Who can claim SSS retirement, death, and funeral benefits — and how?
Last updated: 2026-07-12 · Educational content; not legal advice.
Short answer
These are the long-term SSS benefits under RA 11199. The RETIREMENT benefit goes to a qualifying member who has reached the retirement age with enough posted contributions — paid either as a monthly pension (if the member has the required minimum number of monthly contributions) or as a one-time lump sum (if below that threshold). The DEATH benefit is paid to the member's beneficiaries: the law recognizes PRIMARY beneficiaries first — the legitimate dependent spouse (until remarriage) and dependent legitimate, legitimated, or legally adopted and illegitimate children — and only if there are none does it pass to SECONDARY beneficiaries (dependent parents), or otherwise to any other person the member designated. Like retirement, the death benefit is a pension or a lump sum depending on the member's contribution record. The FUNERAL benefit is a separate grant toward burial costs, paid to whoever actually shouldered the funeral expenses. Do not rely on a remembered peso figure — the pension, lump sum, and funeral amounts are set by the SSS schedule and are adjusted over time, so confirm the current amounts and the documents required with the SSS.
Primary sources
Frequently asked
Who are the primary beneficiaries of a deceased SSS member?
Under RA 11199, the primary beneficiaries are the legitimate dependent spouse (until remarriage) and the dependent legitimate, legitimated, legally adopted, and illegitimate children. Only if there are no primary beneficiaries does the benefit go to the secondary beneficiaries (dependent parents), or otherwise to any other designated person.
Will retirement be a monthly pension or a lump sum?
It depends on the member's posted contributions: a member with at least the required minimum number of monthly contributions receives a monthly pension; one below that threshold receives a one-time lump sum. Confirm your contribution count and the current computation with the SSS.
Who can claim the funeral benefit?
The funeral benefit is a grant toward burial costs paid to whoever actually shouldered the funeral expenses of the deceased member or pensioner. Keep the official funeral receipts and the death certificate; confirm the current amount and required documents with the SSS.
Take action
Got a similar problem?
File a complaint and we'll pre-fill BSP, SEC, DTI, and small-claims letters for you.
Your rights as a policyholder or HMO member — what to do when an insurance claim is denied or delayed, how long an insurer has to pay a valid claim and the interest it owes for unreasonable delay (RA 10607, the Amended Insurance Code), the 2-year incontestability clause on life policies, HMO coverage and pre-existing-condition denials (now regulated by the Insurance Commission under EO 192 s.2015), what CTPL motor insurance covers and the no-fault indemnity, premium grace periods and lapsed policies, cash surrender value when you cancel, and how to file a complaint with the Insurance Commission.