Overview

When an SSS member or pensioner dies, the Social Security System (SSS) may pay benefits to qualified beneficiaries. These benefits generally fall into three buckets:

Death Benefit (monthly pension or lump sum) for the deceased member’s qualified beneficiaries
Funeral Benefit (a one-time cash assistance) for the person who paid for the funeral/burial
Accrued/Unpaid Benefits (amounts due but not yet received by the deceased, such as unpaid pension for certain periods), released to qualified persons subject to SSS rules

In practice, most claims are handled as (a) Death Claim and, separately or together, (b) Funeral Claim, with additional requirements if the claimant is not a straightforward primary beneficiary.

This article explains who may claim, what may be claimed, what to prepare, and how disputes and special cases are handled under Philippine practice and SSS procedures.

Key Concepts You Must Understand First

1) “Member” vs “Pensioner”

A member is a person with SSS coverage and contributions.
A pensioner is a retiree or survivor already receiving a monthly SSS pension.

This matters because:

If the deceased was already receiving a retirement pension, survivors usually file a death claim (survivor’s pension/lump sum) and may also claim accrued/unpaid pension.
If the deceased was not yet retired, you do not “inherit” the retirement pension; you generally claim SSS death benefits (pension or lump sum), not a new retirement benefit.

2) “Beneficiaries” are prioritized (Primary first, then Secondary)

SSS recognizes a hierarchy. As a rule:

Primary beneficiaries (first priority)

Legal spouse (as recognized by law)
Dependent children (subject to age/incapacity rules)

Secondary beneficiaries (if no primary beneficiaries)

Dependent parents
In certain cases, when no primary/secondary exist, benefits may be payable to legal heirs subject to stricter documentation (estate settlement rules)

Important: Being a relative is not enough. Eligibility depends on both relationship and dependency under SSS rules.

3) Pension vs Lump Sum (why some families get monthly, others get one-time)

For the death benefit, SSS generally pays either:

a monthly pension, or
a lump sum,

depending largely on the deceased member’s contribution history and other eligibility requirements.

What Benefits Can Be Claimed After Death?

A. Death Benefit (SSS Death Claim)

This is the main benefit payable when an SSS member dies.

Possible forms:

Monthly survivor’s pension (to eligible beneficiaries), or
Lump sum (one-time payment) if the member does not meet the requirements for a monthly pension

Who may receive it:

Primary beneficiaries (legal spouse and dependent children), or
If none, secondary beneficiaries (dependent parents), or
If none, possibly legal heirs under stricter rules

Dependency rules for children (general guide):

Dependent children are typically those not over 21 years old, unmarried, and not employed, or those incapable of self-support due to mental/physical disability, regardless of age, subject to proof requirements.
Coverage can include legitimate, illegitimate, legitimated, and legally adopted children, provided filiation/adoption is properly proven.

Spouse rule (general guide):

The legal spouse is typically eligible. SSS practice commonly requires proof of valid marriage and may scrutinize situations involving annulment, nullity, legal separation, or competing claims.

B. Funeral Benefit (SSS Funeral Claim)

This is a one-time cash assistance paid to the person who actually paid the funeral/burial expenses.

Who can claim:

Any person (relative or not) who can prove they paid funeral expenses, subject to SSS evidence requirements

Key point:

The funeral benefit is not automatically paid to the spouse or family; it is paid to the payer (or the person who can prove payment).

The amount is set by SSS and may be subject to adjustments over time. Expect SSS to require receipts or proof of payment.

C. Accrued / Unpaid Benefits (Amounts due but not received)

Depending on the deceased’s status and timing, there may be amounts due such as:

Unpaid pension covering eligible periods up to the month rules allow
Benefit differentials or underpayments discovered during processing
Other amounts due under SSS records

These are released following SSS rules on who is entitled to receive them (often the same beneficiary hierarchy, but documentation can differ).

“SSS Retirement Benefit of a Deceased Person”: What Families Commonly Misunderstand

Scenario 1: The deceased was already an SSS retirement pensioner

You generally do not “transfer” the retiree’s pension to the heirs as the same pension. Instead, you file for:

Death Benefit (survivor’s pension or lump sum), plus
Any accrued/unpaid pension due to the deceased (if any, subject to SSS computation rules)

Scenario 2: The deceased was not yet retired

Survivors generally claim death benefits, not retirement benefits. Even if the deceased was near retirement age, death triggers death claim processing.

Scenario 3: The deceased filed a retirement claim but died during processing

This becomes documentation-heavy. SSS may treat the entitlement differently depending on whether the claim was approved/paid before death and what amounts were due. Expect SSS to require:

proof of filing
status of benefit approval
beneficiary/heir documents (and possibly estate settlement papers)

Who Exactly Can File and Receive: A Practical Eligibility Checklist

1) Legal spouse

You will usually need:

PSA-issued marriage certificate (or other acceptable proof depending on SSS requirements)
Proof the marriage is valid and subsisting (especially if there are prior marriages, annulment/nullity issues, or a competing claimant)

Complications that often trigger deeper review:

Bigamy allegations / prior undissolved marriage
Multiple claimants claiming to be spouse
Marriage abroad / late registration
Annulment/nullity decrees and their finality
Separation vs nullity (a legal separation does not necessarily dissolve the marriage, but SSS may require specific proof of entitlement)

2) Dependent children

You will usually need:

PSA birth certificate showing the deceased as parent
For illegitimate children: proof of filiation (often the birth certificate suffices if properly acknowledged; if not, additional proof may be required)
If over 21 due to disability: medical records and proof of incapacity and dependency

3) Dependent parents (secondary beneficiaries)

You will usually need:

Claimant’s proof of identity and relationship
Proof that the parents were dependent on the deceased (SSS may require supporting evidence)

4) Legal heirs (when there are no primary or secondary beneficiaries)

This is where many claims stall.

If SSS requires estate documentation, you may need:

Extra-judicial settlement of estate (if applicable) or court documents
Heirship affidavits and supporting civil registry documents
Special rules if there are minors, foreign heirs, or disputes

Step-by-Step: How to File an SSS Death Claim (Practical Process)

Step 1: Identify what claim(s) you are filing

Most families should consider filing:

Death claim (for death benefit), and
Funeral claim (if you paid funeral expenses)

You can file both if you qualify.

Step 2: Confirm the deceased’s SSS identity and coverage

Prepare:

Deceased’s SSS number
Any proof of SSS membership (UMID, SSS documents, employer records)
If the deceased was employed, keep employer details; if self-employed/voluntary/OFW, keep payment records if available (SSS will verify in its system, but supporting docs help resolve discrepancies)

Step 3: Gather core documents (commonly required)

Core death-claim documents typically include:

Death certificate (PSA-issued is the usual gold standard; for deaths abroad, a foreign death certificate plus Philippine reporting/registration documents may be needed)
Claimant’s valid IDs
Proof of relationship:
- marriage certificate (for spouse)
- birth certificates (for children)
- birth certificates of deceased and claimant (for parents), etc.
For minors: documents for the guardian/representative
For representative filing: Special Power of Attorney (SPA) or proof of authority, as applicable

Core funeral-claim documents commonly include:

Official receipts and proof of payment for funeral/burial
Proof of claimant’s identity
Proof of death

SSS may request originals for verification and require photocopies for submission.

Step 4: File at SSS and undergo verification/interview

Expect:

Document evaluation
Possible claimant interview (especially if there are multiple claimants or unclear civil status/relationship)
Cross-checking of contributions, coverage, and beneficiary records

Step 5: Comply with additional requirements if there are “red flags”

SSS often asks for more documents in cases like:

No PSA documents available / late registration
Conflicting spouse claims
Children not appearing on certificates or not acknowledged
Parents claiming dependency
Death abroad
Common-law partner claims (often denied unless there’s a legally recognized basis under applicable rules; SSS generally prioritizes legal spouse)

Step 6: Approval, computation, and release

Once approved:

If monthly pension is granted, SSS will require a disbursement arrangement (commonly through a bank/UMID-based account depending on the claimant category and SSS procedure).
If lump sum, SSS will release via the prescribed disbursement channel.
Keep copies of the approval notice and benefit breakdown if provided.

Special Topics and Hard Cases

1) Competing spouse claims (most common cause of denial/delay)

If two persons claim to be the spouse:

SSS will usually require civil registry documents and may require court documents (e.g., decree of nullity/annulment with certificate of finality, records of prior marriage, etc.).
If validity of marriage is in dispute, SSS may suspend payment until resolved, or pay according to its determination based on submitted proof.

Practical tip: If the deceased had a prior marriage, prepare proof that it was legally terminated before the later marriage (e.g., death certificate of prior spouse, final annulment/nullity).

2) Illegitimate children and proof of filiation

If the deceased is not listed on the PSA birth certificate or there is no acknowledgment, SSS may require stronger proof (e.g., recognition documents, court orders, or other legally acceptable proof).

3) Minors as beneficiaries: who receives the money?

SSS may:

Pay through the surviving parent/guardian under SSS rules, or
Require guardianship documentation in certain cases, especially if there’s dispute or the claimant is not a parent.

4) Death abroad

Usually requires:

Foreign death certificate (authenticated per applicable rules)
Report of death registration with Philippine authorities
Certified translations if not in English (as required)

5) Employer delinquency / missing contributions

If contributions are missing due to employer issues, SSS may still recognize coverage depending on circumstances, but this can complicate computations and timelines. Bring:

Payslips, employment certificates, company IDs, contracts, or other proof of employment and deductions.

6) When there are no qualified beneficiaries: estate settlement route

If SSS requires “legal heirs” proof, it may ask for estate documents. In Philippine practice, this can involve:

Extra-judicial settlement (if allowed and uncontested)
Judicial settlement if contested/complex
Publication requirements in certain extra-judicial settlements (under Philippine estate rules)

This is where consulting a lawyer is often worth it.

Common Reasons Claims Get Denied or Delayed

Wrong claimant (not in the beneficiary hierarchy)
Incomplete civil registry documents (no PSA copies, inconsistencies in names/dates)
Disputed marriage or multiple spouse claimants
Child not properly acknowledged or no proof of filiation
No proof of dependency for parents (secondary beneficiaries)
Receipt deficiencies for funeral benefit
Mismatch of SSS number, name, birthdate in SSS records vs PSA documents
Representative filed without valid authority (SPA/guardianship issues)

Practical Document Checklist (Field-Friendly)

For most spouse-and-children claims

PSA death certificate
PSA marriage certificate
PSA birth certificates of children
Valid IDs of claimant(s)
SSS/member details (SSS number, UMID if available)
Bank/disbursement details as required by SSS
If children are minors: IDs and documents of the parent/guardian receiving for them

For illegitimate children

PSA birth certificate indicating the deceased as parent (or alternative proof of filiation if not indicated)
Additional proof if SSS questions acknowledgment

For dependent parents

Civil registry proof of relationship
Evidence of dependency (SSS may ask for supporting evidence)

For funeral benefit claimant

Official receipts and proof of payment
Proof of death
Claimant ID

For legal heirs / estate route

Extra-judicial settlement or court documents (as applicable)
Heirship documents and IDs
Additional documents for minors/heirs abroad

Strategic Advice Before You File

Get PSA copies early. Civil registry inconsistencies are the #1 time sink.
Anticipate disputes. If there’s any chance of a competing spouse/child claim, gather court documents and proof of marital history immediately.
Separate the funeral claim from the death claim. The funeral benefit goes to the payer, not automatically to the spouse.
Do not assume “next of kin” means beneficiary. SSS follows its beneficiary hierarchy and dependency rules.
Keep everything consistent. Names, birthdates, and spelling must align across PSA documents and SSS records (or be supported by correction documents).

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a sibling claim the deceased member’s SSS benefits?

Usually not if there are primary or secondary beneficiaries. A sibling typically only has a path if SSS recognizes payment to legal heirs and the sibling is an heir under applicable succession rules—this is documentation-heavy.

If the spouse is separated, can they still claim?

It depends on the legal status and SSS evaluation. “Separated” can mean informal separation, legal separation, annulment, or nullity—each has different legal effects. Expect SSS to require documents proving the marital status and entitlement.

Can a common-law partner claim?

SSS practice generally prioritizes the legal spouse and recognized dependents under its rules. Common-law relationships often face denial unless there is a legally recognized basis accepted by SSS under current policy and the absence of a legal spouse is clearly established.

Is the funeral benefit only for family?

No. It is generally for whoever paid and can prove payment, subject to SSS requirements.

Are SSS death benefits taxable?

SSS benefits are generally treated as social security benefits and are commonly understood to be not subject to regular income tax in the way salaries are, but tax treatment can depend on the specific nature of payments and current rules. If the estate is involved, consult a tax professional/lawyer.

When to Get Legal Help

Consider consulting a lawyer (or at least a legal aid desk) if:

There are two spouse claimants or questions about marriage validity
There are unacknowledged children or disputed filiation
You are being asked for estate settlement documents
The claim has been pending due to “legal issues” or document insufficiency
There are minors, heirs abroad, or contested family arrangements

Closing Note

Claiming SSS benefits after a death is less about “who needs the money most” and more about who the law and SSS rules recognize as beneficiaries, supported by proper civil registry documents and proof of dependency where required. The fastest successful claims are the ones that anticipate issues—especially marital history, filiation, and document consistency—before filing.

If you want, paste your scenario (relationship to the deceased, whether they were already a pensioner, and whether there are spouse/children/parents) and I’ll map the most likely claim path and the exact document set you should prioritize.