SSS Sickness Notification Philippines 2026
How to file your SSS sickness notification Philippines — who qualifies, how to submit, and the 5-day rule you need to know before you get sick.
Last updated: July 2026 · sss.gov.ph · SSS Sickness Benefit Program · RA 11199
What is the SSS Sickness Notification?
The SSS Sickness Notification is the required first step to claim the SSS sickness benefit — a daily cash allowance for the days you are unable to work due to illness or injury. It informs your employer (or SSS directly) that you are sick, with your diagnosis, the estimated period of confinement, and a medical certificate from your doctor. Without this notification on file, the sickness benefit cannot be processed.
The most important thing to know is the 5-day rule: for a home confinement, you must notify your employer within 5 calendar days from the start of your confinement. If you notify late, SSS treats your confinement as having started no earlier than the 5th day before the date you notified — so you lose benefit days for every day you delay. The 5-day rule does not apply to hospital confinement — if you are admitted to a hospital, employee notification is not required and the claim can be filed after discharge.
⚠️ The 5-Day Rule
File your sickness notification within 5 calendar days from the start of a home confinement.
Late filing = confinement counted only from the 5th day before the notification date.
Exception: Hospital confinement — the 5-day employee notification does not apply.
Who Qualifies for the SSS Sickness Benefit?
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Minimum contributions | At least 3 monthly contributions paid within the 12 months immediately before the semester of sickness or injury |
| Confinement | Unable to work and confined — at home or in a hospital — for at least 4 days due to illness or injury |
| Notification | Has notified the employer (if employed), or SSS directly (if self-employed, voluntary, OFW, or separated from employment) |
| Company sick leave | Employed members must have used up all company sick leave with pay for the current year (except sea-based OFWs) |
Employed, self-employed, voluntary, non-working spouse, and OFW members — as well as members separated from employment — may claim the sickness benefit if the conditions above are met.
How to File — Employed Members
Employed members file through their employer. You notify your employer; your employer then notifies SSS online.
Step-by-Step — Employed Member
| Step | What to Do |
|---|---|
| 1 | Notify your employer of your sickness or injury — within 5 calendar days from the start of a home confinement (for hospital confinement, employee notification is not necessary) |
| 2 | Have your attending physician complete the SSS Medical Certificate (Med 01688) — full diagnosis, recommended sick-leave days, clinic address, contact number, and a legible license number. Gather certified true copies of any supporting medical documents. |
| 3 | Give the Medical Certificate and supporting documents to your employer |
| 4 | Your employer notifies SSS online through the employer’s My.SSS account, within 5 calendar days of receiving your documents — over-the-counter submission is no longer required |
| 5 | Once approved, your employer advances the benefit to you and files the Sickness Benefit Reimbursement Application (SBRA) online. You must confirm receipt of the advance payment within 7 working days of the SSS email notification. |
How to File — Self-Employed, Voluntary, OFW
Self-employed, voluntary, OFW, and separated members file directly with SSS online — no employer involved.
- Log in to your My.SSS account at my.sss.gov.ph
- Go to the “Benefits” tab and select “Sickness Benefit”
- Fill out the online sickness benefit application form
- Upload the required documents — the SSS Medical Certificate (Med 01688) and any supporting medical records
- Review your entries, tick the certification checkbox, and submit
- Note your transaction number — your application goes to the SSS Medical Evaluation Center, and the result is sent to you by email
The benefit is disbursed through your UMID card enrolled as an ATM card. If you do not have one, payment is made through PESONet participating banks, e-wallets (such as GCash or Maya), or accredited remittance transfer companies. Enroll your disbursement account in the My.SSS facility before filing.
Download the SSS Forms
The SSS Medical Certificate (Med 01688) is the key medical document required for any sickness claim — have your doctor complete it. The Sickness Notification form (SIC 01252) is also available from SSS. Under the current process, employers notify SSS online through My.SSS; over-the-counter submission is no longer required.
Medical Certificate (Med 01688) → Sickness Notification (SIC 01252) →
Source: official SSS Download Forms page, sss.gov.ph
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the daily sickness benefit amount?
Your daily sickness benefit is 90% of your Average Daily Salary Credit (ADSC). To find the ADSC, SSS adds your 6 highest monthly salary credits (MSC) from the 12 months before the semester of sickness, then divides the total by 180. For benefit computation, the MSC is counted up to a maximum of ₱20,000. Example: if your 6 highest MSCs are ₱15,000 each, the total is ₱90,000; ₱90,000 ÷ 180 gives an ADSC of ₱500; and 90% of ₱500 is a daily benefit of ₱450. SSS pays this for the approved number of confinement days — up to 120 days per calendar year, and not more than 240 days for the same illness.
What if my illness extends beyond the initial estimate?
If your confinement lasts longer than your doctor’s first estimate, another notification must be filed for the additional period, supported by an updated medical certificate. The same 5-day notification rule applies to the additional period of home confinement, so file promptly to avoid losing benefit days.
Can I still get a benefit if I was injured at work?
Yes — a work-related sickness or injury can be the basis of a sickness benefit claim, and it may also qualify for separate benefits under the Employees’ Compensation (EC) Program. File your sickness notification promptly following the normal rules, and ask SSS about EC coverage for work-related cases.
My employer did not submit my notification to SSS — what do I do?
Your employer is required to notify SSS within 5 calendar days of receiving your documents. If they fail to do so, contact SSS — call the hotline at 1455, email usssaptayo@sss.gov.ph, or visit the nearest SSS branch to report the situation.
Also in SSS Philippines:
📋 Information verified — Official sources: sss.gov.ph/sickness-benefit/ · SSS Download Forms · RA 11199
⚠️ This is general information, not financial, tax, or legal advice. KnowMyGovt is an independent service — not affiliated with or endorsed by the SSS, PhilHealth, Pag-IBIG, the BIR, DOLE, or the Philippine government — and is not liable for decisions made in reliance on it.
