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Atty. Disinis Comparative Table on Social Legislations

Employees Benefits Under
Social Security System, Government Service Insurance System and Employee's Compensation and State Insurance Fund

I. Policy Objectives
SSS
ECSIF (Employee's Compensation and State Insurance Fund)
to establish, develop, promote and perfect a sound and viable tax- The State shall promote and develop a tax-exempt employees
exempt social security service suitable to the needs of the people compensation program whereby employees and their dependents, in the
throughout the Philippines which shall promote social justice and even of work-connected disability or death, may promptly secure
provide meaningful protection to members and their beneficiaries adequate income benefit, and medical or related benefits. Art 166 LC
against the hazards of disability, sickness, maternity, old age, death,
and other contingencies resulting in loss of income or financial burden.
S2 RA 8282

SSS
Any person, natural or juridical, domestic or
foreign, who carries on in the Philippines any
trade, business, industry, undertaking, or
activity of any kind and uses the services of
another person who is under his orders as
regards the employment
Exempt Employer
1. Government and any of its political
subdivisions, branches or
instrumentalities, including
corporations owned or controlled by
the Government
2. self-employed person shall be both
employee and employer at the same
time.

1.

2.

SSS
Any person who performs services for an
employer in which either or both mental
or physical efforts are used and who
receives compensation for such services,
where there is an employer-employee
relationship
a self-employed person shall be both
employee and employer at the same
time.

1.

2.

3.

1.

2.
3.

II. Employer
GSIS
The national government, its political
subdivisions, branches agencies or
instrumentalities,
government-owned or controlled
corporations, and financial institutions
with original charters,
constitutional commissions and the
judiciary;

III. Employee
GSIS
Any person, receiving compensation while
in the service of an employer as defined
herein, whether by election or
appointment, irrespective of status of
appointment,
barangay
sanggunian officials

ECSIF
Any person, natural or juridical, employing
the services of the employee

ECSIF
Any person compulsorily covered by the
GSIS under CA186, as amended, including
the members of the AFP and any person
compulsorily covered by SSS under RA 1161
as amended

3.

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SSS

IV. Dependent
GSIS

ECSIF

Spouse The legal spouse entitled by law to

receive support from the member;

Spouse legitimate spouse dependent for

support upon the member or pensioner

Spouse legitimate and living with employee

Child legitimate, legitimated or legally

adopted, and illegitimate child who is
unmarried, not gainfully employed, and has
not reached twenty-one (21) years of age, or if
over twenty-one (21) years of age, he is
congenitally or while still a minor has been
permanently incapacitated and incapable of
self-support, physically or mentally

Child legitimate, legitimated, legally adopted

child, including the illegitimate child, who is
unmarried, not gainfully employed, not over
the age of majority, or is over the age of
majority but incapacitated and incapable of
self-support due to a mental or physical defect
acquired prior to age of majority

Child legitimate, legitimated or legally

adopted, and acknowledged natural child who
is unmarried, not gainfully employed, and
has not reached twenty-one (21) years of age,
or if over twenty-one (21) years of age,
provided he is incapacitated and incapable of
self-support due to physical or mental defect
which is congenital or acquired during
minority

Parent who is receiving regular support

from the member

Parent - parents dependent upon the member

for support;

Parent - parents dependent upon the member

for support;

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SSS
Primary
1. dependent spouse until he or she
remarries
2. dependent legitimate, legitimated or
legally adopted, and illegitimate
children
Secondary In the absence of both primary,
the dependent parents
Others In the absence of all the foregoing,
any other person designated by the member as
his/her secondary beneficiary.

V. Beneficiaries
GSIS
Primary The legal dependent spouse until
he/she remarries and the dependent children;
Secondary The dependent parents and,
subject to the restrictions on dependent
children, the legitimate descendants;

Secondary The dependent parents and,

subject to the restrictions on dependent
children, the legitimate descendants;
VI. Coverage
GSIS

SSS

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Compulsory
1. all employees not over sixty (60)
years of age and their employers.
2. domestic helpers, their monthly
income shall not be less than One
thousand pesos (P1,000.00) a month
3. self-employed persons as may be
determined by the Commission
under such rules and regulations as it
may prescribe, including but not
limited to the following:
a. All self-employed
professionals;
b. Partners and single
proprietors of businesses;
c. Actors and actresses,
directors, scriptwriters and
news correspondents who
do not fall within the
definition of the term
"employee";
d. Professional athletes,
coaches, trainers and
jockeys; and
e. Individual farmers and
fishermen.
EFFECTIVITY
For EE, on first day of employment
For ER, on first day of operations
For self-employed, upon registration
Voluntary
1. Filipinos recruited by foreign-based
employers for employment abroad
may be covered by the SSS on a
voluntary basis.
2. employee under compulsory
coverage is separated from
employment, his employers
contribution on his account and his
obligation to pay contributions
arising from that employment shall
cease at the end of the month of
separation, but said employee shall
be credited with all contributions
paid on his behalf and entitled to
benefits according to the provisions
of this Act. He may, however,
continue to pay the total

ECSIF
Primary
1. dependent spouse until he or she
remarries
2. dependent, Provided that the
dependent natural child shall be
considered as primary beneficiary
when there are no other dependent
children who are qualified and
eligible for monthly income benefit.

Compulsory
all employees receiving
compensation who have not reached
the compulsory retirement age,
irrespective of employment status
members of the judiciary and
constitutional commissions qualify
for life insurance only

ECSIF
Compulsory
All employers and their employees not over
60 yrs old
Provided, an employee who is over 60 and
paying contribution to qualify for retirement
or life insurance benefits shall be subject to
compulsory coverage
(A168)

EXCEPT:
1.

2.

members of the AFP, PNP, subject to the

condition that they must settle first their
financial obligation with the GSIS,
contractuals who have no EER with the
agencies they serve

-- members of the judiciary and constitutional

commissions
= who shall have life insurance only

Foreign employment
Commission shall ensure adequate coverage
of Filipino employees employed abroad
Compulsory coverage of the employer shall
take effect on the first day of operation and
that of the employee on the date of his
employment (A170)

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3.

4.

contributions to maintain his right to

full benefit.
If the self-employed realizes no
income in any given month, he shall
not be required to pay contributions
for that month. He may, however, be
allowed to continue paying
contributions under the same rules
and regulations applicable to a
separated employee member
Spouses who devote full time to
managing the household and family
affairs, unless they are also engaged
in other vocation or employment
which is subject to mandatory
coverage

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By Arrangement
any foreign government, international
organization or their wholly-owned
instrumentality employing workers in the
Philippines or employing Filipinos outside of
the Philippines, may enter into an agreement
with the Philippine Government for the
inclusion of such employees in the SSS except
those already covered by their respective civil
service retirement systems
Excluded employment:
1. Employment purely casual and not
for the purpose of occupation or
business of the employer;
2. Service performed on or in
connection with an alien vessel by an
employee if he is employed when
such vessel is outside the
Philippines;
3. Service performed in the employ of
the Philippine Government or
instrumentality or agency thereof;
4. Service performed in the employ of a
foreign government or international
organization, or their wholly-owned
instrumentality: Provided, however,
That this exemption notwithstanding,
any foreign government,
international organization or their
wholly-owned instrumentality
employing workers in the
Philippines or employing Filipinos
outside of the Philippines, may enter
into an agreement with the
Philippine Government for the
inclusion of such employees in the
SSS except those already covered by
their respective civil service
retirement systems: Provided,
further, That the terms of such
agreement shall conform with the
provisions of this Act on coverage
and amount of payment of
contributions and benefits: Provided,
finally, That the provisions of this
Act shall be supplementary to any
such agreement; and
5. Such other services performed by

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temporary and other employees

which may be excluded by
regulation of the Commission.
Employees of bona fide independent
contractors shall not be deemed
employees of the employer engaging
the service of said contractors.
VII. Effect of separation from employment
SSS
GSIS
A member separated from the service shall continue to be a
Compulsorily covered and separated from employment
When an employee under compulsory coverage is separated
member, and shall be entitled to whatever benefits he has
from employment, his employers contribution on his account
qualified to in the event of any contingency compensable
and his obligation to pay contributions arising from that
under this Act.
employment shall cease at the end of the month of separation,
but said employee shall be credited with all contributions
paid on his behalf and entitled to benefits according to the
provisions of this Act. He may, however, continue to pay the
total contributions to maintain his right to full benefit.
Self Employed realizes no income in any given month
If the self-employed realizes no income in any given month,
he shall not be required to pay contributions for that month.
He may, however, be allowed to continue paying
contributions under the same rules and regulations applicable
to a separated employee member:
VIII. Reporting Requirements
SSS
GSIS
Each covered self-employed person shall, within thirty (30) days from
employer shall report to the GSIS the names of all its employees, their
the first day he started the practice of his profession or business
corresponding employment status, positions, salaries and such other
operations register and report to the SSS his name, age, civil status, and pertinent information
occupation, average monthly net income and his dependents

1.
2.

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3.

SSS
employers contributions
employees contributions
Note: Amount based on salary
brackets
Remittances - actual remuneration
for employment, including the
mandated cost-of-living allowance,
as well as the cash value of any
remuneration paid in any medium
other than cash except that part of
the remuneration in excess of the
maximum salary credit
Benefits prescribed in this Act shall
not be diminished and to guarantee
that the Government accepts
general responsibility for the
solvency of the SSS

SSS
The contributions payable under this Act in
cases where an employer refuses or neglects
to pay the same shall be collected by the SSS
in the same manner as taxes are made
collectible under the National Internal
Revenue Code, as amended. Failure or refusal
of the employer to pay or remit the
contributions herein prescribed shall not
prejudice the right of the covered employee to
the benefits of the coverage.

1.
2.
3.

IX. Funding
GSIS
employers contributions
members contributions
Government guarantees the
fulfillment of the obligation of GSIS
to members

1.
-

2.

XX. Effect of Non-Remittance

GSIS
Government guarantees the fulfillment of the
obligations of the GSIS to its members as and
when they fall due

ECSIF
employer contribution
contribution shall be paid in their
entirety by the employer and any
contract or device for the
deductions of any portion thereof
from the wages or salaries of the
employees shall be null and void
Employee no contribution

ECSIF
Failure or refusal of the employer to pay or
remit the contributions shall not prejudice the
right of the employee or dependent to benefits
If the sickness, injury or disability or death
occurs before the System receives any report
of the name of his employee, the employer
shall be liable to the benefits to which such
employee or his dependents may be entitled.

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1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

SSS
Monthly pension
Dependents Pension
Retirement
Death
Permanent Disability
Funeral
Sickness
Maternity limited only to first 4
deliveries or miscarriages.

XI. Benefits
GSIS
All Members
1. Separation
2. Retirement
3. Disability
4. Life Insurance
5. Funeral
Note: All-Tax exempt
Judiciary and Const. Comms
entitled to life insurance only.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

ECSIF
Medical
Temporary total disability
permanent total disability
permanent partial disability
death
funeral
second injury
deprivation of benefits

Note: All-Tax exempt

SSS
Non work connected disability, sickness,
maternity, old age, death, and other
contingencies resulting in loss of income or
financial burden.

SSS
The right to institute the necessary action
against the employer may be commenced
within twenty (20) years from the time the
delinquency is known or the assessment is
made by the SSS, or from the time the benefit
accrues, as the case may be.

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SSS

SSS
Non-Transferability of Benefits. - The SSS
shall promptly pay the benefits provided in
this Act to such persons as may be entitled
thereto in accordance with the provisions of
this Act: Provided, That the SSS shall pay the
retirement benefits on the day of contingency
to qualified members who have submitted the
necessary documents at least six (6) months
before: Provided, further, That the beneficiary
who is a national of a foreign country which
does not extend benefits to a Filipino
beneficiary residing in the Philippines, or
which is not recognized by the Philippines,
shall not be entitled to receive any benefit
under this Act: Provided, further, That
notwithstanding the foregoing, where the best

XII. Basis of Claim

GSIS
Non work connected disability, sickness, death

ECSIF
Work connected disability or death

Permanent disability Upon occurrence of

contingency but GSIS exempt from liability, if
permanent disability is due to grave
misconduct, notorious negligence, habitual
intoxication, or willful intention to kill himself
or another.

Except:
employees intoxication
wilfull intention to injure himself or
another
notorious negligence
otherwise provided by law

Survivorship
Separation
Unemployment
XIII. Prescriptive Period
GSIS
All claims for benefits 4 years from date of
contingency.
Exception: Life and Retirement benefits.

XIV. Exclusivity of Benefits

GSIS
Whenever other laws provide similar benefits
for the same contingencies covered by this Act,
the member who qualifies to the benefits shall
have the option to choose which benefits will
be paid to him. However, if the benefits
provided by the law chosen are less than the
benefits provided under this Act, the GSIS shall
pay only the difference.

XV. Benefit Protection

GSIS
It is hereby declared to be the policy of the
State that the actuarial solvency of the funds of
the GSIS shall be preserved and maintained at
all times and that contribution rates necessary
to sustain the benefits under this Act shall be
kept as low as possible in order not to burden
the members of the GSIS and their employers.
Taxes imposed on the GSIS tend to impair the
actuarial solvency of its funds and increase the
contribution rate necessary to sustain the
benefits of this Act.
The GSIS, its assets, revenues including all
accruals thereto, and benefits paid, shall be
exempt from all taxes, assessments, fees,
charges, or duties of all kinds. These
exemptions shall continue unless expressly and

ECSIF
No claim for compensation shall be given due
course unless said claim is filed with the
System within 3 years from the time the cause
of action accrued

ECSIF
Unless otherwise provided, the liability of the
State Insurance Fund shall be exclusive and in
place of all other liabilities of the employer to
the employee
The payment of compensation shall not bar
the recovery of benefits as provided for in
other laws whose benefits are administered by
the System or by other agencies of
government.
ECSIF
No contract, regulation or devices whatsoever
shall operate to deprive the employee or his
dependents of any part of the income benefits
and medical related services granted under
this Title.
No claim for compensation under this Title is
transferable, or liable to tax, attachment,
garnishment, levy or seizure by or under any
legal process whatsoever, either before or
after receipt by the person or persons entitled
thereto, except to pay any debt of the
employee to the System.
No ageny, atty, or any other person pursuing
or in charge of the preparation of filing of any

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interest of the SSS will be served, the

Commission may direct payments without
regard to nationality or country of residence:
Provided, further, That if the recipient is a
minor or a person incapable of administering
his own affairs, the Commission shall appoint
a representative under such terms and
conditions as it may deem proper: Provided,
further, That such appointment shall not be
necessary in case the recipient is under the
custody of or living with the parents or spouse
of the member in which case the benefits shall
be paid to such parents or spouse, as
representative payee of the recipient. Such
benefits are not transferable and no power of
attorney or other document executed by those
entitled thereto in favor of any agent, attorney
or any other person for the collection thereof
on their behalf shall be recognized, except
when they are physically unable to collect
personally such benefits: Provided, further,
That in case of death benefits, if no
beneficiary qualifies under this Act, said
benefits shall be paid to the legal heirs in
accordance with the law of succession.
Exemption from Tax, Legal Process and Lien.
-- All laws to the contrary notwithstanding, the
SSS and all its assets and properties, all
contributions collected and all accruals thereto
and income or investment earnings therefrom
as well as all supplies, equipment, papers or
documents shall be exempt from any tax,
assessment, fee, charge, or customs or import
duty; and all benefit payments made by the
SSS shall likewise be exempt from all kinds of
taxes, fees or charges, and shall not liable to
attachments, garnishments, levy or seizure by
or under any legal or equitable process
whatsoever, either before or after receipt by
the person or persons entitled thereto, except
to pay any debt of the member to the SSS. No
tax measure of whatever nature enacted shall
apply to the SSS, unless it expressly revokes
the declared policy of the State in Section 2
hereof granting tax-exemption to the SSS. Any
tax assessment imposed against the SSS shall
be null and void.
Fee of Agents, Attorneys, Etc. - No agent,
attorney or other person in charge of the
preparation, filing or pursuing any claim for
benefit under this Act shall demand or charge
for his services any fee, and any stipulation to
the contrary shall be null and void. The
retention or deduction of any amount from any
benefit granted under this Act for the payment
of fees for such services is prohibited:
Provided, however, That any member of the
Philippine Bar who appears as counsel in any
case heard by the Commission shall be entitled
to attorneys fees not exceeding ten percent
(10%) of the benefits awarded by the
Commission, which fees shall not be payable
before the actual payment of the benefits, and
any stipulation to the contrary shall be null
and void.

specifically revoked and any assessment

against the GSIS as of the approval of this Act
are hereby considered paid.
All benefits paid shall be exempt from
attachment, garnishment, execution, levy or
other processes issued by the courts, quasi
judicial agencies or administrative bodies
including Commission on Audit (COA)
disallowances and from all financial
obligations of the members, including his
pecuniary accountability arising from or
caused or occasioned by his exercise or
performance of his official functions or duties,
or incurred relative to or in connection with his
position or work except when his monetary
liability, contractual or otherwise, is in favor of
the GSIS.

claim for benefit under this title shall demand

or charge for his services any fee, and any
stipulation to the contrary shall be void. The
retention or deduction of any amount from
any benefit granted under this Title for the
payment of fees of such services is prohibited.

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SSS
Disputes involving:
1. coverage
2. benefits
3. contributions
4. penalties
5. any other matter related thereto
Agency Social Security Commission
Decided within the mandatory period of 20
days after the submission of evidence
Decision final and executory 15 days after
date of notification
Appeals:
CA laws and fact
SC laws
Execution of decision Commission may
motu propio or on motion of any interested
party, issue a writ of execution to enforce any
of its decisions or awards, after it has become
final and executory

XVI. Dispute Settlement

GSIS
Any dispute arising under this Act and any
other laws administered by the GSIS
Agency GSIS
Decide the case within 30 days from the receipt
of the hearing officers findings and
recommendations or 30 days after submission
for decision

ECSIF
Disputes involving:
1. coverage
2. benefits
3. contributions
4. penalties
5. any other matter related thereto
Agency GSIS or SSS as the case may be,
have original and exclusive jurisd

Appeals
CA- Rule 43
SC Rule 45

Subject to appeal to the Commission, which

shall decide appealed cases within 20 working
days from the submission of evidence

Appeals shall not stay the execution of the

order or award unless ordered by the Board

Decision final and executory 10 days from

notice

Execution of decision when no appeal is

perfected and there is no order to stay by the
Board, CA or SC, any decision or award shall
be enforced and executed in the same manner
as decisions of RTC

Review
Decisions, orders or resolutions of the
Commission may be reviewed on certiorari by
the SC on questions of law upon petition of an
aggrieved party within 10 days from notice
thereof.

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Enforcement of Decisions
all awards granted by the
Commission in cases appealed from
decisions of the System shall be
effected within 15days from receipt
of notice
in all other cases, decisions, orders
and resolutions of the Commission
which have become final and
executory shall be enforced and
executed in the same manner as
RTC decisions.