Last verified: October 5, 2026
Independent guide. We are not affiliated with the Social Security System (SSS). Contribution rates, loan terms, and benefit rules below reflect the current 2026 schedule under RA 11199 — always confirm on the official SSS website or the My.SSS portal before acting.
Quick answer: The Social Security System (SSS) is the Philippines’ social insurance program for private-sector workers, self-employed professionals, OFWs, and voluntary members. In 2026, members contribute 15% of their Monthly Salary Credit (MSC) — split 10% employer / 5% employee for employed members, paid in full by self-employed, voluntary, and land-based OFW members. This hub links to our complete 2026 guides: online registration, the contribution table, checking contributions, salary loans, and maternity benefits.
What is the SSS?
The SSS (Social Security System) provides social security protection to Filipino workers in the private sector and to self-employed, voluntary, and OFW members. It is governed by Republic Act No. 11199 (Social Security Act of 2018). Government employees are covered separately by the GSIS — SSS is for everyone else.
SSS coverage gives you access to:
- Sickness benefit — daily cash allowance for workdays you cannot work due to illness or injury
- Maternity benefit — 105 days of paid leave for live childbirth under RA 11210
- Disability benefit — monthly pension or lump sum for partial or total disability
- Retirement benefit — monthly pension or lump sum at retirement
- Death benefit — pension or lump sum for beneficiaries
- Funeral benefit — cash grant for funeral expenses
- Salary loan — short-term loans up to ₱40,000 for qualified members
- Calamity loan — lower-interest loans during declared calamities
SSS benefits list
Every posted contribution buys you coverage across SSS’s benefit programs:
- Sickness benefit — daily cash allowance for workdays lost to illness or injury.
- Maternity benefit — 105 days of paid leave for live childbirth (120 for solo parents) under RA 11210. See our maternity benefit guide.
- Disability benefit — monthly pension or lump sum for partial or total disability.
- Retirement benefit — monthly pension or lump sum when you retire.
- Death benefit — pension or lump sum paid to your beneficiaries.
- Funeral benefit — cash grant to whoever paid for the funeral expenses.
- Unemployment benefit — cash assistance for involuntarily separated employees, subject to SSS rules.
On top of benefits, members can borrow: the salary loan (up to ₱40,000) and the calamity loan for declared disaster areas. Every benefit and loan below starts from the same foundation — posted contributions, checked through the My.SSS portal.
My.SSS Portal: Create Your Online Account
My.SSS (member.sss.gov.ph) is the single online gateway for members: registration, contribution inquiry, PRN generation, loan applications, and benefit claims.
How to create your My.SSS account:
1. Go to member.sss.gov.ph and click Register.
2. Enter your SS number and personal details exactly as they appear in SSS records.
3. Verify your identity with one of 8 options — most members use their employer ID number, registered mobile number, UMID card, or a paid payment reference number (SBR).
4. Click the password-setup link in the email SSS sends you and set your password plus security questions.
Forgot your password or user ID? Use the recovery links on the login page — you will need access to your registered email or mobile number. After several failed attempts the account may lock temporarily; wait before retrying. Full walkthrough in our online registration guide.
Who must (or can) be an SSS member?
| Member type | Who they are | Contribution |
|---|---|---|
| Employed | Private-sector employees, household workers (kasambahay) | 5% employee + 10% employer |
| Self-employed | Freelancers, professionals, business owners | Full 15% (member pays) |
| Voluntary | Separated employees continuing coverage, non-working spouses | Full 15% (member pays) |
| OFW (land-based) | Filipinos working abroad | Full 15% (member pays), min MSC ₱8,000 |
| OFW (sea-based) | Seafarers | 5% member + 10% manning agency |
Your SSS number is a lifetime number — you get one, once, and keep it forever, even if you change jobs, go abroad, or stop contributing for years.
The 2026 contribution rate at a glance
The total contribution rate is 15% of your Monthly Salary Credit (MSC) — this was the final scheduled increase under RA 11199, effective January 2025, and it is unchanged for 2026. The MSC ranges from ₱5,000 to ₱35,000 (₱8,000 minimum for land-based OFWs).
Example: an employee earning ₱25,000/month has an MSC of ₱25,000. The employee pays ₱1,250 (5%), the employer pays ₱2,500 (10%) plus a small EC contribution. See the full 2026 contribution table for every bracket.
Start here: our 2026 SSS guides
1. How to Get an SSS Number Online — SS number application for first-timers, My.SSS account registration, and the 8 verification options explained.
2. SSS Contribution Table 2026 — every MSC bracket with exact peso amounts for employed, self-employed, voluntary, OFW, and kasambahay members.
3. How to Check Your SSS Contribution Online — My.SSS login, reading your posted contributions, and what to do when payments are missing.
4. SSS Salary Loan 2026 — eligibility (36/72 posted contributions), how much you can borrow up to ₱40,000, and online application.
5. SSS Maternity Benefit 2026 — the 105-day benefit under RA 11210, the 3-contribution rule, MAT-1/MAT-2 steps, and how the amount is computed.
Buod sa Tagalog
Ang SSS ay ang social insurance ng mga manggagawang Pilipino sa pribadong sektor, self-employed, OFW, at voluntary members. Sa 2026, ang kontribusyon ay 15% ng Monthly Salary Credit (₱5,000–₱35,000) — hati ang employed (5% empleyado, 10% employer), samantalang buo itong binabayaran ng self-employed, voluntary, at land-based OFW. Lifetime ang SSS number — isang beses ka lang magpaparehistro. Lahat ng transaksyon ay ginagawa sa My.SSS portal.
Troubleshooting
I already have an SSS number but forgot it. Do not apply for a new one — duplicate SS numbers are a violation. Recover it through the SSS hotline, any branch with a valid ID, or the My.SSS account recovery options.
My employer never registered me. Under RA 11199, employers must report new employees and remit contributions. You can report delinquent employers to SSS — keep your payslips and employment records as proof.
The My.SSS portal will not load. Try the SSS mobile app as an alternative, or check during off-peak hours. Portal maintenance windows are usually announced on the official SSS Facebook page.
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Related guides: How to Get an SSS Number Online · SSS Contribution Table 2026 · How to Check Your SSS Contribution Online · SSS Salary Loan 2026 · SSS Maternity Benefit 2026
Last verified: 2026-10-05. Official source: sss.gov.ph. The 15% rate (unchanged for 2026, final increase under RA 11199 effective January 2025) and MSC range (₱5,000–₱35,000; ₱8,000 OFW minimum) per 2026 SSS contribution guides — confirm on the official schedule before relying on them.
Always confirm details on the official government portal:
Visit the official SSS portalFrequently asked questions
Is SSS mandatory in the Philippines?
Yes, for private-sector employees — your employer is required by law to register you and remit contributions. Self-employed professionals, OFWs, and voluntary members join on their own. Government employees are covered by the GSIS instead.
How much is the SSS contribution in 2026?
15% of your Monthly Salary Credit (MSC), which ranges from ₱5,000 to ₱35,000. Employed members split it 5% (employee) / 10% (employer). Self-employed, voluntary, and land-based OFW members pay the full 15% themselves.
Can I still use my SSS number if I stopped contributing years ago?
Yes. Your SSS number is lifetime and never expires. You can resume contributions as a voluntary member anytime through My.SSS.
What is the difference between SSS and GSIS?
SSS covers private-sector workers, the self-employed, OFWs, and voluntary members. GSIS (Government Service Insurance System) covers government employees. They are separate systems with separate contributions and benefits.
Can OFWs join SSS?
Yes. Land-based OFWs register as self-employed-type members with a minimum MSC of ₱8,000 and pay the full 15% themselves. Sea-based OFWs (seafarers) are treated like employees, with the manning agency as employer.
Where do I transact with SSS online?
Through the My.SSS portal at member.sss.gov.ph — registration, contribution inquiry, loan applications, and benefit claims are all filed there.
Can I still apply for a UMID card in 2026?
Not the old UMID. Under SSS Circular No. 2025-008, SSS discontinued new UMID issuance and now issues the MySSS Card instead — a Visa-enabled debit card that also serves as your SSS ID. Old UMID cards remain valid. Apply online through the My.SSS portal: you must be registered with PhilSys (National ID) with records matching your SSS details, and a partner bank (currently RCBC DiskarTech) opens the linked account. Delivery takes about 15–20 working days after the account is opened.