Compensation for Kentex fire victims on the way, says SSS

Three weeks after the tragic slipper factory fire in Valenzuela City, the Social Security System (SSS) on Thursday said the agency was ready to hand out employees’ compensation to the families of the victims of the fatal seven-hour blaze that hit Kentex Manufacturing Inc. on May 13.

In a report by dzIQ Radyo Inquirer 990AM, SSS assistant vice president Luisa Sebastian said the agency already processed the benefit claims of 11 out of 72 victims after more than 60 casualties were identified by police forensic experts.

Beneficiaries are set to receive P20,000 worth of employees’ compensation, while another P20,000 in funeral benefits will be granted to them after the processing of applications.

The report said five of 11 processed claims of compensation were “ready for pickup,” adding SSS was eyeing to finish the processing of funeral benefits within the day.

In a statement on Monday, SSS said the amount of funeral benefits would depend on the contributions that members had paid.

A lifetime death pension will be granted to the dependent living spouse of the deceased member if he or she has paid at least 36 monthly contributions, while beneficiaries of victims with less than 36 monthly contributions will receive a lump sum death benefit.

SSS also vowed to relax its rules to fast-track the processing of funeral claims of Kentex fire victims, saying it would deviate from the usual documents they required from its members.

“Under normal circumstances, filing of EC funeral claims require submission of death certificate, report of death, certificate of employment, job description/ statement of duties and responsibilities, police investigation report and photocopy of the company logbook page that shows the record of death,” it said.

READ: SSS eases procedures for benefit claims of Kentex fire victims