Should heirs of employee get SSS benefits?

The Social Security System not being a law of succession, it is not the heirs of the employee who are to necessarily receive the benefits or compensation, but the person designated as his BENEFICIARY. It is only in case the beneficiary is the estate, or if there is none designated, or if the designation is void that the System is required to pay the employees’s heirs.

As the funds of the System are obtained from the employees and the employers, without the Government having contributed any portion thereof, it would be unjust for the System to refuse to pay the benefit to those whom the employee has designated as his beneficiaries. The contribution of the employee is his money; the contribution of the employer is for the benefit of the employee. Hence, the beneficiary should primarily be the one to profit by such contributions, as expressly provided in the law.

It may be argued that the purpose of the coverage under the Social Security System is protection of the employee as well as his family, but this purpose or intention of the law cannot be enforced to the extent of contradicting the very provisions of the law. Where the provisions of the law are clear and explicit, the courts can do nothing but apply its clear and explicit provisions. (Tecson v. Social Security System, L-15798, Dec. 28, 1961)