
hereinafter referred to as 'SSS', a corporate body, methods and procedures as may be necessary to
with principal place of business in Metro Manila, insure the efficient, honest and economical
Philippines is hereby created. The SSS shall be administration of the provisions and purposes of this
directed and controlled by a Social Security Act: Provided, however, That the personnel of the
Commission, hereinafter referred to as 'Commission', SSS below the rank of Vice-President shall be
composed of the Secretary of Labor and Employment appointed by the SSS President: Provided, further,
or his duly designated undersecretary, the SSS That the personnel appointed by the SSS President,
president and seven (7) appointive members, three except those below the rank of assistant manager,
(3) of whom shall represent the workers' group, at shall be subject to the confirmation by the
least one of whom shall be a woman; three (3), the Commission: Provided, further, That the personnel of
employers' group, at least one (1) of whom shall be a the SSS shall be selected only from civil service
woman; and one (1), the general public whose eligibles and be subject to civil service rules and
representative shall have adequate knowledge and regulations: Provided, finally, That the SSS shall be
experience regarding social security, to be appointed exempt from the provisions of Republic Act No. 6758
by the President of the Philippines. The six (6) and Republic Act No. 7430.
members representing workers and employers shall
be chosen from among the nominees of workers' and "SEC. 4. Powers and Duties of the Commission and
employers' organizations, respectively. The Chairman SSS. - (a) The Commission. - For the attainment of its
of the Commission shall be designated by the main objectives as set forth in Section 2 hereof, the
President of the Philippines from among its members. Commission shall have the following powers and
The term of the appointive members shall be three duties:
(3) years: Provided, That the terms of the first six (6)
appointive members shall be one (1), two (2) and "(1) To adopt, amend and rescind, subject to the
three (3) years for every two members, respectively: approval of the President of the Philippines, such
Provided, further, That they shall continue to hold rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry
office until their successors shall have been out the provisions and purposes of this Act;
appointed and duly qualified. All vacancies, prior to
the expiration of the term, shall be filled for the "(2) To establish a provident fund for the members
unexpired term only. The appointive members of the which will consist of voluntary contributions of
Commission shall receive at least two thousand five employers and/or employees, self-employed and
voluntary members and their earnings, for the the President of the Philippines: Provided, That the
payment of benefits to such members or their actuarial soundness of the reserve fund shall be
beneficiaries, subject to such rules and regulations as guaranteed: Provided, further, That such increases in
it may promulgate and approved by the President of benefits shall not require any increase in the rate of
the Philippines; contribution;

"(3) To maintain a provident fund which consists of "(3) To establish offices of the SSS to cover as many
contributions made by both the SSS and its officials provinces, cities and congressional districts,
and employees and their earnings, for the payment whenever and wherever it may be expedient,
of benefits to such officials and employees or their necessary and feasible, and to inspect or cause to be
heirs under such terms and conditions as it may inspected periodically such offices;
prescribe;
"(4) To enter into agreements or contracts for such
"(4) To approve restructuring proposals for the service and aid, as may be needed for the proper,
payment of due but unremitted contributions and efficient and stable administration of the SSS;
unpaid loan amortizations under such terms and
conditions as it may prescribe; "(5) To adopt, from time to time, a budget of
expenditures including salaries of personnel, against
"(5) To authorize cooperatives registered with the all funds available to the SSS under this Act;
cooperative development authority or associations
registered with the appropriate government agency "(6) To set up its accounting system and provide the
to act as collecting agents of the SSS with respect to necessary personnel therefor;
their members: Provided, That the SSS shall accredit
the cooperative or association: Provided, further, "(7) To require reports, compilations and analyses of
That the persons authorized to collect are bonded; statistical and economic data and to make
investigation as may be needed for the proper
"(6) To compromise or release, in whole or in part, administration and development of the SSS;
any interest, penalty or any civil liability to SSS in
connection with the investments authorized under "(8) To acquire and dispose of property, real or
Section 26 hereof, under such terms and conditions personal, which may be necessary or expedient for
as it may prescribe and approved by the President of the attainment of the purposes of this Act;
the Philippines; and
"(9) To acquire, receive, or hold, by way of purchase,
"(7) To approve, confirm, pass upon or review any expropriation or otherwise, public or private property
and all actions of the SSS in the proper and for the purpose of undertaking housing projects
necessary exercise of its powers and duties preferably for the benefit of low-income members
hereinafter enumerated. and for the maintenance of hospitals and institutions
for the sick, aged and disabled, as well as schools for
"(b) The Social Security System. - Subject to the the members and their immediate families;
provision of Section four (4), paragraph seven (7)
hereof, the SSS shall have the following powers and "(10) To sue and be sued in court; and
duties:
"(11) To perform such other corporate acts as it may
"(1) To submit annually not later than April 30, a deem appropriate for the proper enforcement of this
public report to the President of the Philippines and Act.
to the Congress of the Philippines covering its
activities in the administration and enforcement of "SEC. 5. Settlement of Disputes. - (a) Any dispute
this Act during the preceding year including arising under this Act with respect to coverage,
information and recommendations on broad policies benefits, contributions and penalties thereon or any
for the development and perfection of the program of other matter related thereto, shall be cognizable by
the SSS; the Commission, and any case filed with respect
thereto shall be heard by the Commission, or any of
"(2) To require the actuary to submit a valuation its members, or by hearing officers duly authorized
report on the SSS benefit program every four (4) by the Commission and decided within twenty (20)
years, or more frequently as may be necessary, to days after the submission of the evidence. The filing,
undertake the necessary actuarial studies and determination and settlement of disputes shall be
calculations concerning increases in benefits taking governed by the rules and regulations promulgated
into account inflation and the financial stability of the by the Commission.
SSS, and to provide for feasible increases in benefits
every four (4) years, including the addition of new "(b) Appeal to Courts. - Any decision of the
ones, under such rules and regulations as the Commission, in the absence of an appeal therefrom
Commission may adopt, subject to the approval of as herein Provided, shall become final and executory
fifteen (15) days after the date of notification, and "SEC. 7. Oaths, Witnesses, and Production of
judicial review thereof shall be permitted only after Records. - When authorized by the Commission, an
any party claiming to be aggrieved thereby has official or employee thereof shall have the power to
exhausted his remedies before the Commission. The administer oath and affirmation, take depositions,
Commission shall be deemed to be a party to any certify to official acts, and issue subpoena and
judicial action involving any such decision, and may subpoena duces tecum to compel the attendance of
be represented by an attorney employed by the witnesses and the production of books, papers,
Commission, or when requested by the Commission, correspondence and other records deemed necessary
by the Solicitor General or any public prosecutors. as evidence in connection with any question arising
under this Act. Any case of contumacy shall be dealt
"(c) Court Review. - The decision of the Commission with by the Commission in accordance with law.
upon any disputed matter may be reviewed both
upon the law and the facts by the Court of Appeals. "SEC. 8. Terms Defined. - For purposes of this Act, the
For the purpose of such review, the procedure following terms shall, unless the context indicates
concerning appeals from the Regional Trial Court otherwise, have the following meanings:
shall be followed as far as practicable and consistent
with the purposes of this Act. Appeal from a decision "(a) SSS - The Social Security System created by this
of the Commission must be taken within fifteen (15) Act.
days from notification of such decision. If the decision
of the Commission involves only questions of law, the "(b) Commission - The Social Security Commission as
same shall be reviewed by the Supreme Court. No herein created.
appeal bond shall be required. The case shall be
heard in a summary manner, and shall take "(c) Employer- Any person, natural or juridical,
precedence over all cases, except that in the domestic or foreign, who carries on in the Philippines
Supreme Court, criminal cases wherein life any trade, business, industry, undertaking, or activity
imprisonment or death has been imposed by the trial of any kind and uses the services of another person
court shall take precedence. No appeal shall act as a who is under his orders as regards the employment,
supersedeas or a stay of the order of the Commission except the Government and any of its political
unless the Commission itself, or the Court of Appeals subdivisions, branches or instrumentalities, including
or the Supreme Court, shall so order. corporations owned or controlled by the Government:
Provided, That a self-employed person shall be both
"(d) Execution of Decisions. - The Commission may, employee and employer at the same time.
motu proprio or on motion of any interested party,
issue a writ of execution to enforce any of its "(d) Employee - Any person who performs services
decisions or awards, after it has become final and for an employer in which either or both mental or
executory, in the same manner as the decision of the physical efforts are used and who receives
Regional Trial Court by directing the city or provincial compensation for such services, where there is an
sheriff or the sheriff whom it may appoint to enforce employer-employee relationship: Provided, That a
such final decision or execute such writ; and any self-employed person shall be both employee and
person who shall fail or refuse to comply with such employer at the same time.
decision, award or writ, after being required to do so
shall, upon application by the Commission pursuant "(e) Dependents - The dependents shall be the
to Rule 71 of the Rules of Court, be punished for following:
contempt.
"(1) The legal spouse entitled by law to receive
"SEC. 6. Auditor and Counsel. - (a) The Chairman of support from the member;
the Commission on Audit shall be the ex-officio
Auditor of the SSS. He or his representative shall "(2) The legitimate, legitimated or legally adopted,
check and audit all the accounts, funds and and illegitimate child who is unmarried, not gainfully
properties of the SSS in the same manner and as employed, and has not reached twenty-one (21)
frequently as the accounts, funds and properties of years of age, or if over twenty-one (21) years of age,
the government are checked and audited under he is congenitally or while still a minor has been
existing laws, and he shall have, as far as permanently incapacitated and incapable of self-
practicable, the same powers and duties as he has support, physically or mentally; and
with respect to the checking and auditing of public
accounts, funds and properties in general. "(3) The parent who is receiving regular support from
the member.
"(b) The Secretary of Justice shall be the ex-officio
counsel of the SSS. He or his representative shall act "(f) Compensation - All actual remuneration for
as legal adviser and counsel thereof. employment, including the mandated cost-of-living
allowance, as well as the cash value of any
remuneration paid in any medium other than cash
except that part of the remuneration in excess of the Provided, That the dependent illegitimate children
maximum salary credit as Provided under Section shall be entitled to fifty percent (50%) of the share of
Eighteen of this Act. the legitimate, legitimated or legally adopted
children: Provided, further, That in the absence of the
"(g) Monthly salary credit - The compensation base dependent legitimate, legitimated children of the
for contributions and benefits as indicated in the member, his/her dependent illegitimate children shall
schedule in Section Eighteen of this Act. be entitled to one hundred percent (100%) of the
benefits. In their absence, the dependent parents
"(h) Monthly - The period from one end of the last who shall be the secondary beneficiaries of the
payroll period of the preceding month to the end of member. In the absence of all the foregoing, any
the last payroll period of the current month if other person designated by the member as his/her
compensation is on hourly, daily or weekly basis; if secondary beneficiary.
on any other basis, 'monthly' shall mean a period of
one (1) month. "(l) Contingency - The retirement, death, disability,
injury or sickness and maternity of the member.
"(i) Contribution - The amount paid to the SSS by and
on behalf of the members in accordance with Section "(m) Average monthly salary credit - The result
Eighteen of this Act. obtained by dividing the sum of the last sixty (60)
monthly salary credits immediately preceding the
"(j) Employment - Any service performed by an semester of contingency by sixty (60), or the result
employee for his employer except: obtained by dividing the sum of all the monthly
salary credits paid prior to the semester of
"(1) Employment purely casual and not for the contingency by the number of monthly contributions
purpose of occupation or business of the employer; paid in the same period, whichever is greater:
Provided, That the injury or sickness which caused
"(2) Service performed on or in connection with an the disability shall be deemed as the permanent
alien vessel by an employee if he is employed when disability for the purpose of computing the average
such vessel is outside the Philippines; monthly salary credit.

"(3) Service performed in the employ of the "(n) Average daily salary credit- The result obtained
Philippine Government or instrumentality or agency by dividing the sum of the six (6) highest monthly
thereof; salary credits in the twelve-month period
immediately preceding the semester of contingency
"(4) Service performed in the employ of a foreign by one hundred eighty (180).
government or international organization, or their
wholly-owned instrumentality: Provided, however, "(o) Semester - A period of two (2) consecutive
That this exemption notwithstanding, any foreign quarters ending in the quarter of contingency.
government, international organization or their
wholly-owned instrumentality employing workers in "(p) Quarter - A period of three (3) consecutive
the Philippines or employing Filipinos outside of the calendar months ending on the last day of March,
Philippines, may enter into an agreement with the June, September and December.
Philippine Government for the inclusion of such
employees in the SSS except those already covered "(q) Credited years of service - For a member
by their respective civil service retirement systems: covered prior to January nineteen hundred and eighty
Provided, further, That the terms of such agreement five (1985) minus the calendar year of coverage plus
shall conform with the provisions of this Act on the number of calendar years in which six (6) or
coverage and amount of payment of contributions more contributions have been paid from January
and benefits: Provided, finally, That the provisions of nineteen hundred and eighty five (1985) up to the
this Act shall be supplementary to any such calendar year containing the semester prior to the
agreement; and contingency. For a member covered in or after
January nineteen hundred and eighty five (1985), the
"(5) Such other services performed by temporary and number of calendar years in which six (6) or more
other employees which may be excluded by contributions have been paid from the year of
regulation of the Commission. Employees of bona coverage up to the calendar year containing the
fide independent contractors shall not be deemed semester prior to the contingency: Provided, That the
employees of the employer engaging the service of Commission may provide for a different number of
said contractors. contributions in a calendar year for it to be
considered as a credited year of service.
"(k) Beneficiaries - The dependent spouse until he or
she remarries, the dependent legitimate, legitimated "(r) Member - The worker who is covered under
or legally adopted, and illegitimate children, who Section Nine and Section Nine-A of this Act.
shall be the primary beneficiaries of the member:
"(s) Self-employed - Any person whose income is not
derived from employment, as defined under this Act, "SEC. 9-A. Compulsory Coverage of the Self-
as well as those workers enumerated in Section Nine- Employed. - Coverage in the SSS shall also be
A hereof. compulsory upon such self-employed persons as may
be determined by the Commission under such rules
"(t) Net earnings - Net income before income taxes and regulations as it may prescribe, including but not
plus non-cash charges such as depreciation and limited to the following:
depletion appearing in the regular financial
statement of the issuing or assuming institution. "1. All self-employed professionals;

"(u) Fixed charges - Recurring expense such as "2. Partners and single proprietors of businesses;
amortization of debt discount or rentals for leased
properties, including interest on funded and "3. Actors and actresses, directors, scriptwriters and
unfunded debt. news correspondents who do not fall within the
definition of the term "employee" in Section 8 (d) of
"SEC. 9. Coverage. - (a) Coverage in the SSS shall be this Act;
compulsory upon all employees not over sixty (60)
years of age and their employers: Provided, That in "4. Professional athletes, coaches, trainers and
the case of domestic helpers, their monthly income jockeys; and
shall not be less than One thousand pesos
(P1,000.00) a month: Provided, further, That any "5. Individual farmers and fishermen.
benefit already earned by the employees under
private benefit plans existing at the time of the "Unless otherwise specified herein, all provisions of
approval of this Act shall not be discontinued, this Act applicable to covered employees shall also
reduced or otherwise impaired: Provided, further, be applicable to the covered self-employed persons.
That private plans which are existing and in force at
the time of compulsory coverage shall be integrated "SEC. 10. Effective Date of Coverage. - Compulsory
with the plan of the SSS in such a way where the coverage of the employer shall take effect on the first
employer's contribution to his private plan is more day of his operation and that of the employee on the
than that required of him in this Act, he shall pay to day of his employment: Provided, That the
the SSS only the contribution required of him and he compulsory coverage of the self-employed person
shall continue his contribution to such private plan shall take effect upon his registration with the SSS.
less his contribution to the SSS so that the
employer's total contribution to his benefit plan and "SEC. 11. Effect of Separation from Employment. -
to the SSS shall be the same as his contribution to When an employee under compulsory coverage is
his private benefit plan before the compulsory separated from employment, his employer's
coverage: Provided, further, That any changes, contribution on his account and his obligation to pay
adjustments, modifications, eliminations or contributions arising from that employment shall
improvements in the benefits to be available under cease at the end of the month of separation, but said
the remaining private plan, which may be necessary employee shall be credited with all contributions paid
to adopt by reason of the reduced contributions on his behalf and entitled to benefits according to the
thereto as a result of the integration, shall be subject provisions of this Act. He may, however, continue to
to agreements between the employers and pay the total contributions to maintain his right to full
employees concerned: Provided, further, That the benefit.
private benefit plan which the employer shall
continue for his employees shall remain under the "SEC. 11-A. Effect of Interruption of Business or
employer's management and control unless there is Professional Income. - If the self-employed realizes no
an existing agreement to the contrary: Provided, income in any given month, he shall not be required
finally, That nothing in this Act shall be construed as to pay contributions for that month. He may,
a limitation on the right of employers and employees however, be allowed to continue paying contributions
to agree on and adopt benefits which are over and under the same rules and regulations applicable to a
above those Provided under this Act. separated employee member: Provided, That no
retroactive payment of contributions shall be allowed
"(b) Spouses who devote full time to managing the other than as prescribed under Section Twenty-two-A
household and family affairs, unless they are also hereof.
engaged in other vocation or employment which is
subject to mandatory coverage, may be covered by "SEC. 12. Monthly Pension. - (a) The monthly pension
the SSS on a voluntary basis. shall be the highest of the following amounts:

"(c) Filipinos recruited by foreign-based employers for "(1) The sum of the following:
employment abroad may be covered by the SSS on a
voluntary basis. "(i) Three hundred pesos (P300.00; plus
 "(d) Upon the death of the retired member, his
"(ii) Twenty percent (20%) of the average monthly primary beneficiaries as of the date of his retirement
salary credit; plus shall be entitled to receive the monthly pension:
Provided, That if he has no primary beneficiaries and
"(iii) Two percent (2%) of the average monthly salary he dies within sixty (60) months from the start of his
credit for each credited year of service in excess of monthly pension, his secondary beneficiaries shall be
ten (10) years; or entitled to a lump sum benefit equivalent to the total
monthly pensions corresponding to the balance of
"(2) Forth percent (40%) of the average monthly the five-year guaranteed period, excluding the
salary credit; or dependents' pension.

"(3) One thousand pesos (P1,000.00): Provided, That "(e) The monthly pension of a member who retires
the monthly pension shall in no case be paid for an after reaching age sixty (60) shall be the higher of
aggregate amount of less than sixty (60) months. either: (1) the monthly pension computed at the
earliest time he could have retired had he been
"(b) Notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, the separated from employment or ceased to be self-
minimum pension shall be One thousand two employed plus all adjustments thereto; or (2) the
hundred pesos (P1,200.00) for members with at least monthly pension computed at the time when he
ten (10) credited years of service and Two thousand actually retires.
four hundred pesos (P2,400.00) for those with twenty
(20) credited years of service. "SEC. 13. Death Benefits. - Upon the death of a
member who has paid at least thirty-six (36) monthly
"SEC. 12-A. Dependents' Pension. - Where monthly contributions prior to the semester of death, his
pension is payable on account of death, permanent primary beneficiaries shall be entitled to the monthly
total disability or retirement, dependents' pension pension: Provided, That if he has no primary
equivalent to ten percent (10%) of the monthly beneficiaries, his secondary beneficiaries shall be
pension or Two hundred fifty pesos (P250.00), entitled to a lump sum benefit equivalent to thirty-six
whichever is higher, shall also be paid for each (36) times the monthly pension. If he has not paid
dependent child conceived on or before the date of the required thirty-six (36) monthly contributions, his
the contingency but not exceeding five (5), beginning primary or secondary beneficiaries shall be entitled
with the youngest and without substitution: Provided, to a lump sum benefit equivalent to the monthly
That where there are legitimate or illegitimate pension times the number of monthly contributions
children, the former shall be preferred. paid to the SSS or twelve (12) times the monthly
pension, whichever is higher.
SEC. 12-B. Retirement Benefits. - (a) A member who
has paid at least one hundred twenty (120) monthly "SEC. 13-A. Permanent Disability Benefits. - (a) Upon
contributions prior to the semester of retirement and the permanent total disability of a member who has
who: (1) has reached the age of sixty (60) years and paid at least thirty-six (36) monthly contributions
is already separated from employment or has ceased prior to the semester of disability, he shall be entitled
to be self-employed; or (2) has reached the age of to the monthly pension: Provided, That if he has not
sixty-five (65) years, shall be entitled for as long as paid the required thirty-six (36) monthly
he lives to the monthly pension: Provided, That he contributions, he shall be entitled to a lump sum
shall have the option to receive his first eighteen (18) benefit equivalent to the monthly pension times the
monthly pensions in lump sum discounted at a number of monthly contributions paid to the SSS or
preferential rate of interest to be determined by the twelve (12) times the monthly pension, whichever is
SSS. higher. A member who (1) has received a lump sum
benefit; and (2) is reemployed or has resumed self-
"(b) A covered member who is sixty (60) years old at employment not earlier than one (1) year from the
retirement and who does not qualify for pension date of his disability shall again be subject to
benefits under paragraph (a) above, shall be entitled compulsory coverage and shall be considered a new
to a lump sum benefit equal to the total contributions member.
paid by him and on his behalf: Provided, That he is
separated from employment and is not continuing "(b) The monthly pension and dependents' pension
payment of contributions to the SSS on his own. shall be suspended upon the reemployment or
resumption of self-employment or the recovery of the
"(c) The monthly pension shall be suspended upon disabled member from his permanent total disability
the reemployment or resumption of self-employment or his failure to present himself for examination at
of a retired member who is less than sixty-five (65) least once a year upon notice by the SSS.
years old. He shall again be subject to Section
Eighteen and his employer to Section Nineteen of "(c) Upon the death of the permanent total disability
this Act. pensioner, his primary beneficiaries as of the date of
disability shall be entitled to receive the monthly
pension: Provided, That if he has no primary
beneficiaries and he dies within sixty (60) months One big toe
from the start of his monthly pension, his secondary
beneficiaries shall be entitled to a lump sum benefit 6
equivalent to the total monthly pensions
corresponding to the balance of the five-year One hand
guaranteed period excluding the dependents'
pension. 39

"(d) The following disabilities shall be deemed One arm

permanent total:
50
"1. Complete loss of sight of both eyes;
One foot
"2. Loss of two limbs at or above the ankle or wrists;
31
"3. Permanent complete paralysis of two limbs;
One leg
"4. Brain injury resulting to incurable imbecility or
insanity; and 46

"5. Such cases as determined and approved by the One ear

SSS.
10
"(e) If the disability is permanent partial, and such
disability occurs before thirty-six (36) monthly Both ears
contributions have been paid prior to the semester of
disability, the benefit shall be such percentage of the 20
lump sum benefit described in the preceding
paragraph with due regard to the degree of disability Hearing of one ear
as the Commission may determine.
10
"(f) If the disability is permanent total and such
disability occurs after thirty-six (36) monthly Hearing of both ears
contributions have been paid prior to the semester of
disability, the benefit shall be the monthly pension 50
for permanent total disability payable not longer than
the period designated in the following schedule: Sight of one eye

Complete and permanent loss of use of 25

Number of Months "(g) The percentage degree of disability which is

equivalent to the ratio that the designated number of
One thumb months of compensability bears to seventy-five (75),
rounded to the next higher integer, shall not be
10 additive for distinct, separate and unrelated
permanent partial disabilities, but shall be additive
One index finger for deteriorating and related permanent partial
disabilities to a maximum of one hundred percent
8 (100%), in which case, the member shall be deemed
as permanently totally disabled.
One middle finger
"(h) In case of permanent partial disability, the
6 monthly pension benefit shall be given in lump sum if
it is payable for less than twelve (12) months.
One right finger
"(i) For the purpose of adjudicating retirement, death
5 and permanent total disability pension benefits,
contributions shall be deemed paid for the months
One little finger during which the member received partial disability
pension: Provided, That such contributions shall be
3 based on his last contribution prior to his disability.
 full pay to the credit of the employee member shall
"(j) Should a member who is on partial disability have been exhausted.
pension retire or die, his disability pension shall
cease upon his retirement or death. "(c) One hundred percent (100%) of the daily
benefits Provided in the preceding paragraph shall be
"SEC. 13-B. Funeral Benefit. - A funeral grant reimbursed by the SSS to said employer upon receipt
equivalent to Twelve thousand pesos (P12,000.00) of satisfactory proof of such payment and legality
shall be paid, in cash or in kind, to help defray the thereof: Provided, That the employer has notified the
cost of funeral expenses upon the death of a SSS of the confinement within five (5) calendar days
member, including permanently totally disabled after receipt of the notification from the employee
member or retiree. member: Provided, further, That if the notification to
the SSS is made by the employer beyond five (5)
"SEC. 14. Sickness Benefit. - (a) A member who has calendar days after receipt of the notification from
paid at least three (3) monthly contributions in the the employee member, said employer shall be
twelve-month period immediately preceding the reimbursed only for each day of confinement starting
semester of sickness or injury and is confined from the tenth calendar day immediately preceding
therefor for more than three (3) days in a hospital or the date of notification to the SSS: Provided, finally,
elsewhere with the approval of the SSS, shall, for That the SSS shall reimburse the employer or pay the
each day of compensable confinement or a fraction unemployed member only for confinement within the
thereof, be paid by his employer, or the SSS, if such one-year period immediately preceding the date the
person is unemployed or self-employed, a daily claim for benefit or reimbursement is received by the
sickness benefit equivalent to ninety percent (90%) SSS, except confinement in a hospital in which case
of his average daily salary credit, subject to the the claim for benefit or reimbursement must be filed
following conditions: within one (1) year from the last day of confinement.

"(1) In no case shall the daily sickness benefit be "(d) Where the employee member has given the
paid longer than one hundred twenty (120) days in required notification but the employer fails to notify
one (1) calendar year, nor shall any unused portion the SSS of the confinement or to file the claim for
of the one hundred twenty (120) days of sickness reimbursement within the period prescribed in this
benefit granted under this section be carried forward section resulting in the reduction of the benefit or
and added to the total number of compensable days denial of the claim, such employer shall have no right
allowable in the subsequent year; to recover the corresponding daily allowance he
advanced to the employee member as required in
"(2) The daily sickness benefit shall not be paid for this section.
more than two hundred forty (240) days on account
of the same confinement; and "(e)The claim of reimbursement shall be adjudicated
by the SSS within a period of two (2) months from
"(3) The employee member shall notify his employer receipt thereof: Provided, That should no payment be
of the fact of his sickness or injury within five (5) received by the employer within one (1) month after
calendar days after the start of his confinement the period prescribed herein for adjudication, the
unless such confinement is in a hospital or the reimbursement shall thereafter earn simple interest
employee became sick or was injured while working of one percent (1%) per month until paid.
or within the premises of the employer in which case,
notification to the employer is necessary: Provided, "(f) The provisions regarding the notification required
That if the member is unemployed or self-employed, of the member and the employer as well as the
he shall directly notify the SSS of his confinement period within which the claim for benefit or
within five (5) calendar days after the start thereof reimbursement may be filed shall apply to all claims
unless such confinement is in a hospital in which filed with the SSS.
case notification is also not necessary: Provided,
further, That in cases where notification is necessary, "SEC. 14-A. Maternity Leave Benefit. - A female
the confinement shall be deemed to have started not member who has paid at least three (3) monthly
earlier than the fifth day immediately preceding the contributions in the twelve-month period
date of notification. immediately preceding the semester of her childbirth
or miscarriage shall be paid a daily maternity benefit
"(b) The compensable confinement shall begin on the equivalent to one hundred percent (100%) of her
first day of sickness, and the payment of such average daily salary credit for sixty (60) days or
allowances shall be promptly made by the employer seventy-eight (78) days in case of caesarian delivery,
every regular payday or on the fifteenth and last day subject to the following conditions:
of each month, and similarly in the case of direct
payment by the SSS, for as long as such allowances "(a) That the employee shall have notified her
are due and payable: Provided, That such allowance employer of her pregnancy and the probable date of
shall begin only after all sick leaves of absence with her childbirth, which notice shall be transmitted to
the SSS in accordance with the rules and regulations other person for the collection thereof on their behalf
it may provide; shall be recognized, except when they are physically
unable to collect personally such benefits: Provided,
"(b) The full payment shall be advanced by the further, That in case of death benefits, if no
employer within thirty (30) days from the filing of the beneficiary qualifies under this Act, said benefits
maternity leave application; shall be paid to the legal heirs in accordance with the
law of succession.
"(c) That payment of daily maternity benefits shall be
a bar to the recovery of sickness benefits Provided by "SEC. 16. Exemption from Tax, Legal Process and
this Act for the same period for which daily maternity Lien. -- All laws to the contrary notwithstanding, the
benefits have been received; SSS and all its assets and properties, all contributions
collected and all accruals thereto and income or
"(d) That the maternity benefits Provided under this investment earnings therefrom as well as all
section shall be paid only for the first four (4) supplies, equipment, papers or documents shall be
deliveries or miscarriages; exempt from any tax, assessment, fee, charge, or
customs or import duty; and all benefit payments
"(e) That the SSS shall immediately reimburse the made by the SSS shall likewise be exempt from all
employer of one hundred percent (100%) of the kinds of taxes, fees or charges, and shall not liable to
amount of maternity benefits advanced to the attachments, garnishments, levy or seizure by or
employee by the employer upon receipt of under any legal or equitable process whatsoever,
satisfactory proof of such payment and legality either before or after receipt by the person or
thereof; and persons entitled thereto, except to pay any debt of
the member to the SSS. No tax measure of whatever
"(f) That if an employee member should give birth or nature enacted shall apply to the SSS, unless it
suffer miscarriage without the required contributions expressly revokes the declared policy of the State in
having been remitted for her by her employer to the Section 2 hereof granting tax-exemption to the SSS.
SSS, or without the latter having been previously Any tax assessment imposed against the SSS shall
notified by the employer of the time of the be null and void. (As amended by Sec. 9, P.D. No. 24,
pregnancy, the employer shall pay to the SSS S. 1972; and Sec. 14, P. D. No. 735, S. 1975).
damages equivalent to the benefits which said
employee member would otherwise have been "SEC. 17. Fee of Agents, Attorneys, Etc. - No agent,
entitled to. attorney or other person in charge of the preparation,
filing or pursuing any claim for benefit under this Act
"SEC. 15. Non-Transferability of Benefits. - The SSS shall demand or charge for his services any fee, and
shall promptly pay the benefits Provided in this Act to any stipulation to the contrary shall be null and void.
such persons as may be entitled thereto in The retention or deduction of any amount from any
accordance with the provisions of this Act: Provided, benefit granted under this Act for the payment of
That the SSS shall pay the retirement benefits on the fees for such services is prohibited: Provided,
day of contingency to qualified members who have however, That any member of the Philippine Bar who
submitted the necessary documents at least six (6) appears as counsel in any case heard by the
months before: Provided, further, That the Commission shall be entitled to attorneys' fees not
beneficiary who is a national of a foreign country exceeding ten percent (10%) of the benefits awarded
which does not extend benefits to a Filipino by the Commission, which fees shall not be payable
beneficiary residing in the Philippines, or which is not before the actual payment of the benefits, and any
recognized by the Philippines, shall not be entitled to stipulation to the contrary shall be null and void.
receive any benefit under this Act: Provided, further,
That notwithstanding the foregoing, where the best "Any violation of the provisions of this Section shall
interest of the SSS will be served, the Commission be punished by a fine of not less than Five hundred
may direct payments without regard to nationality or pesos (P500.00) nor more than Five thousand pesos
country of residence: Provided, further, That if the (P5,000.00), or imprisonment for not less than six (6)
recipient is a minor or a person incapable of months nor more than one (1) year, or both, at the
administering his own affairs, the Commission shall discretion of the court.
appoint a representative under such terms and
conditions as it may deem proper: Provided, further, "SEC. 18. Employee's Contributions. - (a) Beginning
That such appointment shall not be necessary in as of the last day of the calendar month when an
case the recipient is under the custody of or living employee's compulsory coverage takes effect and
with the parents or spouse of the member in which every month thereafter during his employment, the
case the benefits shall be paid to such parents or employer shall deduct and withhold from such
spouse, as representative payee of the recipient. employee's monthly salary, wage, compensation or
Such benefits are not transferable and no power of earnings, the employee's contribution in an amount
attorney or other document executed by those corresponding to his salary, wage, compensation or
entitled thereto in favor of any agent, attorney or any
earnings during the month in accordance with the
following schedule: 210.00

SALARY BRACKET V

RANGE OF COMPENSATION 2,750.00 - 3,249.99

MONTHLY SALARY CREDIT 3000

MONTHLY CONTRIBUTION 152.00

EMPLOYER 100.00

EMPLOYEE 252.00

TOTAL VI

I 3,250.00 - 3,749.99

1,000.00 - 1,249.99 3500

1000 177.30

50.70 116.70

33.30 294.00

84.00 VII

II 3,750.00 - 4,249.99

1,250.00 - 1,749.99 4000

1500 202.70

76.00 133.30

50.00 336.00

126.00 VIII

III 4,250.00 - 4,749.99

1,750.00 - 2,249.99 4500

2000 228.00

101.30 150.00

66.70 378.00

168.00 IX

IV 4,750.00 - 5,249.99

2,250.00 - 2,749.99 5000

2500 253.30

126.70 166.70

83.30 420.00
X 7,750.00 - 8.249.99

5,250.00 - 5,749.99 8000

5500 403.30

278.70 266.70

183.70 672.00

462.40 XVI

XI 8,250.00 - 8,749.99

5,750.00 - 6,249.99 8500

6000 430.70

304.00 283.30

200.00 714.00

504.00 XVII

XII 8,750.00 - OVER

6,250.00 - 6,749.99 9000

6500 456.00

329.30 300.00

216.78 756.00

546.00 "The foregoing schedule of contribution shall also

apply to self-employed and voluntary members.
XIII
"The maximum monthly salary credit shall be Nine
6,750.00 - 7,249.99 thousand pesos (P9,000.00) effective January
Nineteen hundred and ninety six (1996); Provided,
7000 That it shall be increased by One thousand pesos
(P1,000.00) every year thereafter until it shall have
354.70 reached Twelve thousand pesos (P12,000.00) by
Nineteen hundred and ninety nine (1999): Provided,
233.30 further, That the minimum and maximum monthly
salary credits as well as the rate of contributions may
588.00 be fixed from time to time by the Commission
through rules and regulations taking into
XIV consideration actuarial calculations and rate of
benefits, subject to the approval of the President of
7,250.00 - 7,749.99 the Philippines.

7500 "SEC. 19. Employer's Contributions. - (a) Beginning

as of the last day of the month when an employee's
380.00 compulsory coverage takes effect and every month
thereafter during his employment, his employer shall
250.00 pay, with respect to such covered employee, the
employer's contribution in accordance with the
630.00 schedule indicated in Section Eighteen of this Act.
Notwithstanding any contract to the contrary, an
XV employer shall not deduct, directly or indirectly, from
the compensation of his employees covered by the percent (3%) per month from the date the
SSS or otherwise recover from them the employer's contribution falls due until paid. If deemed expedient
contributions with respect to such employees. and advisable by the Commission, the collection and
remittance of contributions shall be made quarterly
"(b) The remittance of such contributions by the or semi-annually in advance, the contributions
employer shall be supported by a quarterly collection payable by the employees to be advanced by their
list to be submitted to the SSS at the end of each respective employers: Provided, That upon
calendar quarter indicating the correct ID number of separation of an employee, any contribution so paid
the employer, the correct names and the SSS in advance but not due shall be credited or refunded
numbers of the employees and the total to his employer.
contributions paid for their account during the
quarter. "(b) The contributions payable under this Act in cases
where an employer refuses or neglects to pay the
"SEC. 19-A. Contributions of the Self-Employed same shall be collected by the SSS in the same
Member. - The contributions to the SSS of the self- manner as taxes are made collectible under the
employed member shall be determined in National Internal Revenue Code, as amended. Failure
accordance with Section Eighteen of this Act: or refusal of the employer to pay or remit the
Provided, That the monthly earnings declared by the contributions herein prescribed shall not prejudice
self-employed member at the time of his registration the right of the covered employee to the benefits of
with the SSS shall be considered as his monthly the coverage.
compensation and he shall pay both the employer
and the employee contributions: Provided, further, "The right to institute the necessary action against
That the contributions of self-employed persons the employer may be commenced within twenty (20)
earning One thousand pesos (P1,000.00) monthly or years from the time the delinquency is known or the
below may be reduced by the Commission. assessment is made by the SSS, or from the time the
benefit accrues, as the case may be.
"The monthly earnings declared by the self-employed
member at the time of his registration shall remain "(c) Should any person, natural or juridical, default in
the basis of his monthly salary credit, unless he any payment of contributions, the Commission may
makes another declaration of his monthly earnings, also collect the same in either of the following ways:
in which case such latest declaration becomes the
new basis of his monthly salary credit. "1. By an action in court, which shall hear and
dispose of the case in preference to any other civil
"SEC. 20. Government Contribution. - As the action; or
contribution of the Government to the operation of
the SSS, Congress shall annually appropriate out of "2. By issuing a warrant to the Sheriff of any province
any funds in the National Treasury not otherwise or city commanding him to levy upon and sell any
appropriated, the necessary sum or sums to meet real and personal property of the debtor. The Sheriff's
the estimated expenses of the SSS for each ensuing sale by virtue of said warrant shall be governed by
year. In addition to this contribution, Congress shall the same procedure prescribed for executions
appropriate from time to time such sum or sums as against property upon judgments by a court of
may be needed to assure the maintenance of an record.
adequate working balance of the funds of the SSS as
disclosed by suitable periodic actuarial studies to be "(d) The last complete record of monthly
made of the operations of the SSS. contributions paid by the employer or the average of
the monthly contributions paid during the past three
"SEC. 21. Government Guarantee. -- The benefits (3) years as of the date of filing of the action for
prescribed in this Act shall not be diminished and to collection shall be presumed to be the monthly
guarantee said benefits the Government of the contributions payable by and due from the employer
Republic of the Philippines accepts general to the SSS for each of the unpaid month, unless
responsibility for the solvency of the SSS. contradicted and overcome by other evidence:
Provided, That the SSS shall not be barred from
"SEC. 22. Remittance of Contributions. -- (a) The determining and collecting the true and correct
contributions imposed in the preceding Section shall contributions due the SSS even after full payment
be remitted to the SSS within the first ten (10) days pursuant to this paragraph, nor shall the employer be
of each calendar month following the month for relieved of his liability under Section Twenty-eight of
which they are applicable or within such time as the this Act.
Commission may prescribe. Every employer required
to deduct and to remit such contributions shall be "SEC. 22-A. Remittance of Contributions of Self-
liable for their payment and if any contribution is not Employed Member. - Self-employed members shall
paid to the SSS as herein prescribed, he shall pay remit their monthly contributions quarterly on such
besides the contribution a penalty thereon of three dates and schedules as the Commission may specify
through rules and regulations: Provided, That no "In addition to the liability mentioned in the
retroactive payment of contributions shall be preceding paragraphs (a) and (b) hereof, the
allowed, except as Provided in this Section. employer shall also be liable for the corresponding
unremitted contributions and penalties thereon.
"SEC. 23. Method of Collection and Payment. - The
SSS shall require a complete and proper collection "(c) The records and reports duly accomplished and
and payment of contributions and proper submitted to the SSS by the employer or the
identification of the employer and the employee. member, as the case may be, shall be kept
Payment may be made in cash, checks, stamps, confidential by the SSS except in compliance with a
coupons, tickets, or other reasonable devices that subpoena duces tecum issued by the Court, shall not
the Commission may adopt. be divulged without the consent of the SSS President
or any official of the SSS duly authorized by him,
"SEC. 24. Employment Records and Reports. - (a) shall be presumed correct as to the data and other
Each employer shall immediately report to the SSS matters stated therein, unless the necessary
the names, ages, civil status, occupations, salaries corrections to such records and reports have been
and dependents of all his employees who are subject properly made by the parties concerned before the
to compulsory coverage: Provided, That if an right to the benefit being claimed accrues, and shall
employee subject to compulsory coverage should die be made the basis for the adjudication of the claim. If
or become sick or disabled or reach the age of sixty as a result of such adjudication the SSS in good faith
(60) without the SSS having previously received any pays a monthly pension to a beneficiary who is
report or written communication about him from his inferior in right to another beneficiary or with whom
employer, the said employer shall pay to the SSS another beneficiary is entitled to share, such
damages equivalent to the benefits to which said payments shall discharge the SSS from liability
employee member would have been entitled had his unless and until such other beneficiary notifies the
name been reported on time by the employer to the SSS of his claim prior to the payments.
SSS, except that in case of pension benefits, the
employer shall be liable to pay the SSS damages "(d) Every employer shall keep true and accurate
equivalent to the accumulated pension due as of the work records for such period and containing such
date of settlement of the claim or to the five (5) information as the Commission may prescribe, in
years' pension, including dependents' pension: addition to an "Annual Register of New and
Provided, further, That if the contingency occurs Separated Employees" which shall be secured from
within thirty (30) days from the date of employment, the SSS wherein the employer shall enter on the first
the employer shall be relieved of his liability for day of employment or on the effective date of
damages: Provided, further, That any person or separation, the names of the persons employed or
entity engaging the services of an independent separated from employment, their SSS numbers, and
contractor shall be subsidiarily liable with such such other data that the Commission may require
contractor for any civil liability incurred by the latter and said annual register shall be submitted to the
under this Act: Provided, finally, That the same SSS in the month of January of each year. Such
person or entity engaging the services of an records shall be open for inspection by the SSS or its
independent contractor shall require such contractor authorized representatives quarterly or as often as
to post a surety bond to guarantee the payment of the SSS may require.
the worker's benefits.
"The SSS may also require each employer to submit,
"(b) Should the employer misrepresent the true date with respect to the persons in his employ, reports
of employment of the employee member or remit to needed for the effective administration of this Act.
the SSS contributions which are less than those
required in this Act or fail to remit any contribution "(e) Each employer shall require, as a condition to
due prior to the date of contingency, resulting in a employment, the presentation of a registration
reduction of benefits, the employer shall pay to the number secured by the prospective employee from
SSS damages equivalent to the difference between the SSS in accordance with such procedure as the
the amount of benefit to which the employee SSS may adopt: Provided, That in case of employees
member or his beneficiary is entitled had the proper who have been assigned registration numbers by
contributions been remitted to the SSS and the virtue of a previous employment, such numbers
amount payable on the basis of contributions actually originally assigned to them should be used for
remitted: Provided, That if the employee member or purposes of this Section: Provided, further, That the
his beneficiary is entitled to pension benefits, issuance of such registration numbers by the SSS
damages shall be equivalent to the accumulated shall not exempt the employer from complying with
pension due as of the date of settlement of the claim the provisions of paragraph (a) of this Section.
or to the five (5) years' pension, whichever is higher,
including dependents' pension. "(f) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary,
microfilm, or non-erasable optical disk and other
similar archival media copies of original SSS records
and reports, duly certified by the official custodian or other evidence of indebtedness to which the full
thereof, shall have the same evidentiary value as the faith, credit and unconditional guarantee of the
originals and be admissible as evidence in all legal Government of the Philippines is pledged;
proceedings.
"(b) In bonds, securities, promissory notes or other
"(g) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, local evidence of indebtedness of the Government of the
government units shall, prior to issuing any annual Philippines, or any agencies or instrumentalities to
business license or permit, require submission of finance domestic infrastructure projects such as
certificate of SSS coverage and compliance with the roads, bridges, ports, telecommunications, and other
provisions of this Act: Provided, That the certification similar projects: Provided, That the instruments
or clearance shall be issued by the SSS within five (5) issued by an agency or instrumentality of the
working days from receipt of the request. government shall be guaranteed by the Government
of the Philippines or any government financial
"SEC. 24-A. Report and Registration of the Self- institution or acceptable multilateral agency:
Employed Member. - Each covered self-employed Provided, further, That the SSS shall have priority
person shall, within thirty (30) days from the first day over the revenues of the projects: Provided, finally,
he started the practice of his profession or business That such investments shall not exceed thirty
operations register and report to the SSS his name, percent (30%) of the Investment Reserve Fund;
age, civil status, and occupation, average monthly
net income and his dependents. "(c) In bonds, securities, promissory notes or other
evidence of indebtedness of government financial
"SEC. 25. Deposits and Disbursements. - All money institutions or government corporations with
paid to or collected by the SSS every year under this acceptable credit or guarantee: Provided, That such
Act, and all accruals thereto shall be deposited, investments shall not exceed thirty percent (30%) of
administered and disbursed in the same manner and the Investment Reserve Fund;
under the same conditions and requirements as
Provided by law for other public special funds: "(d) In bonds, securities, promissory notes or other
Provided, That not more than twelve percent (12%) evidence of indebtedness of any bank doing business
of the total yearly contributions plus three percent in the Philippines and in good standing with the
(3%) of other revenues shall be disbursed for Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to finance loans to
operational expenses such as salaries and wages, private corporations doing business in the
supplies and materials, depreciation and the Philippines, including schools, hospitals, small-and-
maintenance of offices of the SSS: Provided, further, medium scale industries, cooperatives and non-
That if the expenses in any year are less than the governmental organizations, in which case the
maximum amount permissible, the difference shall collaterals or securities shall be assigned to the SSS
not be availed of as additional expenses in the under such terms and conditions as the Commission
following years. may prescribe: Provided, That in the case of bank
deposits, they shall not exceed at any time the
"SEC. 26. Investment of Reserve Funds. - All revenues unimpaired capital and surplus or total private
of the SSS that are not needed to meet the current deposits of the depository bank, whichever is
administrative and operational expenses incidental smaller: Provided, further, That said bank shall first
to the carrying out of this Act shall be accumulated in have been designated as a depository for this
a fund to be known as the "Reserve Fund." Such purpose by the Monetary Board of the Bangko
portions of the Reserve Fund as are not needed to Sentral ng Pilipinas: Provided, finally, That such
meet the current benefit obligations thereof shall be investments shall not exceed forty percent (40%) of
known as the "Investment Reserve Fund" which the the Investment Reserve Fund;
Commission shall manage and invest with the skill,
care, prudence and diligence necessary under the "(e) In bonds, securities, promissory notes or other
circumstances then prevailing that a prudent man evidence of indebtedness of shelter agencies of the
acting in like capacity and familiar with such matters National Government or financial intermediaries to
would exercise in the conduct of an enterprise of a finance housing loans of members; and in long-term
like character and with similar aims. Pursuant direct individual or group housing loans giving
thereto, and in line with the basic principles of safety, priority to the low-income groups, up to a maximum
good yield and liquidity, the Commission shall invest of ninety percent (90%) of the appraised value of the
the funds to earn an annual income not less than the properties to be mortgaged by the borrowers; and
average rates of treasury bills or any other
acceptable market yield indicator in any or in all of "In short and medium term loans to members such
the following: as salary, educational, livelihood, marital, calamity
and emergency loans: Provided, That not more than
"(a) In bonds, securities, promissory notes or other thirty five percent (35%) of the Investment Reserve
evidence of indebtedness of the Government of the Fund at any time shall be invested for housing
Philippines, or in bonds, securities, promissory notes purposes: Provided, further, That not more than ten
percent (10%) of the Investment Reserve Fund shall That investments in foreign mutual funds shall not
be invested in short and medium term loans; exceed one percent (1%) of the Investment Reserve
Fund in the first year which shall be increased by one
"(f) In bonds, securities, promissory notes or other percent (1%) for each succeeding year, but in no
evidence of indebtedness of educational or medical case shall it exceed seven and one-half percent
institutions to finance the construction, improvement (7.5%) of the Investment Reserve Fund;
and maintenance of schools and hospitals and their
equipment and facilities: Provided, That such "(k) In foreign currency deposits or triple "A" foreign
investments shall not exceed ten percent (10%) of currency denominated debts, prime and non-
the Investment Reserve Fund; speculative equities, and other Bangko Sentral ng
Pilipinas approved financial instruments or other
"(g) In real estate property, including shares of stocks assets issued in accordance with the existing laws of
involving real estate property, and investment the countries where such financial instruments are
secured by first mortgages on real estate or other issued: Provided, That these instruments or assets
collaterals acceptable to the SSS: Provided, That such are listed in bourses of the respective countries
projects and investments shall, in the determination where these instruments or assets are issued:
of the Commission, redound to the benefit of the Provided, further, That the issuing company has
SSS, its members, as well as the general public: proven track of record of profitability over the last
Provided, further, That investment in real estate three (3) years and a record of regular dividend pay-
property, including shares of stocks involving real out over the same period: Provided, finally, That such
estate property shall not exceed five percent (5%) of investments shall not exceed one percent (1%) of the
the Investment Reserve Fund: Provided, finally, That Investment Reserve Fund in the first year which shall
investments in other income earning projects and be increased by one percent (1%) for each
investments secured by first mortgages or other succeeding year, but in no case shall it exceed seven
collaterals shall not exceed twenty five percent and one-half percent (7.5%) of the Investment
(25%) of the Investment Reserve Fund; Reserve Fund;

"(h) In bonds, debentures, securities, promissory "(l) In loans secured by such collaterals like cash,
notes or other evidence of indebtedness of any prime government securities or guarantees of multilateral
corporation or multilateral institutions to finance institutions: Provided, That such investments shall
domestic projects: Provided, That the issuing or not exceed thirty percent (30%) of the Investment
assuming entity or its predecessors shall not have Reserve Fund; and
defaulted in the payment of interest on any of its
securities and that during each of any three (3) "(m) In other Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas approved
including the last two (2) of the five (5) fiscal years investment instruments with the same intrinsic
next preceding the date of acquisition by the SSS of quality as those enumerated in paragraphs (a) to (l)
such bonds, debentures or other evidence of hereof, subject to the policies and guidelines which
indebtedness, the net earnings of the issuing or the Commission may formulate.
assuming institution available for its fixed charges, as
defined in this Act, shall have been not less than one "No portion of the Investment Reserve Fund or
and one-quarter times the total of its fixed charges income thereof shall accrue to the general fund of
for such year: Provided, further, That such the National Government or to any of its agencies or
investments shall not exceed thirty percent (30%) of instrumentalities, including government-owned or
the Investment Reserve Fund; controlled corporations, except as may be allowed
under this Act: Provided, That no portion of the
"(i) In preferred or common shares of stocks listed or Investment Reserve Fund shall be invested for any
about to be listed in the stock exchange or options or purpose or in any instrument, institution or industry
warrants to such stocks or, subject to prior approval over and above the prescribed cumulative ceilings as
of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, such other risk follows:
management instruments of any prime or solvent
corporation or financial institution created or existing 40% in private securities
under the laws of the Philippines with proven track
record of profitability over the last three (3) years 35% in housing
and payment of dividends at least once over the
same period: Provided, That such investments shall 30% in real estate related investments
not exceed thirty percent (30%) of the Investment
Reserve Fund; 10% in short and medium-term member loans

"(j) In domestic or foreign mutual funds in existence 30% in government financial institutions and
for at least three (3) years; Provided, That such corporations
investments shall not exceed twenty percent (20%)
of the Investment Reserve Fund: Provided, further, 30% in infrastructure projects
 the funds of the SSS and of disbursements thereof
15% in any particular industry and all accounts of payments made out of said funds.
During the month of January of each year, the SSS
7.5% in foreign-currency denominated investments President shall prepare for submission to the
President of the Philippines and to Congress of the
"SEC. 26-A. Fund Managers. - As part of its Philippines a report of operations of the SSS during
investment operations, the SSS may appoint local or, the preceding year, including statistical data on the
in the absence thereof, foreign fund managers to number of persons covered and benefited, their
manage the Investment Reserve Fund, as it may occupations and employment status, the duration
deem appropriate. and amount of benefits paid, the finances of the SSS
at the close of the said year, and recommendations.
"SEC. 26-B. Mortgagor Insurance Account. - (a) As He shall also cause to be published in two (2)
part of its investment operations, the SSS shall act as newspapers of general circulation in the Philippines a
insurer of all or part of its interest on SSS properties synopsis of the annual report, showing in particular
mortgaged to the SSS, or lives of mortgagors whose the status of the finances of the SSS and the benefits
properties are mortgaged to the SSS. For this administered.
purpose, the SSS shall establish a separate account
to be known as the "Mortgagors' Insurance Account." "SEC. 28. Penal Clause. - (a) Whoever, for the
All amounts received by the SSS in connection with purpose of causing any payment to be made under
the aforesaid insurance operations shall be placed in this Act, or under an agreement thereunder, where
the Mortgagors' Insurance Account. The assets and none is authorized to be paid, shall make or cause to
liabilities of the Mortgagors' Insurance Account shall be made false statement or representation as to any
at all times be clearly identifiable and distinguishable compensation paid or received or whoever makes or
from the assets and liabilities in all other accounts of causes to be made any false statement of a material
the SSS. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the fact in any claim for any benefit payable under this
contrary, the assets held in the Mortgagors' Act, or application for loan with the SSS, or whoever
Insurance Account shall not be chargeable with the makes or causes to be made any false statement,
liabilities arising out of any other business the SSS representation, affidavit or document in connection
may conduct but shall be held and applied with such claim or loan, shall suffer the penalties
exclusively for the benefit of the owners or Provided for in Article One hundred seventy-two of
beneficiaries of the insurance contracts issued by the the Revised Penal Code.
SSS under this paragraph.
"(b) Whoever shall obtain or receive any money or
"(b) The SSS may insure any of its interest or part check under this Act or any agreement thereunder,
thereof with any private company or reinsurer. The without being entitled thereto with intent to defraud
Insurance Commission or its authorized any member, employer or the SSS, shall be fined not
representatives shall make an examination into the less than Five thousand pesos (P5,000.00) nor more
financial condition and methods of transacting than Twenty thousand pesos (P20,000.00) and
business of the SSS at least once in two (2) years, imprisoned for not less than six (6) years and one (1)
but such examination shall be limited to the day nor more than twelve (12) years.
insurance operation of the SSS as authorized under
this paragraph and shall not embrace the other "(c) Whoever buys, sells, offers for sale, uses,
operations of the SSS; and the report of said transfers or takes or gives in exchange, or pledges or
examination shall be submitted to the Commission gives in pledge, except as authorized in this Act or in
and a copy thereof shall be furnished the Office of regulations made pursuant thereto, any stamp,
the President of the Philippines within a reasonable coupon, ticket, book or other device, prescribed
time after the close of the examination: Provided, pursuant to Section Twenty-three hereof by the
That for each examination, the SSS shall pay to the Commission for the collection or payment of
Insurance Commission an amount equal to the actual contributions required herein, shall be fined not less
expense of the Insurance Commission in the conduct than Five thousand pesos (P5,000.00) nor more than
of examination, including the salaries of the Twenty thousand pesos (P20,000.00), or imprisoned
examiners and of the actuary of the Insurance for not less than six (6) years and one (1) day nor
Commission who have been assigned to make such more than twelve (12) years, or both, at the
examination for the actual time spent in said discretion of the court.
examination: Provided, further, That the general law
on insurance and the rules and regulations "(d) Whoever, with intent to defraud, alters, forges,
promulgated thereunder shall have suppletory makes or counterfeits any stamp, coupon, ticket,
application insofar as it is not in conflict with this Act book or other device prescribed by the Commission
and its rules and regulations. for the collection or payment of any contribution
required herein, or uses, sells, lends, or has in his
"SEC. 27. Records and Reports. - The SSS President possession any such altered, forged or counterfeited
shall keep and cause to keep records of operations of materials, or makes, uses, sells or has in his
possession any such altered, forged, material in within its territorial jurisdiction or in Metro Manila, at
imitation of the material used in the manufacture of the option of the SSS.
such stamp, coupon, ticket, book or other device,
shall be fined not less than Five thousand pesos "SEC. 29. Government Aid. - The establishment of the
(P5,000.00) non more than Twenty thousand pesos SSS shall not disqualify the members and employers
(P20,000.00) or imprisoned for not less than six years from receiving such government assistance, financial
(6) and one (1) day nor more than twelve (12) years, or otherwise, as may be Provided.
or both, at the discretion of the court.
"SEC. 30. Transitory Clause. - Any employer who is
"(e) Whoever fails or refuses to comply with the delinquent or has not remitted all contributions due
provisions of this Act or with the rules and and payable to the SSS may, within six (6) months
regulations promulgated by the Commission, shall be from the effectivity of this Act, remit said
punished by a fine of not less than Five thousand contributions or submit a proposal to pay the same in
pesos (P5,000.00) nor more than Twenty thousand installment within a period of not more than twelve
pesos (P20,000.00), or imprisonment for not less (12) months from the effectivity of this Act without
than six (6) years and one (1) day nor more than incurring the prescribed penalty, subject to the
twelve (12) years, or both, at the discretion of the implementing rules and regulations which the
court: Provided, That where the violation consists in Commission may prescribe: Provided, That the
failure or refusal to register employees or himself, in employer submits the corresponding collection lists
case of the covered self-employed or to deduct together with the remittance or proposal to pay in
contributions from the employees' compensation and installments: Provided, further, That in case the
remit the same to the SSS, the penalty shall be a fine employer fails to remit contributions within the six-
of not less Five thousand pesos (P5,000.00) nor more month grace period or defaults in the payment of any
than Twenty thousand pesos (P20,000.00) and amortization Provided the approved proposal, the
imprisonment for not less than six (6) years and one prescribed penalty shall be imposed from the time
(1) day nor more than twelve (12) years. the contributions first became due as Provided in
Section 22 (a) hereof."
"(f) If the act or omission penalized by this Act be
committed by an association, partnership, Section 2. Separability Clause. - If any provision of
corporation or any other institution, its managing this Act is declared invalid, the other provisions not
head, directors or partners shall be liable for the affected thereby shall remain valid.
penalties Provided in this Act for the offense.
Section 3. Repealing Clause. - All laws,
"(g) Any employee of the SSS who receives or keeps proclamations, executive orders, rules and
funds or property belonging, payable or deliverable regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act
to the SSS and who shall appropriate the same, or are hereby repealed, modified or amended
shall take or misappropriate, or shall consent, or accordingly: Provided, That no person shall be
through abandonment or negligence, shall permit deemed to be vested with any property or other right
any other person to take such property or funds, by virtue of the enactment or operation of this Act.
wholly or partially, or shall otherwise be guilty of
misappropriation of such funds or property, shall Section 4. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take
suffer the penalties Provided in Article Two hundred effect fifteen (15) days after its complete publication
seventeen of the Revised Penal Code. in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national
newspapers of general circulation whichever comes
"(h) Any employer who, after deducting the monthly earlier.
contributions or loan amortizations from his
employee's compensation, fails to remit the said Approved: May 01, 1997
deduction to the SSS within thirty (30) days from the
date they became due, shall be presumed to have
misappropriated such contributions or loan
amortizations and shall suffer the penalties Provided
in Article Three hundred fifteen of the Revised Penal
Code.

"(i) Criminal action arising from a violation of the

provisions of this Act may be commenced by the SSS
or the employee concerned either under this Act or in
appropriate cases under the Revised Penal Code:
Provided, That such criminal action may be filed by
the SSS in the city or municipality where the SSS
office is located, if the violation was committed