The Social Security System (SSS) released ₱63.74 billion in death benefits in the first nine months of 2026, a 10.4 percent increase from ₱57.74 billion during the same period last year.
SSS President and CEO Victor Alfonso A. Limlingan credited the rise to an expanded beneficiary base and an early 5 percent pension hike under the Pension Reform Program implemented in June 2026.
The number of death benefit recipients grew 5.7 percent to 1.4 million, with surviving spouses making up nearly 90 percent of total claimants, a press release from the SSS saud Friday, Nov. 6.
As of September 2026, monthly death pensions averaged ₱4,568, ranging from ₱2,000 to ₱23,422.
The state pension fund also saw a 5 percent surge in funeral benefit payouts, totaling ₱3.25 billion for 151,844 beneficiaries.
Variable funeral grants range from ₱20,000 to ₱60,000 for members with at least 36 monthly contributions, while those with fewer contributions receive a fixed ₱12,000 grant.
Both death and funeral benefit claims can be submitted online via the My.SSS portal, with branch filing available for non-member claimants, the press release said.*
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