Senator Richard Gordon, the principal author of the newly-signed Republic Act 11199 or the Social Security Act of 2019 stated that members of the Social Security System (SSS) who will lose their jobs will be eligible to get unemployment insurance.
The landmark registration, which was recently signed by President Duterte, includes a provision that provides involuntary separation benefits for the state pension fund’s members to help them during the period as they search for a new job.
“For the first time in the country’s history, meron na ngayong 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,” 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 because you can only get a maximum of two months, you will have something for your expenses,” the chairman of the Committee on Government Corporations and Public Enterprises stressed.
