For most SSS maternity benefit claims, the doctor does not sign the SSS maternity form itself. The current Maternity Notification form, SIC-01841, is signed by the pregnant member. What the physician normally signs is the proof of pregnancy or supporting medical record attached to the notification or claim.

For an ordinary live childbirth claim, the doctor usually does not need to sign any separate SSS medical form. After delivery, the main supporting document is generally the child’s registered Certificate of Live Birth. Different and more detailed medical documents are required for miscarriage, emergency termination of pregnancy, ectopic pregnancy, or hydatidiform mole.

Which SSS maternity document should the doctor sign?

The correct document depends on the stage of the claim and the type of maternity contingency.

Situation	What the member submits	What the doctor signs
Pregnancy notification before delivery	Maternity Notification plus proof of pregnancy	Usually the pregnancy test result or relevant medical report—not the Maternity Notification form
Live childbirth	Registered Certificate of Live Birth or another accepted civil registry document	No separate SSS medical form is normally required
Stillbirth or fetal death	Registered Certificate of Fetal Death	No separate physician-signed SSS form is normally required, although the underlying civil registry document contains medical certification
Miscarriage or emergency termination of pregnancy	Proof of pregnancy, proof of termination, and a medical document	The applicable test results, reports, medical certificate, consultation record, or discharge summary
Ectopic pregnancy or hydatidiform mole	Medical evidence establishing the pregnancy and its termination or treatment	The relevant medical reports and at least one qualifying medical document
Special case filed at an SSS branch	Maternity Benefit Application/Maternity Benefit Reimbursement Application for Special Cases	The payee signs the form; the attending physician signs the supporting medical records

The safest way to explain this to a clinic is:

“SSS does not require my doctor to sign the Maternity Notification itself. I need a signed pregnancy test result or the appropriate medical report showing the pregnancy or maternity contingency.”

The current Maternity Notification form is signed by the member

The current paper form for employed members is the SSS Maternity Notification, SIC-01841 (11-2023). Its certification section contains spaces for the member’s printed name, signature, and date. It does not contain a certification section for the attending physician.

The form instructs the member to attach either:

A pregnancy test result duly signed by the physician or municipal health officer; or
The result of another diagnostic test, such as:
- Ultrasound;
- Blood pregnancy test or Beta HCG test; or
- Early pregnancy factor test.

The employed member submits the Maternity Notification and proof of pregnancy to the employer. The employer then submits the maternity notification through its My.SSS account. Under the published SSS procedure, the employer is not required to transmit the employee’s proof of pregnancy to SSS when filing the online notification, although the employer should retain the document as part of its records.

The updated form may be downloaded from the official SSS forms page or directly from the current SSS Maternity Notification form. (Social Security System)

What if the member is self-employed, voluntary, an OFW, or a non-working spouse?

Self-employed members, voluntary members, non-working spouses, and OFW members may submit their maternity notification directly through:

Their My.SSS account;
The SSS Mobile App; or
An SSS Self-Service Express Terminal.

Because the notification is made electronically, there may be no paper form for the doctor to sign. The member should nevertheless keep the original pregnancy test, ultrasound report, or other proof of pregnancy in case SSS requests verification or the later claim requires medical evidence. (Social Security System)

What should the physician sign as proof of pregnancy?

The SSS wording expressly requires a physician’s or municipal health officer’s signature when the member uses a pregnancy test result as proof of pregnancy.

A useful pregnancy certification or signed test result should clearly show:

The member’s complete name;
The date of examination or testing;
The result confirming pregnancy;
The physician’s printed name and signature;
The physician’s Professional Regulation Commission license number;
The clinic, hospital, or health center name; and
Contact details or address of the issuing facility.

For an ultrasound or laboratory report, submit the complete official report—not merely a photograph of the ultrasound image, an appointment slip, a prescription, or an unofficial screenshot. As a practical precaution, ask the clinic to ensure that the physician’s name, signature, and PRC license number are legible.

The SSS specifically requires the physician’s name and PRC license number on locally issued medical documents used for maternity claims. Electronically issued medical documents must be accompanied by the official receipt for the procedure. (Social Security System)

Does a doctor sign anything for a normal or caesarean delivery claim?

For a live childbirth occurring on or after March 11, 2019, the regular claim is generally supported by a civil registry document rather than a separate physician-signed SSS form.

The accepted documents include any one of the following:

Within six months from delivery: The child’s Certificate of Live Birth, or Certificate of Death when applicable, duly registered with the Local Civil Registrar, together with the corresponding official receipt or acknowledgment receipt from the Local Civil Registrar.
More than six months after delivery: The child’s Certificate of Live Birth or Certificate of Death issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority, together with the corresponding official or acknowledgment receipt.
Birth abroad: A Report of Birth or Report of Death issued by the Philippine Embassy, Philippine Consulate General, or PSA, or an equivalent foreign document with an English translation when necessary. (Social Security System)

The six-month distinction is primarily a rule on which civil registry document SSS expects. It should not be misunderstood as a statement that every claim automatically expires six months after delivery.

A medical certificate stating “normal delivery” or “caesarean delivery” is therefore not ordinarily the main document for a current live childbirth claim. The registered Certificate of Live Birth is usually more important.

What must the doctor sign for miscarriage, ETP, or ectopic pregnancy?

Miscarriage and related cases require substantially more medical evidence because there may be no Certificate of Live Birth.

Under the current SSS documentary requirements, claims involving miscarriage, emergency termination of pregnancy, ectopic pregnancy, or hydatidiform mole generally require all three categories below. (Social Security System)

1. Proof that a pregnancy existed

Submit any one of the following:

Pregnancy test result duly signed by a physician or municipal health officer; or
A diagnostic test and corresponding physician-signed report, such as:
- Ultrasound;
- Beta HCG blood test; or
- Early pregnancy factor test.

2. Proof that the pregnancy ended

Submit any one physician-signed document showing termination of the pregnancy:

Pregnancy test results;
Ultrasound results;
Histopathological report; or
Operating room record.

A histopathological report is a laboratory examination of tissue removed during a procedure. An operating room record describes the operation performed, including procedures undertaken for an ectopic pregnancy or other pregnancy complication.

3. A medical document describing the condition or treatment

Submit any one of the following, duly signed by the physician:

Medical Certificate;
Records of Consultation; or
Clinical Abstract or Discharge Summary.

For these claims, asking only for a generic medical certificate may not be enough. The member normally needs documents establishing both the pregnancy and the manner or date on which it ended.

Information that should appear in the medical certificate

Although the precise contents depend on the case, the certificate should ideally state:

The complete diagnosis;
Whether the case was a miscarriage, emergency termination of pregnancy, ectopic pregnancy, or hydatidiform mole;
The date of the maternity contingency;
The estimated gestational age, when medically determinable;
The treatment or procedure performed;
Dates of confinement or consultation;
The physician’s printed name, signature, PRC license number, and clinic or hospital details.

SSS may return the claim for additional records, including a complete obstetrical history, when the available documents do not adequately establish the nature or date of the contingency. The Medical Evaluation Center may also conduct PRC verification or request a medical or legal opinion.

Is the SSS Medical Certificate Med-01688 the maternity form?

Usually, no. The SSS Medical Certificate, Med-01688, appears under the SSS sickness and disability benefit requirements. It is not listed as the standard medical form for an ordinary maternity notification or live childbirth claim.

For maternity cases, the official SSS forms page separately lists:

Maternity Notification; and
Maternity Benefit Application/Maternity Benefit Reimbursement Application for Special Cases.

Therefore, a pregnant member should not automatically ask the obstetrician to complete Med-01688 unless the document was specifically requested for a separate sickness or disability claim. SSS also prohibits payment of sickness benefit for the same period already covered by maternity benefit. (Social Security System)

Is MAT-1 or MAT-2 still the correct form?

Many employees, HR officers, and clinics continue to use the old informal names “MAT-1” for maternity notification and “MAT-2” for the maternity benefit application or reimbursement process.

However, members should not rely on a cached or photocopied form merely because it says MAT-1 or MAT-2. Older forms may contain outdated rules, including references to limits that no longer apply under the Expanded Maternity Leave Law.

Use the current SSS forms and online procedure:

Maternity Notification: SIC-01841 (11-2023);
Regular Maternity Benefit Application: Filed through My.SSS by the member when SSS pays her directly;
Maternity Benefit Reimbursement Application: Filed through the employer’s My.SSS account;
Special Cases Form: SIC-01842 (11-2023), used only for specified exceptional claims.

When is the special-cases maternity form used?

The paper Maternity Benefit Application/Maternity Benefit Reimbursement Application for Special Cases, SIC-01842, is intended for situations such as:

A denied claim being reconsidered for payment;
An unclaimed maternity benefit of a deceased member; or
An unclaimed employer reimbursement involving an inactive, closed, terminated, or retired employer.

The payee—not the attending physician—signs the certification on the first page. The second page includes an evaluation section for SSS personnel and the SSS Medical Evaluation Center. Those signature spaces are for SSS evaluators, not for the member’s private obstetrician.

The attending physician’s role remains the preparation and signing of the supporting medical records listed in the documentary checklist.

Step-by-step guide for employed members

Confirm the pregnancy. Obtain a signed pregnancy test result or an acceptable diagnostic report.
Complete the current Maternity Notification. Enter the expected date of delivery and sign the member certification.
Submit the documents to HR or the employer immediately. Do not wait until the delivery date.
Ask for proof that the employer recorded the notification. This may be an acknowledgment, email, HR reference number, or screenshot of the employer’s submission.
Check contribution records in My.SSS. Eligibility generally requires at least three posted monthly contributions within the 12-month period immediately preceding the semester of childbirth, miscarriage, or emergency termination of pregnancy.
After the maternity contingency, secure the correct supporting documents. For live birth, arrange registration with the Local Civil Registrar. For miscarriage or related cases, obtain the complete signed medical records before leaving the hospital or clinic.
Review names and dates before submission. The member’s name, delivery date, and other identifying information should be consistent across SSS, hospital, and civil registry records.
Keep the colored originals. SSS generally requires an online scan of the colored original or a certified true copy with good image quality.

Under Republic Act No. 11210, private-sector maternity benefits are advanced by the employer, subject to the governing conditions. The SSS states that the full maternity benefit should be advanced within 30 days from the filing of the maternity leave application, after which the employer seeks reimbursement from SSS. (Lawphil)

Step-by-step guide for self-employed, voluntary, separated, and OFW members

Log in to the member’s My.SSS account.
Verify that the maternity notification has been filed.
Confirm that the required contributions are posted.
Enroll an approved disbursement account through the Disbursement Account Enrollment Module.
After delivery, miscarriage, or another maternity contingency, open the maternity benefit application under the Benefits section.
Enter the requested claim details.
Upload clear copies of the required civil registry and medical documents.
Save the transaction or reference number and monitor the claim through My.SSS.

Regular maternity benefit applications and employer reimbursement applications are filed online. SSS Circular No. 2021-004 established the online MBA and MBRA process and requires a registered My.SSS account and an enrolled disbursement account. (Social Security System)

A previously employed member may also need a Certificate of Separation from Employment stating the effective separation date and confirming that no maternity benefit was advanced by the former employer, particularly when the contingency occurred during employment or within six months after separation. An SSS-administered Affidavit of Undertaking may be accepted in specified situations where the member cannot obtain the certificate. (Social Security System)

Medical documents issued outside the Philippines

For maternity contingencies occurring abroad:

Submit an English translation when the document is not in English.
The SSS maternity documentary rules state that embassy or consular authentication, foreign notarization, and an apostille are not required for the supporting documents.
Ensure the foreign physician’s name, professional designation, signature, facility, and contact information appear clearly.
For live childbirth, submit the Philippine Report of Birth when available or the acceptable equivalent foreign birth document. (Social Security System)

This rule differs from some other Philippine government transactions that require an apostille or consular authentication. Members should therefore follow the maternity-specific SSS requirements rather than assuming that the rules for immigration, citizenship, or court evidence automatically apply.

Legal basis for the SSS maternity requirements

The main legal and administrative authorities are:

Republic Act No. 11199, the Social Security Act of 2018, which governs SSS coverage and benefits;
Republic Act No. 11210, the Expanded Maternity Leave Law, which expanded maternity leave and benefits beginning March 11, 2019;
The implementing rules jointly issued by the Civil Service Commission, Department of Labor and Employment, and SSS;
SSS Circular No. 2023-003, which sets the updated documentary requirements for maternity benefits; and
SSS Circular No. 2021-004, which established online filing of maternity benefit and reimbursement applications. (Lawphil)

Republic Act No. 11210 generally provides 105 days of paid maternity leave for live childbirth regardless of mode of delivery, an additional 15 days for a qualified solo parent, and 60 days for miscarriage or emergency termination of pregnancy. It applies in every instance of pregnancy rather than only to a limited number of pregnancies. (Civil Service Commission)

Common mistakes that delay an SSS maternity claim

Asking the doctor to sign the wrong form

The doctor does not sign the member certification on the Maternity Notification. The physician signs the pregnancy test, diagnostic report, medical certificate, or other medical evidence.

Submitting only an ultrasound image

An image without the written report may not identify the patient, date, findings, physician, or facility. Submit the complete ultrasound report.

Missing PRC license information

For locally issued medical documents, the physician’s name and PRC license number should appear clearly.

Uploading a black-and-white or unreadable scan

SSS requires a colored scan of the original or a certified true copy with good image quality. Avoid cropped documents, glare, shadows, compressed screenshots, and missing pages.

Using an unregistered hospital birth certificate

A hospital-issued birth record is not always the same as a Certificate of Live Birth duly registered with the Local Civil Registrar. Verify that civil registration has been completed and retain the Local Civil Registrar’s receipt or acknowledgment.

Submitting only a generic medical certificate after a miscarriage

The claim may also require proof of pregnancy and separate proof that the pregnancy ended. A one-line certificate may not satisfy all three documentary categories.

Treating six months as the only filing deadline

The six-month rule in the current documentary checklist determines whether SSS expects an LCR-issued or PSA-issued civil registry record. Filing later commonly means obtaining the PSA copy and corresponding receipt.

Using an old MAT form

Always compare the form code and revision date with the official SSS forms page. Old forms may contain requirements that have already been superseded.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does my OB-GYN have to sign the SSS Maternity Notification?

No. The member signs the Maternity Notification. The OB-GYN or municipal health officer signs the pregnancy test result or other supporting medical document when a signature is required.

Can my doctor issue a separate medical certificate instead of signing the pregnancy test?

For initial notification, the current SSS form specifically lists a physician-signed pregnancy test result or an acceptable diagnostic test. A separate certificate may help, but it should not replace the actual test or report when the employer or SSS requires that document.

Is an ultrasound enough for SSS maternity notification?

An official ultrasound report is listed as an acceptable form of pregnancy evidence. Submit the complete report showing the patient’s identity, examination date, findings, and issuing physician or facility.

Does the doctor sign MAT-1?

“MAT-1” is commonly used as an older name for the maternity notification. On the current SIC-01841 form, the member signs the certification. The doctor signs the proof of pregnancy, not the notification form.

What form does the doctor sign after a miscarriage?

There is no single universal SSS miscarriage form for the private doctor. The physician signs the applicable pregnancy proof, proof of termination, and a medical certificate, consultation record, or clinical abstract/discharge summary.

Do I need an SSS medical certificate after a caesarean delivery?

For a current live childbirth claim, a registered Certificate of Live Birth is generally the principal documentary requirement. A separate SSS medical certificate is not routinely required merely because the delivery was by caesarean section.

Can a municipal health officer sign my pregnancy test?

Yes. The current SSS Maternity Notification expressly accepts a pregnancy test result duly signed by a physician or municipal health officer.

Does a midwife’s signature qualify?

The initial maternity notification wording specifically refers to a physician or municipal health officer for a signed pregnancy test. A midwife may complete parts of a civil registry birth record within the applicable registration rules, but for proof of pregnancy submitted with the SSS notification, obtaining the signature of a physician or municipal health officer is the safer course.

Does SSS require foreign medical records to be apostilled?

Under the current SSS maternity documentary rules, apostille, Philippine embassy authentication, foreign consular authentication, or foreign notarization is not required for maternity supporting documents. An English translation is required when applicable.

What if HR insists that my doctor sign the Maternity Notification form?

Show HR the instructions on the current SIC-01841 form. The certification is for the member, while the doctor’s signature belongs on the proof of pregnancy. HR may request additional records for legitimate verification, but it should distinguish an internal employer requirement from the signature spaces prescribed by SSS.

Key Takeaways

The doctor normally does not sign the SSS Maternity Notification itself.
The member signs the current Maternity Notification, SIC-01841.
For initial notification, the physician or municipal health officer ordinarily signs the pregnancy test result or relevant medical report.
A normal or caesarean live birth claim generally uses a registered Certificate of Live Birth rather than a separate doctor-signed SSS form.
Miscarriage, ETP, ectopic pregnancy, and hydatidiform mole require physician-signed medical evidence in several categories.
The SSS Medical Certificate Med-01688 is primarily a sickness or disability benefit form, not the standard maternity form.
Use current forms from the official SSS website and avoid outdated MAT-1 or MAT-2 photocopies.
Local medical records should clearly show the physician’s signature, printed name, and PRC license number.
Foreign maternity documents need an English translation when applicable but generally do not require an apostille or consular authentication.