SSS Qualifying Period Examples for April 2026 Delivery
If your Expected Delivery Date (EDD) is April 2026, you might be asking: “Am I qualified for SSS maternity benefits?” The answer depends on whether your contributions fall within your qualifying period — not just whether you’ve paid recently.
Many SSS members mistakenly think that as long as they’re paying now, they’re eligible. But the truth is, your qualification depends on the months before your delivery, not the months during or after.
In this post, we’ll break down how to compute your qualifying period for April 2026 deliveries, give real-life examples from Filipino moms, and show you how to confirm your eligibility instantly using the SSS Maternity Qualifying Period Calculator 2026.
🤰 Why the SSS Maternity Benefit Matters
The SSS Maternity Benefit is financial support for female members who cannot work due to childbirth, miscarriage, or early termination of pregnancy.
It’s a huge help for new mothers — especially freelancers, self-employed, and voluntary members — because it replaces income during maternity leave.
Kung member ka ng SSS, good news — pwede kang mag-apply basta qualified ka sa requirements.
đź§® Step 1: Identify Your Semester of Contingency
The semester of contingency refers to the 6-month period composed of:
- The quarter of your delivery, and
- The quarter before it.
For an EDD in April 2026:
- Quarter of delivery = Q2 2026 (April–June)
- Previous quarter = Q1 2026 (January–March)
✅ Semester of contingency: January 2026 – June 2026
These 6 months are excluded when computing your qualifying period.
📆 Step 2: Count 12 Months Backward
From the first month of your semester (January 2026), count 12 months backward.
That gives you:
January 2025 – December 2025
âś… Qualifying Period: January 2025 to December 2025
You must have at least 3 SSS contributions within this period to qualify for the maternity benefit.
📊 April 2026 Delivery Summary
| Expected Delivery Date (EDD) | Quarter of Delivery | Semester of Contingency (Exclude) | Qualifying Period (12 Months) | Minimum Contributions Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 2026 | Q2 2026 | Q2 2026 + Q1 2026 | January 2025 – December 2025 | 3 |
💡 Tip: Contributions made from January–June 2026 don’t count for your April 2026 maternity claim. Only payments within January–December 2025 are valid for eligibility.
👩‍🍼 Real-Life Stories from Filipino Moms
Clarisse’s Story – Office Worker Turned Freelancer
Clarisse from Makati left her office job in early 2025 to work as a freelancer. Her EDD was April 2026, and she worried her new voluntary payments wouldn’t count.
After checking with the SSS Maternity Qualifying Period Calculator 2026, she learned her earlier company contributions in January–December 2025 still qualified her for full benefits.
Leah’s Story – Market Vendor and First-Time Mom
Leah from Iloilo had her EDD in April 2026. She found out her qualifying period was January–December 2025. With that knowledge, she paid voluntary contributions throughout 2025 and was eligible for 105 days of maternity benefit.
Dianne’s Story – Newly Married Teacher
Dianne, a public school teacher from Baguio, also gave birth in April 2026. Since her school’s payroll deductions were consistent, her 2025 contributions were all complete — ensuring her full benefit coverage.
đź§® Step 3: Use the Calculator for Instant Results
Avoid manual computation by using the
👉 SSS Maternity Qualifying Period Calculator 2026
Just enter your Expected Delivery Date (EDD) and it will automatically display:
- Your semester of contingency
- Your qualifying period
- Whether you’re eligible or not
Perfect for busy moms and self-employed women who want fast, accurate answers.
đź’° SSS Maternity Benefit Duration and Leave Days
| Type of Delivery | Paid Leave Days | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Normal Delivery | 105 days | Standard paid leave |
| Cesarean Delivery | 105 days | Same duration |
| Miscarriage / ETP / Stillbirth | 60 days | For pregnancy loss |
| Solo Parent (Normal/Cesarean) | 120 days | With valid Solo Parent ID |
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Counting the wrong months – Exclude the semester before delivery (Jan–Jun 2026).
- Late payments – Late or retroactive payments don’t count for maternity eligibility.
- Incorrect due date used – Always follow your doctor’s official EDD.
- No maternity notice filed – File it before giving birth.
- Assuming any payment counts – Only those within the qualifying period (Jan–Dec 2025) matter.
đź’¬ TL;DR (Quick Summary)
- EDD: April 2026
- Semester of Contingency: January–June 2026
- Qualifying Period: January–December 2025
- Required Contributions: At least 3
- Use the SSS Maternity Qualifying Period Calculator 2026 to confirm instantly.
âť“ FAQs
1. What if my actual delivery is earlier than April 2026?
SSS will use your actual delivery date to determine your semester and qualifying period.
2. Can I still pay missed months?
No. SSS does not allow retroactive payments for maternity qualification.
3. What if I changed from employed to voluntary?
As long as your contributions during January–December 2025 are complete, you’re still eligible.
4. How can I check my payment history?
Log in to My.SSS → Inquiry → Contributions to confirm your records.
5. I’m a solo parent — does my qualifying period change?
No. But you’ll receive 120 days of paid maternity leave instead of 105.
❤️ Final Reminder
For April 2026 deliveries, your qualifying period is January 2025 to December 2025.
Double-check your contributions and verify your eligibility using the
👉 SSS Maternity Qualifying Period Calculator 2026
Plan your payments early, and enjoy your maternity benefit smoothly when your baby arrives!






