Re-Application for SSS Maternity Benefits With a Certified Birth Certificate (Philippines)

Philippine legal/practical guide for members of the Social Security System (SSS) (General information only—not legal advice. Processes can change; always follow the latest SSS instructions on your portal or branch.)

1) When and why you’d re-apply

You usually re-apply (or ask for reconsideration) when a previous maternity claim was denied, returned, or tagged for compliance because:

the child’s birth certificate (BC) was missing, unregistered, or uncertified at the time of filing;
there were data mismatches (spelling, dates, parentage) between the claim and the BC;
the uploaded BC image was unreadable, cropped, or not the correct document.

Once you now have a certified BC (typically PSA-issued or an LCR-certified copy), you can re-file the Maternity Benefit Application (MBA) or submit a Request for Reconsideration/Compliance with the correct document.

2) Who can claim (eligibility refresher)

Female SSS member (employed, self-employed, voluntary, OFW, or separated) who had childbirth or pregnancy loss (miscarriage, ectopic, stillbirth, emergency termination).
Has at least the minimum monthly contributions within the 12-month period immediately before the semester of the contingency (childbirth or pregnancy loss).
Maternity notification was made (ideally before the delivery/termination) via My.SSS or through the employer; if you missed this step, you can still pursue the claim—be ready to explain and comply with any supplemental proof SSS asks for.
No multiple SSS numbers; if you have duplicates, consolidate first.

Note on the “semester” rule. The “semester of contingency” is the two consecutive calendar quarters ending with the quarter when you gave birth or had the pregnancy loss. Contributions counted are the 12 months immediately before that semester.

3) Benefit coverage and durations (quick view)

Live childbirth: up to 105 days cash benefit; solo parents may get +15 days (total 120), subject to proof of solo parent status.
Pregnancy loss (miscarriage/ectopic/emergency termination/stillbirth): 60 days.

The cash benefit is based on your covered earnings (salary credit) and SSS rules. Employers handle salary differential obligations under separate labor law rules—distinct from the SSS cash maternity benefit.

4) What counts as a “certified birth certificate”

Prepare one of the following, matching the child in your claim:

PSA-issued Birth Certificate (security paper).
LCR-certified Birth Certificate (with registry number, official seal/signature).
If PSA is not yet available: LCR-certified copy plus proof of ongoing PSA endorsement/receipt.
For home births or unusual cases: LCR BC plus any birth attendant’s affidavit as required.
For stillbirth: Certificate of Fetal Death (PSA/LCR).
For foreign births: Report of Birth filed with a PH Embassy/Consulate or its PSA transcription; if not yet available, the foreign BC with official translation and later PSA submission.

Upload clear, uncropped scans/photos of both sides if there are stamps/annotations. Name and dates must exactly match your claim.

5) Re-application pathways (choose what fits your case)

A) Your earlier claim was “for compliance/returned”

Go to My.SSS → Benefits → Maternity → View/Amend the existing transaction.
Use the Upload/Attach function to submit the certified BC (and any corrected data sheet).
Add a short explanation (e.g., “PSA BC now available; previous file was hospital COLB.”).
Submit; monitor the transaction status and your registered email/SMS for SSS replies.

B) Your claim was formally denied

File a Request for Reconsideration at the branch (or via the channel SSS indicated in the denial notice), attaching the certified BC and other corrections.
If reconsideration is denied, you may appeal to the Social Security Commission (SSC) within the reglementary period stated in the denial. Further appeal thereafter is typically to the Court of Appeals via Rule 43.

C) You intend to re-file a fresh MBA

Start a new Maternity Benefit Application in My.SSS (for self-employed/voluntary/OFW/separated).
Employed members typically have the employer file the Maternity Benefit Reimbursement Application (MBRA); coordinate with HR and give them the certified BC.
Ensure your maternity notification is on record (system may auto-reference it).

6) Documents checklist for re-application

Core:

Certified Birth Certificate (or Certificate of Fetal Death for stillbirth).
Valid government ID of the member (front/back).
Proof of contingency date (delivery record, discharge summary, medical certificate if asked).
Solo Parent ID/certification (only if claiming the extra 15 days).
Marriage certificate (only if needed to resolve surname/child legitimacy issues—SSS pays regardless of civil status but may need it for name consistency).
For employed: employer’s L-501 or current equivalent, and employer filings as required for reimbursement.
For separated members: Certificate of Separation/last day of employment and last employer details.

If your earlier filing had data errors:

Member Data Change request (e.g., name/birthdate correction) first, then re-apply.
Use the exact spellings and dates shown in the BC across all forms.

7) Deadlines, prescriptive periods, and timing tips

Maternity notification: best before delivery/termination. If late, still file—SSS may require extra proof; don’t delay the benefit application while waiting for PSA if LCR copy is available.
Benefit claim period: Maternity benefit claims are generally subject to prescription; file as soon as practicable. (As a rule of thumb, treat 10 years from contingency as the outer limit under general SSS prescription concepts—but never rely on the outer edge; file early.)
PSA lag: If PSA BC is delayed, file with LCR-certified BC and update with the PSA copy once released if SSS requests it.

8) Computation overview (plain-English)

SSS computes a daily cash rate from your covered earnings (salary credits) and multiplies it by the allowed days (105/120 for live birth; 60 for pregnancy loss).
Your recent contributions (the qualifying months before the semester of birth) determine the salary credits used.
If employed, your employer generally pays you the maternity benefit and gets reimbursed by SSS (separate from any salary differential under labor rules). If self-employed/voluntary/OFW/separated, SSS pays you directly into your enrolled bank/e-wallet per SSS’s payout options.

Always check the My.SSS computation preview and your Contribution history. If some months are missing or misposted, fix them before or alongside your re-application.

9) Common rejection reasons—and how the certified BC fixes them

“No proof of live birth / wrong document” → Submit PSA/LCR-certified BC (or fetal death certificate).
“Child’s details don’t match claim” → Ensure exact name/date matches; if you changed the child’s name, include the LCR/PSA annotation.
“Illegible upload” → Re-scan at high resolution; include full page, seals, registry numbers, and back page if stamped.
“Mother’s name mismatch” → File Member Data Change to align your SSS record to the BC (or present marriage certificate if surname changed).
“Out of time / no notification” → Attach explanation and supporting hospital records; proceed with reconsideration or appeal if necessary.

10) Step-by-step re-application (member-initiated)

Collect docs: Certified BC (or fetal death cert), valid ID, medical proof, Solo Parent proof (if any).
Fix data first: Update Member Data if your name/birthdate doesn’t match the BC.
Open My.SSS: Go to Benefits → Maternity → Apply (or open the returned/denied transaction and choose Comply/Appeal as instructed).
Attach clear files: PDF/JPG per size limits; label files (e.g., “BC-PSA-Juan-2025.pdf”).
Add a note: “Re-application with certified BC; prior filing returned for lack of PSA.”
Submit & track: Monitor status; respond quickly to any SSS additional-docs request.
Payout setup: Check your Disbursement Account Enrollment Module (DAEM) is approved (bank/e-wallet).
For employees: Coordinate with HR so their reimbursement filing mirrors your corrected documents.

11) Edge cases & practical tips

Birth abroad: File with foreign BC plus PH Report of Birth/PSA transcription when available; provide certified translations if not in English/Filipino.
Stillbirth vs. live birth: Use the correct civil registry document (fetal death certificate vs. birth certificate). Duration for benefit is per pregnancy outcome.
Adoption/surrogacy: SSS maternity benefits attach to the member who bore the child; adoption alone doesn’t create maternity entitlement.
Multiple births (twins, etc.): One maternity contingency; benefit days don’t double because of multiples.
Name changes mid-process: If you married after filing, keep the same name in the claim or submit the marriage certificate and Member Data Change so records align.
Data privacy: Redact unrelated sensitive data in uploads only if it doesn’t obscure required entries/seals.

12) Quick templates (you can reuse/edit)

A. Cover note for re-application

I am re-applying for SSS Maternity Benefits. My previous filing dated [date] was returned/denied for lack of a certified birth certificate. Attached is the [PSA/LCR]-certified Birth Certificate for [child’s full name], born [date] at [place]. All names and dates now match my updated Member Data. Kindly reconsider the claim.

B. Explanation for late BC

The PSA birth certificate was not yet released at the time of my original filing. I submitted the LCR-certified copy as soon as available and now attach the PSA-issued copy for final evaluation.

13) FAQs

Do I have to wait for the PSA copy to re-apply? Not always. Many branches accept an LCR-certified BC first; PSA may follow if requested. But if your denial specifically demanded PSA, comply with PSA.

My HR says they can’t reimburse without PSA. Employers follow SSS’s document rules for reimbursement. If SSS insists on PSA for their MBRA, provide PSA; otherwise, LCR may suffice. Always mirror what SSS asked for in the return/denial memo.

What if my claim is denied again? Use the reconsideration route with any missing elements, then appeal within the period stated in the denial.

How long do I keep the originals? Keep all originals (BC, medical records) for at least 10 years and digital copies backed up securely.

Bottom line

If your maternity claim stumbled because of birth-certificate issues, securing a certified BC and re-applying promptly—with clean scans, matched data, and the right pathway (member MBA vs. employer MBRA)—usually resolves it. Fix record mismatches first, attach the correct civil registry document, and follow the status in My.SSS until payout.