SSS Maternity Benefit 2026: Computation, Requirements & How to Claim
Quick Answer: SSS pays 100% of your Average Daily Salary Credit (ADSC) — your 6 highest Monthly Salary Credits in the 12 months before your semester of delivery, divided by 180 — for 105 days (normal delivery/C-section), 120 days (solo parents), or 60 days (miscarriage/emergency termination). At the ₱20,000 benefit-computation ceiling, that maxes out around ₱70,000, ₱80,000, and ₱40,000 respectively. You need at least 3 posted monthly contributions in the 12 months before that semester, must notify SSS before delivery, and file via My.SSS within 10 years. This is separate from PhilHealth maternity coverage — you can claim both.
Table of Contents
- What is the SSS maternity benefit?
- SSS maternity benefit vs. PhilHealth maternity benefit
- Who qualifies?
- How much can you get? (Computation walkthrough)
- How many days can you claim?
- What is the MAT-1 notification and when do you file it?
- What documents do you need?
- How do you apply, step by step?
- What are the deadlines?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Conclusion
What is the SSS maternity benefit?
The SSS maternity benefit is a daily cash allowance paid to a qualified female SSS member who is unable to work because of childbirth, miscarriage, or emergency termination of pregnancy (ETP). It replaces income lost during your maternity leave — it is not a payment toward hospital or delivery charges.
This benefit runs on top of your employer-paid maternity leave under the Expanded Maternity Leave Law (RA 11210). For employed members, your employer advances your full pay during leave, then gets reimbursed by SSS for the SSS-computed portion. Full program details are on sss.gov.ph.
SSS maternity benefit vs. PhilHealth maternity benefit
These are two completely separate benefits, and a pregnant SSS member who is also a PhilHealth member is entitled to both — one doesn't reduce the other.
| SSS Maternity Benefit | PhilHealth Maternity Benefit | |
|---|---|---|
| What it pays | Cash allowance to you, replacing lost income during leave | Case rate paid directly to the hospital/facility against your bill |
| Who qualifies | SSS members only (employed, self-employed, voluntary, OFW) | Any active PhilHealth member |
| 2026 amount | Up to ~₱70,000 (105 days) / ~₱80,000 (solo parent) / ~₱40,000 (miscarriage), based on your MSC | ₱29,000 (normal delivery), ₱58,000–₱62,000 (C-section) |
| Where the money goes | Your bank account / payroll (via employer) | Deducted straight from your hospital bill |
| Where to read more | This guide | PhilHealth maternity benefits guide and PhilHealth maternity claim guide |
In practice, a mother giving birth normally could see her hospital bill reduced by PhilHealth's ₱29,000 case rate at the hospital, and separately receive an SSS cash benefit deposited to her own account — two different funds, two different applications, both worth filing.
Who qualifies?
You qualify if you meet all of the following at the same time.
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Contributions | At least 3 monthly contributions posted in the 12 months immediately before the semester of contingency |
| Notification | SSS (via your employer, or directly if self-employed/voluntary/OFW) must be notified before the delivery, miscarriage, or ETP |
| Contingency | Childbirth (live birth), miscarriage, or emergency termination of pregnancy |
| Membership | Any female SSS member — employed, self-employed, voluntary, OFW, or a non-working spouse who is also a member |
The "semester of contingency" is SSS-specific terminology: a semester means two consecutive quarters (Jan–Jun or Jul–Dec) ending in the quarter of your delivery/miscarriage. To find your 12-month look-back window, count 12 months backward starting from the month immediately before that semester begins — not simply the 12 months before your delivery date. Because this window shifts your qualifying period earlier than most members expect, check your specific dates and posted contributions through your My.SSS account before you assume you qualify.
How much can you get? (Computation walkthrough)
Your maternity benefit is 100% of your Average Daily Salary Credit (ADSC) — no percentage cut, unlike the SSS sickness benefit's 90%. ADSC is calculated as: the sum of your 6 highest Monthly Salary Credits (MSCs) in the 12 months before your semester of contingency, divided by 180.
For SSS's Regular Social Security Program (which covers maternity, sickness, disability, and unemployment benefits), the MSC used in this computation is capped at ₱20,000 as of 2026 — even though the overall contribution-posting ceiling is ₱35,000. Any salary credit above ₱20,000 flows into the separate WISP provident fund, which isn't part of this benefit computation.
Example 1 — member at the ₱20,000 MSC ceiling, normal delivery (105 days):
| Step | Computation | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Sum of 6 highest MSCs | ₱20,000 × 6 | ₱120,000.00 |
| ADSC | ₱120,000.00 ÷ 180 | ₱666.67 |
| Daily maternity benefit (100% of ADSC) | ₱666.67 × 1.00 | ₱666.67 |
| Total benefit for 105 days | ₱666.67 × 105 | ₱70,000.35 |
Example 2 — member with a ₱12,000 average MSC, miscarriage (60 days):
| Step | Computation | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Sum of 6 highest MSCs | ₱12,000 × 6 | ₱72,000.00 |
| ADSC | ₱72,000.00 ÷ 180 | ₱400.00 |
| Daily maternity benefit (100% of ADSC) | ₱400.00 × 1.00 | ₱400.00 |
| Total benefit for 60 days | ₱400.00 × 60 | ₱24,000.00 |
Your own number depends entirely on your 6 highest posted MSCs in the relevant 12-month window — pull your contribution record on My.SSS to run your own version of this table before you file. Members who qualify as solo parents under RA 8972 get 120 days instead of 105, which raises Example 1's total to roughly ₱80,000 at the ₱20,000 MSC ceiling.
How many days can you claim?
The number of compensable days depends on the type of contingency, and there's no partial-day proration beyond the formula above.
| Contingency | Compensable days |
|---|---|
| Live childbirth (normal or cesarean) | 105 days |
| Live childbirth, solo parent (RA 8972) | 120 days (105 + 15 additional) |
| Miscarriage or emergency termination of pregnancy | 60 days |
At the current ₱20,000 MSC computation ceiling, these translate to maximum benefits of roughly ₱70,000, ₱80,000, and ₱40,000 respectively — the exact figures SSS publishes as program maximums. A member with a lower average MSC will receive proportionally less, per the formula above, not these flat maximums.
What is the MAT-1 notification and when do you file it?
Before you can claim, SSS requires a separate Maternity Notification (MAT-1) — this is not the same document as your actual benefit claim/reimbursement application.
- When to file it: As soon as your pregnancy is confirmed, and it must reach SSS before the date of your delivery, miscarriage, or ETP. SSS generally does not accept a MAT-1 filed after the contingency already happened, except in limited cases with valid documented reasons.
- If you're employed: Submit the MAT-1 to your employer, who forwards the notification to SSS through their My.SSS employer account.
- If you're self-employed, voluntary, an OFW, or a non-working spouse: File the MAT-1 directly with SSS through My.SSS, the SSS mobile app, or at an SSS branch.
Filing this notification late or not at all is one of the most common reasons a maternity claim gets delayed or denied — treat it as the first step the moment a pregnancy test comes back positive, not something you handle after delivery.
SSS Maternity Benefit: 105 Days and What It Pays covers the MAT-1 flow and the computation from the SSS side.
What documents do you need?
| Document | Notes |
|---|---|
| Maternity Notification (MAT-1) | Filed before delivery, separately from the benefit claim |
| Maternity Benefit Application / Reimbursement Form | Filed through My.SSS after delivery |
| Child's Certificate of Live Birth | PSA-issued, or certified true copy for live birth claims |
| Proof of miscarriage/ETP | Ultrasound results, medical certificate, or hospital records, as applicable |
| Solo Parent ID or certification | Only if claiming the 120-day solo parent benefit |
| Medical certificates | Signed by a licensed physician, with PRC license number, for miscarriage/ETP cases |
How do you apply, step by step?
How you file depends on your membership type. Both paths start with the MAT-1 notification described above, filed before your delivery date.
If you're employed:
- File the MAT-1 notification with your employer as soon as pregnancy is confirmed; your employer forwards it to SSS via My.SSS.
- Give birth (or experience the miscarriage/ETP) and gather your PSA birth certificate or medical proof.
- Submit your supporting documents to your employer.
- Your employer files the Maternity Benefit Application/Reimbursement on My.SSS and advances your full pay during leave, per RA 11210.
- SSS reimburses your employer for the SSS-computed portion of the benefit.
If you're self-employed, a voluntary member, an OFW, or a non-working spouse:
- File the MAT-1 notification directly with SSS (My.SSS, mobile app, or branch) before delivery.
- After the contingency, gather your PSA birth certificate or medical proof.
- File the Maternity Benefit Application directly through My.SSS or the SSS mobile app — SSS pays the benefit straight to you since there's no employer to advance the pay.
What are the deadlines?
| Situation | Deadline |
|---|---|
| MAT-1 notification | Before the date of delivery, miscarriage, or ETP |
| Maternity Benefit Application/claim | Within 10 years from the date of delivery, miscarriage, or ETP |
The 10-year window is generous compared to most SSS benefits, but don't rely on it — filing soon after delivery avoids complications with missing records or a since-closed employer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Magkano ang SSS maternity benefit?
It's 100% of your Average Daily Salary Credit (ADSC) per compensable day. ADSC is your 6 highest Monthly Salary Credits in the 12 months before your semester of contingency, divided by 180. A member at the ₱20,000 MSC ceiling gets roughly ₱666.67 a day, for a total of about ₱70,000 (105 days, normal/C-section), ₱80,000 (120 days, solo parent), or ₱40,000 (60 days, miscarriage).
Paano mag-claim ng SSS maternity benefit?
File the MAT-1 notification before you give birth — through your employer if employed, or directly via My.SSS if self-employed, voluntary, or an OFW. After delivery, submit your PSA birth certificate (or medical proof for miscarriage/ETP). Employed members have their employer file the reimbursement claim on My.SSS; everyone else files directly on My.SSS or the SSS mobile app.
What are the requirements for SSS maternity benefit?
At least 3 posted monthly contributions in the 12 months before your semester of contingency, and a MAT-1 notification filed with SSS before your delivery, miscarriage, or ETP. Any female SSS member — employed, self-employed, voluntary, OFW, or non-working spouse — can qualify.
Is SSS maternity benefit the same as PhilHealth maternity benefit?
No. SSS maternity benefit is a cash allowance paid to you as income replacement during leave. PhilHealth maternity benefit is a case rate paid directly toward your hospital bill (₱29,000 normal delivery, ₱58,000–₱62,000 C-section as of 2026). They're separate programs — you can claim both for the same pregnancy. See our PhilHealth maternity benefits guide and PhilHealth maternity claim guide.
How many days can I claim SSS maternity benefit?
105 days for normal delivery or C-section, 120 days if you qualify as a solo parent under RA 8972, or 60 days for miscarriage or emergency termination of pregnancy.
Can self-employed or voluntary SSS members claim maternity benefit?
Yes. Self-employed, voluntary, OFW, and non-working spouse members file the MAT-1 notification and the benefit claim directly through My.SSS or the SSS mobile app, without an employer involved. SSS pays the benefit straight to the member.
What happens if I don't file the MAT-1 before I give birth?
SSS generally does not accept a MAT-1 filed after the delivery, miscarriage, or ETP already occurred, except in limited cases with valid documented reasons. Late or missed notification is one of the most common causes of a delayed or denied claim, so file it as soon as pregnancy is confirmed.
Can I claim SSS maternity benefit if I'm on sick leave for a pregnancy complication instead of giving birth?
No — if your absence is due to a pregnancy-related illness before delivery rather than the childbirth/miscarriage/ETP itself, that falls under the SSS sickness benefit instead, which has its own 90%-of-ADSC formula and separate qualifying rules.
Conclusion
The SSS maternity benefit and PhilHealth's maternity case rate are two different funds that both exist to soften the cost of having a baby, and filing for both is worth the paperwork. Start your SSS claim with the MAT-1 notification before delivery, then follow up with your PSA birth certificate through My.SSS. If your pregnancy involves a separate work stoppage for illness, check the SSS sickness benefit guide for that different process. For the PhilHealth side of the bill, see the PhilHealth maternity benefits guide and the step-by-step PhilHealth maternity claim guide. If a hospital balance still remains after both benefits are applied, the hospital bill assistance hub and medical loan options cover what's next. You can also search for accredited maternity clinics and hospitals near you on ClinicFinderPH.