Short-term Benefits

The Short-term benefits financially compensate you for the loss income or exceptional costs for certain events. The loss of income should be caused by work incapacity due to illness or pregnancy. In case of giving birth, as SSO member you are entitled to a maternity benefit and a birth grant . Funeral benefits are offered for the survivors of any SSO beneficiaries, who passed away. Hence, the funeral benefit is also paid for spouses and children below 18. SSO distinguishes three different types of short-term benefits:

1. Sickness Benefit
A Sickness Benefit is the predetermined compensating amount of money in case of temporarily work incapacity. The Sickness benefit is paid to insured persons for the loss of income due to illness or injury. The amount is set at 60% of insurable salary of the person concerned.

Insured women, who are unable to work during pregnancy or within 6 months after giving birth to a child will also receive Sickness benefit. If the insured person is still able to perform a part of his work, the Sickness Benefit compensate 60% of the differential between full performance salary and the income gathered for part time work. More...

2. Maternity Benefit
A newborn child is a very valuable contribution to the society. SSO share the happiness of the parents and also acknowledges the burden of the pregnancy and delivery with a maternity benefit and a childbirth grant.

Therefore, an insured woman on maternity leave receives the maternity benefit for three months after delivery. This benefit is not only eligible after childbirth, but also after miscarriage from the 180 th day of pregnancy onwards and after child adoption for babies under the age of one.

The maternity benefit is equal to 100% of the insured earnings (see also: maximum insurable income, and is effective for a period of 3 months, starting with the date of childbirth. If, in excess of the 3-month period, the insured person is unable to return to work for medical reasons, she will then be entitled to a sickness benefit under the conditions described in the section on Sickness Benefit. More...

3. Funeral Benefit
The death of a relative is a very sad incident that the survivors have to cope with. The SSO can hardly reduce the misery, but is able to financially contribute to the costs of the funeral. In case an insured person dies, SSO will disburse a funeral benefit equal to the 6 months of his/her insured earnings or for pensioners, 6 months of the pension received.

Funeral benefit can also received for the death of the insured member's spouse or children less than 18 years of age. If an insured person's spouse dies, the benefits are equal to 3 months of the spouse's insured earnings or 3 months of the insured pension. In case of death of the insured person's child, the death benefit is equal to 2 months of the member's insured earnings or pension. More...