An Evaluation of the Sickness Benefit in the Philippines’ Social Security System Towards an Enhanced Guideline Implementation
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22675294Keywords:
Sickness Benefit Guideline Implementation, Sickness Benefit Awareness, Sickness Benefit Accessibility, Challenges in Claiming the Sickness Benefit, Challenges in Receiving the Sickness BenefitAbstract
The Sickness Benefit is an essential benefit of the Philippines' Social Security System (SSS), providing daily cash allowance to the SSS Members during sickness that prevents them to work resulting in their loss of income or financial burden. When the Pandemic has underscored the importance of the sickness benefit, concerns about the timely receipt of benefits and accessibility which includes delays in processing and disbursements of benefits, denial or reduction of approved no. of days, documentary requirements or compliance of employer for those employed members indicates the need to evaluate its guideline implementation. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the implementation of the existing guidelines of the SSS Sickness Benefit, identify the gaps in the implementation and propose recommendations for improvement. The study utilizes mixed method design, combining quantitative and qualitative approaches. The quantitative involved the SSS members while the qualitative are the SSS employees involved in the SSS Sickness Benefit namely, the business process owners, the medical evaluators and the processors. The SSS members are surveyed with the extent of their awareness of the benefit, with the extent of the benefit in meeting their needs in terms of accessibility, and the challenges they encounter in claiming and receiving the benefit and the possible recommendation to enhance the current implementation of the SSS Sickness Benefit guideline. The findings revealed that the SSS members are aware of the SSS Sickness Benefit and the benefit meet their needs in terms of accessibility, both to a moderate extent. Additionally, there is low-level of challenges in claiming and receiving the benefit. However, despite these results, the SSS members still strongly agreed to the recommendation to enhance the benefit guideline implementation. Furthermore, the findings of the study using the public value dimensions as determined by Faulkner and Kaufman (2017), enhancing guideline implementation in terms of communication, accessibility, responsiveness, technical and member support, timeliness, and system enhancements to ensure effective provision of the benefit, in consistent with the mission of SSS in promoting social justice and providing meaningful protection to SSS members is recommended.
Downloads
References
Aaviksoo, E., & Kiivet, R. A. (2014). Sickness benefit cuts mainly affect blue-collar workers. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, 42(6), 497–503. https://doi.org/10.1177/1403494814538559
Aaviksoo, E., & Kiivet, R. A. (2016). Influence of the sickness benefit reform on sickness absence. Health Policy, 120(9), 1070–1078. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthpol.2016.07.014
Abel-Smith, B. (2026, February 15). Social security. In Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/money/social-security-government-program
Asfaw, A., Rosa, R., & Pana-Cryan, R. (2017). Potential economic benefits of paid sick leave in reducing absenteeism related to the spread of influenza-like illness. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 59(9), 822–829. https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0000000000001076
Bernadas, A. G. P., Maiquez, J. D. P., & Cahigas, M. M. L. (2025). Evaluation of the usability and user experience of selected Philippine e-government service websites. Proceedings of the 2024 8th International Conference on Software and e-Business, 19–24. https://doi.org/10.1145/3715885.3715886
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa
Brown, M., & Monaco, K. (2021). Employee access to sick leave before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Monthly Labor Review, 1–16. [suspicious link removed]
Commission on Audit. (2022). Social Security System annual audit report (executive summary) for the year ended December 31, 2021. Republic of the Philippines. https://www.coa.gov.ph/reports/annual-audit-reports/aar-government-owned-and-or-controlled-corporations/#199-5435-social-security-system-1656915919
Commission on Audit. (2023). Social Security System annual audit report (executive summary) for the year ended December 31, 2022. Republic of the Philippines. https://www.coa.gov.ph/reports/annual-audit-reports/aar-government-owned-and-or-controlled-corporations/#199-6095-social-security-system-1689133007
Commission on Audit. (2024). Social Security System annual audit report (executive summary) for the year ended December 31, 2023. Republic of the Philippines. https://www.coa.gov.ph/reports/annual-audit-reports/aar-government-owned-and-or-controlled-corporations/#199-7417-social-security-system-2023-1708561753
Commission on Audit. (2025). Social Security System annual audit report (executive summary) for the year ended December 31, 2024. Republic of the Philippines. https://www.coa.gov.ph/reports/annual-audit-reports/aar-government-owned-and-or-controlled-corporations/#199-8184-social-security-system-2024-aar-gocc-aar
Csillag, M., & Márk, L. (2023). The incentive effects of sickness benefit for the unemployed – Analysis of a reduction in potential benefit duration (KRTK-KTI Working Papers No. 2023/17). Institute of Economics, Centre for Economic and Regional Studies, Hungarian Academy of Sciences. https://hdl.handle.net/10419/282238
Dressler, J., & Burns, M. (2004). Seven reports on the identification of rural indicators for rural communities: Economic stability. The Canadian Rural Revitalization Foundation. https://www.concordia.ca/content/dam/artsci/sociology-anthropology/nre/docs/Report1_Stability.pdf
Economic stability. (2024, August 21). WallstreetMojo. https://www.wallstreetmojo.com/economic-stability/
ElGamal, S. (2024). Improving social health protection for refugees in Egypt through their inclusion in the Universal Health Insurance (UHI) scheme. International Labour Organization.
Excessive sickness benefit claims. (1926). The British Medical Journal, 2(3439), 239. [suspicious link removed]
Faulkner, N., & Kaufman, S. (2018). Avoiding theoretical stagnation: A systematic review and framework for measuring public value. Australian Journal of Public Administration, 77(1), 69–86. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8500.12251
Horacio, F. J. (1997). Evolution of sickness and healing. University of California Press.
Hymans, J. C. S., & Lane, R. C. B. (1950). The valuation of sickness benefits for non-standard and standard periods. Journal of the Institute of Actuaries, 76(2), 87–129. [suspicious link removed]
Increased claims for sickness benefit. (1931). The British Medical Journal, 1(3676), 257–258. [suspicious link removed]
International Labour Organization. (2008). Social health protection: An ILO strategy towards universal access to health care (Issues in Social Protection Discussion Paper No. 19). International Labour Office.
International Labour Organization. (2020a). Social protection spotlight: Sickness benefits: An introduction. International Labour Office.
International Labour Organization. (2020b). Social protection spotlight: Towards universal health coverage: Social health protection principles. International Labour Office.
International Labour Organization. (2020c). Review of international experience in social insurance sickness benefits for gig workers. International Labour Organization.
International Labour Organization. (2021). World social protection report 2020–22: Social protection at the crossroads – In pursuit of a better future. International Labour Office.
International Labour Organization. (2024). World social protection report 2024–2026: Universal social protection for climate action and a just transition. International Labour Office. https://doi.org/10.54394/ZMDK5543
International Labour Organization. (n.d.). Useful information on health insurance, sickness, maternity and employment injury & occupational disease benefits. International Labour Office.
International Social Security Association. (2018, June 1). Social security and the future world of work. https://www.issa.int/news/social-security-and-future-world-work
International Social Security Association. (2020a, March 20). COVID-19 crisis: A renewed attention to sickness benefits. https://www.issa.int/analysis/covid-19-crisis-renewed-attention-sickness-benefits
International Social Security Association. (2020b, April 9). Social security measures for the self-employed during the COVID-19 crisis. https://www.issa.int/analysis/social-security-measures-self-employed-during-covid-19-crisis
International Social Security Association. (2020c, April 22). COVID 19: Protecting vulnerable groups through emergency benefits. https://www.issa.int/analysis/covid-19-protecting-vulnerable-groups-through-emergency-benefits
International Social Security Association. (2020d, June 8). COVID 19 – Social security measures in France. https://www.issa.int/analysis/covid-19-social-security-measures-france
International Social Security Association. (2021a). Online one-stop shops: Good practices in Latin America. ISSA.
International Social Security Association. (2021b, April 29). Ensuring social security coverage during COVID 19. https://www.issa.int/analysis/ensuring-social-security-coverage-during-covid-19
International Social Security Association. (2022, March 22). Sickness benefit schemes: Challenges and approaches. https://www.issa.int/analysis/sickness-benefit-schemes-challenges-and-approaches
International Social Security Association. (2023, July 20). Social security and human rights – Ensuring access and combatting the non-take-up of social benefits. https://www.issa.int/analysis/social-security-and-human-rights-ensuring-access-and-combatting-non-take-social-benefits
Kazi, D., Hussain, B., Shivji, S., & Hasan, A. (2014). Integrated health insurance for the urban working poor (Research Paper No. 41). International Labour Organization.
Kelly, G., Mulgan, G., & Muers, S. (2002). Creating public value: An analytical framework for public service reform. UK Cabinet Office.
Ko, W., & Moffitt, R. A. (2022). Take-up of social benefits (NBER Working Paper No. 30148). National Bureau of Economic Research. https://doi.org/10.3386/w30148
Kwon, Y., Lee, H., Ryu, K., Moon, D., & Chung, H. (2022). Paid sick leave and sickness benefits for employees’ economic and job security: A scoping review. European Journal of Public Health, 32(Suppl. 3), Article ckac131.550. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckac131.550
Lamberte, M. B., & Schulze, D. L. (1986). Social adequacy and economic effects of social security: The Philippine case. ASEAN Economic Bulletin, 3(1), 92–128. [suspicious link removed]
Lee, J., Lee, J., & Koh, S. B. (2025). The status and implications of paid sick leave and sickness benefits in OECD countries. Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 37, Article e21. https://doi.org/10.35371/aoem.2025.37.e21
Levy, H. (1943). The economic history of sickness and medical benefit before the Puritan Revolution. The Economic History Review, 13(1/2), 42–57. https://doi.org/10.2307/2590514
Levy, H. (1944). The economic history of sickness and medical benefit since the Puritan Revolution. The Economic History Review, 14(2), 135–160. https://doi.org/10.2307/2590453
Moore, M. H. (1999). Managing for value: Organizational strategy in “for-profit,” “non-profit,” and governmental organizations. Governmentality, 1(1), 1–18.
Moore, M. H. (2006). Recognising public value: The challenge of measuring performance in government. In Creating public value: Advancement in theory and practice (pp. 84–98). ANU Press. https://press-files.anu.edu.au/downloads/press/p75231/pdf/ch0849.pdf
Moynihan, D., Herd, P., & Harvey, H. (2015). Administrative burden: Learning, psychological, and compliance costs in citizen-state interactions. Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, 25(1), 43–69. https://doi.org/10.1093/jopart/muu009
Mywage.co.za. (n.d.). Sickness and employment injury benefits worldwide. https://mywage.co.za/decent-work/work-and-illness/sick-leave/sickness-and-injury-benefits
Nilsson, B., & Heath, I. (2003). Patients, doctors, and sickness benefit. BMJ, 327(7423), 1057–1058. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.327.7423.1057
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. (2022). OECD good practice principles for public service design and delivery in the digital age (OECD Public Governance Policy Papers No. 23). OECD Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1787/2ade500b-en
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. (2024a). OECD survey on drivers of trust in public institutions – 2024 results. OECD Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1787/9a20554b-en
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. (2024b). Getting to services in towns and villages: Preparing regions for demographic change. OECD Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1787/df1e9b88-en
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. (2025). Government at a glance 2025. OECD Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1787/0efd0bcd-en
Palinkas, L. A., Horwitz, S. M., Green, C. A., Wisdom, J. P., Duan, N., & Hoagwood, K. (2016). Purposeful sampling for qualitative data collection and analysis in mixed method implementation research. Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, 42(5), 533–544. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-013-0528-y
Republic Act No. 11032. (2018). An act promoting ease of doing business and efficient delivery of government services, amending for the purpose Republic Act No. 9485, otherwise known as the Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007, and for other purposes. Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2018/05/28/republic-act-no-11032/
Roberts-Lewis, S., Baxter, H., Mein, G., Quirke-McFarlane, S., Leggat, F., Garner, H., Powell, M., White, S., & Bearne, L. (2024). Examining the effectiveness of social media for the dissemination of research evidence for health and social care practitioners: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 26, Article e51418. https://doi.org/10.2196/51418
Scheil-Adlung, X., & Bonnet, F. (2011). Beyond legal coverage: Assessing the performance of social health protection (Social Protection Policy Papers No. 10). International Labour Office. https://www.social-protection.org/gimi/Media.action?id=12817
Sickness benefit claims. (1930). The British Medical Journal, 1(3620), 914–915. [suspicious link removed]
Sickness benefits for railroad workers, 1947. (1948). Monthly Labor Review, 66(4), 402. [suspicious link removed]
Social Protection & Human Rights. (n.d.). Framework: Standards of accessibility, adaptability, and acceptability. https://socialprotection-humanrights.org/framework/principles/standards-of-accessibility-adaptability-and-acceptability/
Social Security Act of 1997, Rep. Act No. 8282 (1997). SSS Corporate Communications Department.
Social Security Act of 2018, Rep. Act No. 11199 (2019). SSS Corporate Communications Department.
Social Security System. (n.d.). Sickness benefit. https://www.sss.gov.ph/sickness-benefit/
Spasova, S., Bouget, D., & Vanhercke, B. (2016). Sick pay and sickness benefit schemes in the European Union: Background report for the Social Protection Committee's in-depth review on sickness benefits. European Commission.
Szedmák, B., Varga, L., & Szabó, R. Z. (2025). Digital transformation of public services: The case of the document management application. International Journal of Public Administration, 48(2), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/01900692.2025.2520522
Tan, L. S., & Fetalino, S. (2018). Philippines Social Security System: Incentive effects on human capital investment. Philippine Institute for Development Studies.
Whiteside, N. (1987). Counting the cost: Sickness and disability among working people in an era of industrial recession, 1920-39. The Economic History Review, 40(2), 228–246. https://doi.org/10.2307/2596689
World Bank. (2024). Playbook on digital social protection delivery systems: Towards dynamic inclusion and interoperability. World Bank Group.
World Health Organization. (2020, April 21). Addressing human rights as key to the COVID-19 response. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/addressing-human-rights-as-key-to-the-covid-19-response
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
How to Cite
