Members of the Social Security System (SSS) who will lose their jobs could apply for unemployment assistance under Republic Act 11199 (Social Security Act of 2019), which was signed by President Duterte into law last week, Senator Richard J. Gordon said Tuesday.
10K monthly unemployment benefits now available under new SSS law
Gordon, author of the law, said the landmark legislation now provides for unemployment insurance or involuntary separation benefits for the state pension fund’s members which could help tide them over while they are looking for another employment.
“For the first time in the country’s history, meron na ngayong (there is now an) unemployment insurance. It will start with two months, at least meron kang P10,000 a month if you had been paying contributions under the maximum salary credit. For two months, makakapaghanap ka ng trabaho (while looking for work),” he said.
“For the first time in the country’s history, meron na ngayong (there is now an) unemployment insurance. It will start with two months, at least meron kang P10,000 a month if you had been paying contributions under the maximum salary credit. For two months, makakapaghanap ka ng trabaho (while looking for work),” he said.
Under Section 14-B of RA 11199, a member who finds himself involuntarily unemployed can claim unemployment benefit equivalent to 50 percent of his average monthly salary credit for a maximum of two months.
The member should not be more than 60 years of age and has paid at least 36 months contributions, twelve months of which should be within the 18-month period prior to the involuntary unemployment or separation. A member can only claim unemployment benefits once every three years.
"It will allow you to look for another job. While hindi ka pwedeng magrelax at kailangang maghanap ka agad ng trabaho (You have to find work fast) because you can only get a maximum of two months, you will have something for your expenses,” Gordon, chairman of the Committee on Government Corporations and Public Enterprises, stressed.
The article Unemployment benefits now available under new SSS law appeared in MANILA BULLETIN