Can I Apply for SSS Salary Loan While on Maternity Leave?

Becoming a mother is one of life’s biggest blessings — but let’s be honest, it can also be one of the most financially challenging times. Between baby essentials, medical checkups, and temporary loss of income during maternity leave, every peso counts.

That’s why many working moms ask: “Can I apply for an SSS Salary Loan while I’m on maternity leave?”
The short answer is: Yes, you can — as long as you meet the eligibility requirements set by the Social Security System (SSS).

In this guide, we’ll explain how the SSS Salary Loan works, who qualifies, and how you can apply even while taking your maternity break.

🍼 Understanding the SSS Salary Loan

The SSS Salary Loan is a short-term loan designed to help employed and self-employed members with their immediate financial needs.

It’s not limited to emergencies — it’s also a smart option for those who need extra funds while recovering from childbirth or adjusting to new family expenses.

Key Features of the SSS Salary Loan

Interest rate: 8% per year (based on diminishing balance)
Loan term: 24 months for a 2-year loan (12 months for a 1-year loan)
Service charge: 1% of the approved loan amount
Penalty for late payments: 1% per month of the unpaid amortization
Renewal interest (with prior condonation): 10% annual interest if you previously availed penalty condonation within 5 years

🤰 Can You Apply for a Salary Loan While on Maternity Leave?

Yes, you can still apply for an SSS Salary Loan even if you are currently on maternity leave — provided that:

You are still employed (your employer continues to remit your SSS contributions).
You meet the contribution requirements for either a 1-year or 2-year loan.
You have no outstanding or overdue SSS loans.

Even if you are temporarily not receiving a salary, as long as your employer reports you as an active employee and remits your contributions, you can still qualify.

📋 Eligibility Requirements

SSS bases your salary loan on your Average Monthly Salary Credit (AMSC) — that’s the average of your last 12 posted contributions.

1-Year Salary Loan

You must have at least 36 posted contributions.
At least 6 contributions must be within the last 12 months before application.
Maximum loanable amount = one month AMSC.

2-Year Salary Loan

You must have at least 72 posted contributions.
At least 6 contributions within the last 12 months.
Maximum loanable amount = two times your AMSC.

💡 Example:
If your average monthly salary credit is ₱20,000, your maximum 2-year loan amount could reach ₱40,000.

🧾 How the Loan Is Calculated

SSS applies an 8% annual interest rate, calculated on the diminishing principal balance (meaning you only pay interest on the remaining unpaid balance each month).

Here’s a quick look at how the computation works:

Item	Details
Loan Amount	₱40,000
Interest Rate	8% per year
Term	24 months
Service Charge	1% or ₱400 (deducted upon release)
Monthly Amortization	Around ₱1,800 (approximate)
Late Payment Penalty	1% per month on missed amortization

To know your exact monthly amortization, you can use the
👉 SSS Salary Loan Calculator
It automatically computes your interest, deductions, and payment schedule.

🪜 How to Apply for SSS Salary Loan While on Maternity Leave

Here’s the simple process:

Step 1: Check your eligibility

Step 2: Prepare your employer’s certification

Even while on leave, your employer must certify your loan application online through their My.SSS Employer Account.

Step 3: Apply online

Go to the e-Services → Apply for Salary Loan section. Fill in the details and confirm your application.

Step 4: Wait for employer approval

SSS will notify your employer to approve the application. This is a mandatory step.

Step 5: Loan release

Once approved, the loan proceeds are credited to your UMID-ATM card or your registered bank account.

💸 Repayment Rules You Should Know

Repayment begins on the second month following loan release.
Payments are usually deducted from your salary by your employer and remitted to SSS.
If you’re still on leave when payments start, you can pay directly to SSS via partner banks or payment centers.
Early payment is allowed — you can fully pay anytime without penalty.

⚠️ Important Reminders and Common Issues

Your employer must continue paying contributions even while you’re on maternity leave, or you might lose your eligibility.
Avoid having two active loans — SSS won’t approve a new one until the old loan is fully paid.
Late payments result in a 1% monthly penalty on the missed amount.
If you previously availed of penalty condonation, a 10% annual interest applies for renewal loans within 5 years.

🧮 Example Computation

Let’s say you are qualified for a ₱20,000 loan payable in 24 months:

8% annual interest = ₱1,600 per year → ₱3,200 total
1% service charge = ₱200 (deducted upfront)
Monthly amortization ≈ ₱917

If you miss one month, SSS adds a 1% penalty (₱9.17) on that month’s amortization.

Try this using the
👉 SSS Salary Loan Calculator
to get a precise breakdown of your total repayment amount.

🧠 TL;DR (Quick Summary)

✅ Yes, you can apply for an SSS Salary Loan while on maternity leave.
📅 You must still be employed and actively contributing.
💰 You can loan up to 1 or 2 times your AMSC, depending on your contributions.
📈 Interest rate is 8% per year, with 1% penalty per month if late.
🔢 Check your eligibility and compute your monthly amortization using the SSS Salary Loan Calculator.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can I apply for a salary loan even if I’m not receiving my full salary?

Yes. As long as your employer reports you as active and continues to remit your SSS contributions, you can apply.

2. Can voluntary or self-employed members apply?

Yes, self-employed or voluntary members can also apply, provided they meet the contribution requirements and have no overdue loans.

3. How long does it take to receive the loan?

Processing typically takes 3 to 5 working days after employer certification.

4. What happens if I don’t pay on time?

A 1% monthly penalty is added on top of your regular amortization. Continuous non-payment can lead to deductions from your future SSS benefits.

5. Can I renew my SSS loan while still paying the old one?

Yes, but only after paying at least half of the principal of your existing loan and if you’re still eligible under the contribution requirements.

💬 Final Thoughts

Your maternity leave should be a time to recover and bond with your baby — not to stress over bills. The SSS Salary Loan can help ease your financial load during this transition, especially if planned wisely.

Before applying, make sure you’re eligible, confirm your contribution record, and always compute your possible payments first using the
👉 SSS Salary Loan Calculator

Being prepared financially helps you enjoy your maternity journey with less worry — and more time for what truly matters: your growing family. 💖

Can I Apply for SSS Salary Loan While on Maternity Leave?