ECC

CLAIMS FILING
Any claim for income benefit arising out of work-connected disability or death must be
filed with the Social Secuirty System or Government Service Insurance System (as
the case may be) and not with the Employees' Compensation Commission. ECC handles
only appealed cases i.e. claims disapproved by either the GSIS or the SSS but which the
claimant believes is compensable because it is work-connected. The claim can be filed by
the employee, or by any of his/her dependents or anyone on his/her behalf, within three
years from the occurrence of the accident or illness.
The System shall process the claim upon receipt, and determine if the contingency is
compensable within five (5) days from submittal of the complete requirements. The
decision either denying or awarding compensation shall be made promptly by the
System.
If the supporting papers are insufficient, the System may require the submission of
additional proofs from the employee or his/her dependents, or from any office, entity or
agency, having knowledge of the contingency. It is important that the claimant sees to it
that all the papers needed to prove that the illness or accident is work-connected or
caused by work or by the working environment are submitted. The correct evaluation on
the compensability of the claimed contingency shall depend on the sufficiency of these
supporting papers.
In case of denial, the claimant may file a request for reconsideration, through a simple
letter, within ten days from the receipt of the letter of denial.
If the System affirms the denial, the claimant may then appeal to the Employees'
Compensation Commission. He/She may thus inform the System in writing of his/her
desire to make such an appeal, within 30 days from receipt of the letter of denial.
The System shall then forward, within five (5) working days, the entire records of the
case to the ECC, which shall review and decide on the appealed case within a month's
time.
Unlike in other jurisdictions, the claimant does not have to hire lawyer in making the
appeal.
Should the ECC affirm the System's decision, the claimant, as a last resort, may still
appeal to the Supreme Court. This is the only time when the claimant shall need legal
services.