Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL No. _______ 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Introduced by HONORABLE ERNESTO “ERNIX” M. DIONISIO, JR. 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
AN ACT EXPANDING THE BENEFITS OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM TO 
PROVIDE FOR UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS, AMENDING FOR THIS 
PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8282, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE SOCIAL 
SECURITY ACT OF 1997 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Unemployment is a worldwide problem and with it comes more issues like poverty, 
malnutrition and many other more. In July 2019, according to the Philippine Statistics 
Authority, Philippine’s unemployment rate was 5.4 percent1.  
In 2020, at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the unemployment rate in the 
Philippines rose to 17.7 percent. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, this was a 
record high number. The high rate of unemployment was brought by the economic shutdown 
in the Philippine labor market2. 
However in 2022, after almost two years from when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the 
unemployment rate began to decrease but the percentage is still quite high. According to the 
Philippine Statistics Authority, in May 2022, the unemployment rate is at 6.0 percent3. 
In reality, there are still quite a number of Filipinos who are unemployed. If they are 
unable to earn they do not have the means to support themselves and also their families. In 
connection with this, this bill aims to expand the benefits of the Social Security System to 
provide for unemployment benefits. At times when an unemployed Filipino worker does not 
have any income, they can for the meantime receive aid from the government through the 
SSS. Thus, given the situation and the rising rate of unemployment in the Philippines, the 
immediate approval of this bill is necessary. 
1 Employment Rate in July 2019 is Estimated at 94.6 at https://psa.gov.ph/content/employment-rate-
july-2019-estimated-946-percent (last accessed September 8, 2022). 
2 Highlights of the April 2020 Labor Force Survey at https://psa.gov.ph/content/employment-situation-
april-2020 (last accessed September 8, 2022). 
3 Employment Rate in May 2022 is Estimated at 94.0 at https://psa.gov.ph/content/employment-rate-
may-2022-estimated-940-
percent#:~:text=The%20country's%20unemployment%20rate%20dropped,5.7%20percent%20in%20
April%202022. (last accessed September 8, 2022). 
October 6, 2022
1:14 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL No. _______ 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Introduced by HONORABLE ERNESTO “ERNIX” M. DIONISIO, JR. 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
AN ACT 
EXPANDING THE BENEFITS OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM TO 
PROVIDE FOR UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS, AMENDING FOR THIS 
PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8282, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE 
SOCIAL SECURITY ACT OF 1997 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
Section 1. Republic Act No. 11199, otherwise known as the "Social Security 
Act of 2018" is hereby amends Section 14-B, to read as follows: 
“Sec. 14-B. Unemployment Insurance or Involuntary Separation Benefits. 
–  
A member who is not over sixty (60) years of age who has paid at least 
thirty-six (36) months contributions twelve (12) months of which should 
be in the eighteen-month period immediately preceding the involuntary 
unemployment or separation shall be paid benefits in the form of monthly 
cash payments equivalent to fifty percent (50%) of the average monthly 
salary credit for a maximum of THREE (3) months: Provided, That an 
employee who is involuntarily unemployed can only claim unemployment 
benefits once every three (3) years; Provided further. That in case of 
concurrence of two or more compensable contingencies, only the highest 
benefit shall be paid, subject to the rules and regulations that the 
Commission 
may 
prescribe; 
PROVIDED 
FINALLY, 
THAT 
UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS IN THE FORM OF MONTHLY CASH 
PAYMENTS EQUIVALENT TO ONE-THIRD (⅓) THE EXISTING 
MONTHLY MINIMUM WAGE SHALL BE PAID TO A PERMANENT 
EMPLOYEE 
WHO 
IS 
INVOLUNTARILY 
UNEMPLOYED 
OR 
SEPARATED FROM WORK PROVIDED THAT SUCH UNEMPLOYED 
OR SEPARATED EMPLOYEE HAS BEEN PAYING CONTRIBUTIONS 
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FOR AT LEAST ONE (1) YEAR PRIOR TO UNEMPLOYMENT OR 
SEPARATION FROM WORK.”  
 
Sec. 2. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The Social Security System 
(SSS) shall promulgate, not later than thirty (30) days upon the effectivity of this Act, 
the necessary rules and regulations for its effective implementation. The SSS shall 
also include in their rules and regulations the schedule of unemployment benefits to 
be paid to unemployed or separated employees. 
 
Sec. 3. Separability Clause. — If any part or provision of this Act is 
subsequently declared unconstitutional or invalid, other parts or provisions hereof 
which are not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
 
Sec. 4. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and 
regulations, or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, 
amended or modified accordingly. 
 
Sec. 5. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen days (15) days 
following its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
Approved,