According ESCAP's comprehensive report on Disability 2015, there were about 1,442,586 persons living with disabilities in the Philippines in the same year. In order to provide access to income security for this vulnerable group the Government of The Philippines provides a disability benefit administered by the national Social Security System (SSS).
The Philippines disability benefit is a contributory monthly transfer available to persons with disabilities of working age. In order to be eligible claimants must file the benefit claim within 10 years of the occurrence of the disability. Claimants must also be assessed with a permanent total or partial disability of at least 20 per cent and have paid at least 36 months of contributions to the SSS before the disability begins. The level of payment is calculated based on the claimant’s paid contributions and years of membership prior to disability, with the minimum payment set at PHP 1,000, or USD21, per month. Monthly payments can be accompanied by supplemental allowances for dependents and access to subsidised health care.
Claimants who have paid less than 36 months of contributions, but have a total disability are entitled to a lump sum benefit that is equivalent to the monthly pension times the number of monthly contributions paid to the SSS or 12 times, whichever is higher. Those with partial disabilities who have paid less than 36 months of contributions are eligible to claim the monthly pension times the number of monthly contributions, times the percentage of disability, or the monthly pension times 12 times the percentage of the disability, whichever is higher.
The Philippines ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2008, displaying a strong State commitment to uphold the rights of persons with disabilities. While the disability benefit allows persons with disabilities to realise their right to basic income security, the level of coverage remains relatively low. Nonetheless, schemes such as the disability benefit in the Philippines are essential in building a national social protection floor to ensure that all in need have access to basic income security, including persons with disabilities.
Further Reading:
- Government of the Republic of the Philippines (2016). Disability Benefit. Accessed from: https://www.sss.gov.ph/sss/appmanager/pages.jsp?page=disabilitypension on February 23 2016.