It depends on how long you contributed before stopping.
If you met the 120 monthly minimum contribution requirement then you can wait for your retirement age to receive month benefits.
Why pay your contribution regularly?
Especially if you’re on a limited budget, your monthly SSS contribution seems like an added expense. However, you’ll realize its value when you’re sick, injured, laid off, short of cash, or retiring.
Paying SSS contributions forces you to save for the future. While you’re still earning income, it’s good to build your financial safety net for retirement by paying SSS contribution consistently.
Also, the SSS uses the total number and total amount of paid contributions as the basis for granting and computing a member’s benefit.
To qualify for an SSS benefit or loan, members must meet these requirements:
- Salary loan – At least six posted monthly contributions for the last 12 months with at least 36 total posted monthly contributions.
- Sickness/Maternity benefit – At least three posted monthly contributions within 12 months before the semester of sickness, injury, childbirth, or miscarriage.
- Disability benefit – At least one-month posted contribution before the semester of disability.
- Retirement benefit – At least 120 posted monthly contributions before the semester of retirement to receive a monthly pension.
- Death benefit – At least 36 posted monthly contributions before the semester of member’s death, for the beneficiaries to receive a monthly pension.
- Unemployment benefit – At least 36 posted monthly contributions, 12 months of which should be within the 18-month period before the month the member loses his/her job.