SSS benefit petition resolved with finality by Supreme Court

This is in reply to the complaint of Priscilla Mañalac, the surviving spouse of Social Security System (SSS) member Carlos Mañalac. According to her, she has a pending claim with the SSS Medical Operations Department regarding the partial disability benefits received by her late husband (“Paging SSS medical dep’t,” Opinion, 3/1/14).

We checked our records and there is no such claim.

Based on records, Mr. Mañalac was granted partial permanent disability benefits under the Social Security law (Republic Act No. 8282) in 1979, 1994, 1996 and 2002. Also in 2002, he received a partial permanent disability benefit under Presidential Decree No. 626 (the Employees Compensation [EC] Law), as amended. No petition has since been filed before the SSS or Employees Compensation Commission with regard to these particular benefits.

Ms Mañalac, however, had a previous appeal against a benefit decision denying her claim for death benefits under the EC law. But her case has long been resolved by the Supreme Court in a resolution dated Nov. 17, 2010, wherein the Court denied her petition with finality (SC GR No. 189225, Priscilla Mañalac v SSS).

—MARISSU G. BUGANTE,

Vice-President, SSS Public Affairs

and Special Events Division