Under Philippine law, the death of a covered member triggers a specialized regime of social security protections designed to mitigate the financial impact on the surviving family. These benefits are primarily governed by the Social Security Act of 2018 (R.A. 11199), the GSIS Act of 1997 (R.A. 8291), and the Pag-IBIG Fund Law of 2009 (R.A. 9679).

This guide outlines the entitlements, eligibility criteria, and procedural requirements for claiming these benefits as of 2026.

I. Social Security System (SSS) – Private Sector

The SSS provides two primary types of assistance: the Funeral Benefit and the Death Benefit.

1. Funeral Benefit

This is a cash grant paid to the person who actually paid for the burial and funeral expenses of the deceased member.

Amount (2026 Rates):
- $\text{PHP } 12,000$: If the member paid between 1 and 35 monthly contributions.
- $\text{PHP } 20,000 \text{ to PHP } 60,000$: A variable amount for members with 36 or more monthly contributions, calculated based on the number of contributions and the Average Monthly Salary Credit (AMSC).

2. Death Benefit

This is granted to the beneficiaries of a deceased member who has paid at least one monthly contribution.

Monthly Pension: Granted if the member paid at least 36 monthly contributions prior to the semester of death.
Lump Sum: Granted if the member paid less than 36 monthly contributions. The amount is either the monthly pension multiplied by the number of contributions paid or 12 times the monthly pension, whichever is higher.

3. Beneficiary Hierarchy

Primary: Legitimate spouse (until remarriage) and dependent children (below 21, unmarried, and not gainfully employed).
Secondary: Dependent parents (in the absence of primary beneficiaries).
Designated/Legal Heirs: In the absence of both, the benefit is paid to the persons designated by the member or the legal heirs under the Civil Code.

4. Monthly Pension Formula

The monthly pension is the highest of the following computations:

$$P = 300 + (20% \times AMSC) + (2% \times AMSC) \times (CYS - 10)$$
$$P = 40% \times AMSC$$
Minimum Pension: $\text{PHP } 1,000$ (less than 10 CYS); $\text{PHP } 1,200$ (10–20 CYS); $\text{PHP } 2,400$ (20+ CYS).

II. Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) – Public Sector

Public sector employees are covered by the GSIS, which offers a robust Survivorship Benefit and a fixed Funeral Grant.

1. Funeral Benefit

A fixed amount of $\text{PHP } 30,000$ is paid to the surviving spouse, or the children, or the person who can prove payment of funeral expenses. (Note: For uniformed personnel of the PNP, BJMP, and BFP, the grant is $\text{PHP } 10,000$).

2. Survivorship Benefit

The primary beneficiaries are entitled to a Basic Survivorship Pension (BSP).

Surviving Spouse: Entitled to $50%$ of the member’s Basic Monthly Pension (BMP).
- Note (2026 Update): Under recent board resolutions, the cap on the survivorship pension has been removed, and cohabitation is no longer a ground for disqualification. Only remarriage terminates the pension.
Dependent Children: Each child (max of 5, youngest first) is entitled to a Dependent’s Pension equivalent to $10%$ of the member’s BMP.

3. Life Insurance Benefit

Depending on the policy (Life Endowment Policy or Enhanced Life Policy), the heirs may also receive a maturity or death claim representing the face value of the member's insurance.

III. Pag-IBIG Fund (HDMF)

Unlike the SSS and GSIS, Pag-IBIG is primarily a provident fund. The benefit is essentially the withdrawal of the member’s savings.

1. Death Benefit (Provident Claims)

Upon the death of a member, the legal heirs are entitled to the Total Accumulated Value (TAV), which includes:

The member's personal contributions.
The employer's counterpart contributions.
All earned dividends credited to the account.

2. Mortgage Redemption Insurance (MRI)

If the deceased member had an active Pag-IBIG Housing Loan, the loan is typically covered by MRI. Upon submission of the death certificate, the insurance proceeds are applied to the outstanding loan balance, effectively settling the debt and allowing the heirs to process the title transfer.

IV. Employees' Compensation Commission (ECC)

If the death was work-related (occurred during work hours, at the workplace, or while performing official functions), the family can claim additional benefits from the ECC through the SSS (for private) or GSIS (for public).

EC Death Pension: An additional monthly pension for the primary beneficiaries.
EC Funeral Benefit: An additional $\text{PHP } 30,000$ on top of the standard SSS/GSIS funeral grant.

V. General Documentary Requirements

While specific forms vary, the following PSA-authenticated documents are universally required:

Death Certificate of the member.
Marriage Contract (if the claimant is the spouse).
Birth Certificates of children (if claiming dependent's pension).
CENOMAR/Advisory on Marriages (to prove the spouse's eligibility).
Two Valid Government IDs of the claimant.
Funeral Expense Receipts (for funeral grant claims).

Procedural Note

Most claims in 2026 can be initiated through online portals: My.SSS, GSIS Touch, or Virtual Pag-IBIG. However, original documents must often be presented or uploaded in high-resolution formats to satisfy anti-fraud protocols. For SSS and GSIS, claims for funeral benefits must be filed within four (4) years from the date of death, while ECC claims must be filed within three (3) years.