ECC Includes COVID-19 as Occupational and Work-Related Disease; Here’s How to File an EC Claim

The Employees’ Compensation Commission (ECC) has announced on Wednesday, April 28, 2021, that coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has been recently added to the commission’s list of Occupational and Work-related Diseases under the Employees’ Compensation Program (ECP).

Due to the changing demands of the time, especially because of the pandemic, ECC has approved the inclusion upon the recommendations of the Occupational Safety and Health Center and deliberations with the Department of Labor and Employment and other labor groups.

“It is only proper that we formulate and pass policies that will effectively and efficiently respond to the current situation and changing needs of our workers,” ECC Executive Director Stella Zipagan-Banawis said. “We recognize the risk of those who courageously and willingly put their lives on the line as we continue to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic,” she added.

Currently, there are thirty-three illnesses in the Lis of Occupational and Work-related Diseases under the ECP.

The Employees’ Compensation Program is a government program designed to provide a compensation package to public and private employees or their dependents in the event of work-related sickness, injury, or death.

Who is covered by the ECP?

According to ECC, the following are entitled to receive benefits and services under the ECP in the event of work-related sickness, injury, or death:

• Private sector workers who are registered as compulsory members of the Social Security System (SSS) except self-employed;
• Overseas seafarers;
• Government sector employees who are registered members of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) including elective government officials who are receiving a regular salary; and
• Uniformed personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP).

What are the ECC Benefits that can be Claimed?

The following benefits from the EC Program that can be filed by affected workers are the following:

1. Loss of Income Benefits
2. Medical Benefits
   • hospitalization expenses, professional fees, and medicine reimbursement of an employee if he/she has out of pocket expenses after using his Philhealth and/or HMO benefits.
   • NOTE: Medical reimbursement of EC medical benefits is based on the system’s reimbursement schedule.
3. Death and Funeral Benefits
   • For private-sector employees, the EC funeral benefit is Php 30,000.00 and can be received on top of the SSS death and funeral benefits. The death benefit would depend on the monthly salary credit of the deceased employee.
   • For government employees, ECC funeral benefit is Php 30,000.00 and can be claimed on top of GSIS funeral benefit. For death benefit, the employee can only choose whether to claim the ECC benefit or GSIS pension due to the latter’s exclusiveness policy.

How to File an EC Claim

EC Sickness Benefit

For those who have tested positive from the coronavirus and are covered y the ECP, here’s how you can claim the EC sickness benefit:

Requirements For Private Sector

The EC sickness benefit may be filed in any SSS branch nearest to the place of work or residence of the covered member along with the following documents:

1. Accomplished EC forms
   • Accident/Sickness Forms
   • Medical Reimbursement Forms
   • Death Claim Form
   • Funeral Claim
2. Certificate of Employment (include a declaration of the member’s last day of work prior to contracting the illness)
3. Medical Abstract/Medical Certificate
4. Positive Laboratory RT-PCR Test Result
   • must be issued by a DOH accredited testing center)

Requirements for Government Sector

Due to GSIS’s “exclusiveness policy”, government employees can only choose between the GSIS sickness benefit and the EC sickness benefit. The EC sickness benefit is also filed at any GSIS branch nearest to the place of work with the following requirements:

1. Accomplished EC sickness/disability forms
2. Certificate of Employment (include a declaration of the member’s last day of work prior to contracting the illness)
3. Medical Abstract/Medical Certificate
4. Positive Laboratory RT-PCR Test Result
   • must be issued by a DOH accredited testing center)

Who will file the EC Benefits?

The employer or the HR of the company can file the claim on behalf of the employee. The employee can also personally apply for the claim providing the correct and complete requirements are submitted for processing.

For Inquiries

For concerns, inquiries, and complaints, you may contact ECC through the following channels:

• National ECC
  • Public Assistance Center: (02)8899-4251 loc. 239
  • Email: pac@ecc.gov.ph
  • Facebook
• CAR Regional Extension Unit
  • Address: Department of Labor and Employment, Cabinet Hill, Baguio City
  • Email: reucar@ecc.gov.ph
  • Landline: (074)6190275

SOURCE: ECC, ECC  FAQs