Quick answer
You qualify for the SSS maternity benefit if you paid at least three monthly contributions in the 12 months before the semester of your delivery or miscarriage. The benefit is your average daily salary credit × 105 days for live birth (120 days for solo parents, 60 for miscarriage). Because it uses a maximum MSC of ₱20,000, the most you can receive for a live birth is ₱70,000.
Key takeaways
- Eligibility: at least 3 posted contributions in the 12-month period before your semester of contingency.
- Formula: (sum of the 6 highest MSCs in that 12-month period ÷ 180) × number of compensable days.
- Compensable days: 105 for live birth (normal or caesarean), 120 for qualified solo parents, 60 for miscarriage or emergency termination.
- Maximum benefit for a live birth is ₱70,000 because benefit computations use the regular ₱20,000 MSC cap.
- Notify SSS through your employer (or directly if self-employed or voluntary) as early as possible, and file the claim online in My.SSS.
On this page
The SSS maternity benefit is a cash allowance that replaces part of your income while you recover from childbirth or a miscarriage. It is separate from your maternity leave, which your employer must grant under the Expanded Maternity Leave Law. Here is how to know if you qualify and exactly how much you will get.
Who qualifies?
You can claim if you are a female SSS member who:
- has paid at least three monthly contributions within the 12-month period immediately before the semester of contingency, and
- has notified SSS of the pregnancy, either through your employer (if employed) or directly (if self-employed, voluntary or separated).
The benefit covers live birth (normal or caesarean), miscarriage, and emergency termination of pregnancy, with no limit on the number of pregnancies.
Step 1: Find your semester of contingency
The semester of contingency is the two quarters ending with the quarter of delivery. The 12 months before that semester are the months SSS checks.
| Expected delivery | Semester of contingency | 12 months SSS checks |
|---|---|---|
| January–March 2027 | Oct 2026 – Mar 2027 | Oct 2025 – Sep 2026 |
| April–June 2027 | Jan – Jun 2027 | Jan – Dec 2026 |
| July–September 2027 | Apr – Sep 2027 | Apr 2026 – Mar 2027 |
| October–December 2027 | Jul – Dec 2027 | Jul 2026 – Jun 2027 |
You need at least three posted contributions inside the last column. Contributions paid during the semester itself do not count toward eligibility.
Step 2: Compute your benefit
Average daily salary credit (ADSC) = sum of the six highest MSCs within the 12-month period ÷ 180
Maternity benefit = ADSC × number of compensable days
| Situation | Compensable days |
|---|---|
| Live birth (normal or caesarean) | 105 days |
| Live birth, qualified solo parent | 120 days |
| Miscarriage or emergency termination | 60 days |
If you have fewer than six contributions in the period, the missing months count as zero, which lowers the average.
Example 1: Employee with ₱15,000 MSC
- Six highest MSCs: ₱15,000 × 6 = ₱90,000
- ADSC: ₱90,000 ÷ 180 = ₱500
- Live birth benefit: ₱500 × 105 = ₱52,500
Example 2: Maximum benefit
Benefit computations use the regular SSS MSC, which is capped at ₱20,000 even though contributions now go up to a ₱35,000 MSC.
- ADSC: ₱20,000 × 6 ÷ 180 = ₱666.67
- Live birth: ₱70,000
- Solo parent (120 days): ₱80,000
- Miscarriage (60 days): ₱40,000
Example 3: Only three contributions
A voluntary member who paid ₱10,000 MSC for only three months in the period:
- Six highest: ₱10,000 × 3 + 0 × 3 = ₱30,000
- ADSC: ₱30,000 ÷ 180 = ₱166.67
- Live birth: ₱17,500
That is why consistent contributions matter well before a planned pregnancy.
How to notify SSS and file the claim
If you are employed
- Tell your employer about the pregnancy and expected delivery date as early as possible. Your employer submits the maternity notification to SSS online.
- Your employer advances the full benefit within 30 days of your leave being approved.
- After delivery, your employer files the reimbursement claim with SSS using your documents (such as the birth certificate or medical records).
If you are self-employed, voluntary, OFW or separated from work
- Submit your maternity notification directly through My.SSS or the SSS Mobile App.
- After delivery, file the maternity benefit claim online in My.SSS with the required supporting documents.
- The benefit is credited to your disbursement account enrolled in DAEM, so enroll one early.
Separated members usually need proof of separation, such as a certificate of separation from the last employer.
Your rights under the Expanded Maternity Leave Law
RA 11210 gives employees in the private sector:
- 105 days of paid maternity leave for live birth, plus 15 more days for qualified solo parents.
- An option to extend for 30 days without pay, with notice to the employer.
- The option to transfer up to 7 days of leave to the child's father or an alternate caregiver.
- 60 days of paid leave for miscarriage or emergency termination.
- Salary differential: your employer pays the difference between your full salary and the SSS benefit, unless the business is exempt.
Leave is granted regardless of civil status or legitimacy of the child.
Don't forget PhilHealth
The SSS benefit replaces income; it does not pay the hospital. PhilHealth covers part of the delivery bill through its maternity care packages, so check that your PhilHealth contributions are updated before your due date.
Practical checklist before your due date
- Confirm in My.SSS that at least three contributions are posted in your qualifying period.
- Enroll a disbursement account in DAEM.
- Notify SSS (through your employer, or directly) as soon as pregnancy is confirmed.
- Keep copies of ultrasound reports, your birth certificate request, and hospital records.
- Build a small emergency fund for costs that neither SSS nor PhilHealth covers.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the SSS maternity benefit if my MSC is ₱15,000?
If your six highest MSCs in the 12-month period are all ₱15,000, your average daily salary credit is ₱15,000 × 6 ÷ 180 = ₱500. For a live birth, the benefit is ₱500 × 105 days = ₱52,500.
What is the semester of contingency?
It is the two consecutive quarters ending in the quarter of your delivery or miscarriage. If you give birth in March 2027, your semester is October 2026 to March 2027, and SSS looks at contributions from October 2025 to September 2026.
Can I pay contributions now to qualify for maternity benefits?
Only contributions posted for months within the 12-month period before your semester of contingency count. Contributions paid during the semester itself do not make you eligible. Self-employed and voluntary members should also note that SSS does not accept retroactive payments for months already past their deadline.
Does my employer have to pay me more than the SSS benefit?
Under the Expanded Maternity Leave Law (RA 11210), employers must pay the salary differential (your full pay for the leave period minus the SSS benefit) unless the employer is exempted, such as certain distressed or small establishments. The employer usually advances the full SSS benefit and gets reimbursed by SSS.
Is there an SSS maternity benefit for unemployed members?
Yes. Separated (unemployed), self-employed and voluntary members can claim if they meet the three-contribution rule. They file directly with SSS and receive the benefit in their enrolled disbursement account.
Sources
Figures checked against these official and primary sources on October 4, 2026. Government rates and promos change, so confirm on the agency's site before you act.
- Social Security System: Maternity benefit
- Republic Act No. 11210, 105-Day Expanded Maternity Leave Law
- Republic Act No. 11199, Social Security Act of 2018
General information, not personal financial, tax or legal advice. See our editorial standards and disclaimer. Found an outdated figure? Email support@success.ph.