Only RM10 a month! How to Apply for Housewives’ Social Security Scheme or SKSSR under SOCSO/PERKESO

Housewives’ Social Security Scheme or Skim Keselamatan Sosial Suri Rumah – from hereon will be referred to as SKSSR – is a new scheme under PERKESO designed especially for housewives women.

I modified it to women because upon checking the page, the definition used is quite wide – A housewife is defined as ‘a woman whether married or unmarried, who manages the household on a full-time or part-time basis, including a wife, mother, divorcee, widow or a single mother.‘

That, to me, means almost every woman out there, does it not?

SOCSO for Housewife

After studying the benefits, I think SKSSR is an excellent scheme for women who do a lot of domestic work, including but not limited to:

• Going grocery shopping
• Sending children to school
• Etc

If the women get hurt while doing these work, they are entitled to many types of health and medical benefits. Amazingly, pre-existing illnesses are covered (T&C applies) and the men get some benefits as well.

Let’s cover the benefits in…

Benefits under Housewives’ Social Security Scheme/ Skim Keselamatan Sosial Suri Rumah/ SKSSR

The women subscribed to SKSSR get two main types of benefits: Domestic Accident Protection Benefits and Invalidity Protection Benefits.

I have combined the information contained in both SKSSR website and booklet and compiled the benefits given under this social security scheme below (all information are accurate as of writing time):

Domestic Accident Protection Benefits

1. Medical Benefit – Housewives affected by domestic accidents may seek medical treatment and outpatient treatment at hospitals, clinics or other institutions. She is entitled to second-class ward in government hospitals

2. Permanent Disablement Benefit – Housewives who suffer one or more permanent disabilities arising from domestic accidents, may apply and shall be entitled to a lump sum payment (up to RM30,000) upon recommendation of a medical assessor or Appellate Medical Board

3. Constant Attendance Allowance – A sum of RM250 to be paid monthly to housewives who receive Permanent Disablement Benefit or Morbid Allowance as a result of severe incapacity to the extent that personal care of other people is constantly required.

Housewives will be eligible recipients of this allowance upon recommendation of a medical assessor or Appellate Medical Board. Payment of allowance will cease when the housewife reaches the age of 55 or dies.

4. Funeral Benefit – A one-off funeral benefit of RM2,000 shall be paid to eligible dependants in the event that the insured housewife dies before reaching the age of 55.

5. Physical Rehabilitation or Dialysis Facilities* – Financing up to RM50,000 shall be provided to eligible housewives after being certified as having permanent disability or invalidity by a medical assessor or Appellate Medical Board for physical rehabilitation such as prosthetics, wheelchair, cane and others.

A sum of RM200 shall be paid monthly for dialysis facilities.

*Subject to Akta Fi 1951, whichever is lowest.

*Note: As of writing time, it appears the information for Physical Rehabilitation or Dialysis Facilities is different in website and in booklet. I followed the booklet.

6. Survivors’ Pension – In the event that a housewife dies as a result of a domestic accident or while receiving Morbid Allowance, provided death occurs before the age of 55, a sum of RM300 shall be paid monthly as Survivors’ Pension to her eligible dependants – including her widower until he reaches the age of 55 or dies, and to each child up to the age of 21 or until they are married.

If the deceased housewife leaves behind no widower or  child, the pension shall be paid to the mother or father until the age of 55 or dies.

Survivors’ Pension will continue to be paid to children who are studying until they complete their first degree or until they are married. This pension shall be paid continuously to mentally or physically disabled children who are unable to support themselves, until the age of 55.

Invalidity Protection Benefits

1) Morbid Allowance – A sum of RM300 to be paid monthly to housewives who suffer from disability upon recommendation of a medical assessor or Appellate Medical Board. Housewives shall be considered disabled as a result of an accident which leaves her unable to carry out most of her household activities.

Payment of this allowance shall cease when the housewife recovers from the disability or when she reaches the age of 55 or dies.

2) Constant Attendance Allowance – Same benefits as under Domestic Accident Protection Benefits

3) Physical Rehabilitation or Dialysis Facilities – Same benefits as under Domestic Accident Protection Benefits

4) Funeral Benefit – Same benefits as under Domestic Accident Protection Benefits

5) Survivors’ Pension – Same benefits as under Domestic Accident Protection Benefits

In case you’re not familiar with protection products, let me just tell you that the variety of coverage is EXCELLENT. The sum may be on the lower side, but that’s what you get for the price.

Speaking of the price, it’s very affordable.

Cost of SKSSR, how to pay and who pays

This social security scheme costs RM120 per year, paid in advance. Effectively, that’s ONLY RM10 per month! For that variety of benefits!

My personal opinion is, if one can’t afford to pay insurance/takaful for the women in his life, then The Housewives’ Social Security Scheme / Skim Keselamatan Sosial Suri Rumah / SKSSR is the next best option.

Payments can be made at:

• Online payment at suri.perkeso.gov.my portal (here’s the step-by-step; in Malay)
• Payment at PERKESO counter together with completed SR 1 Registration Form

The following people can pay on behalf of the housewife:

• The husband (he needs to agree, because ‘once in always in’ concept applies. No backsies for next years’ payments unless in cases of divorce or lost his income)
• The housewife herself (married or otherwise)
• Anyone else including brothers, fathers and NGOs (Suraya’s note: Nowhere does it says the payer must be a man, so women can take for fellow women as well)

What’s the catch?

To me, SKSSR is good, take it, but there are 3 catch that I can see:

1) If husband pays for his wife, and later refuses to continue payment, he could be fined not more than RM10,000, jailed not more 2 years or both.

(I think this is meant to be a deterrent for non-payment, but still a bit weird. Either way, if no longer afford to pay due to lost income, he can submit request and the fine will no longer apply).

(It’s a shame if husbands decide against taking SKSSR for their wives just because of this clause. However, he could simply give her an additional RM120 per year so she could subscribe to SKSSR herself.)

2) This social security scheme is only eligible for Malaysian women/ PR under the age of 55 years old.

3) The women are only covered for domestic incidences happening in Malaysia, not overseas.

There may be more catch that personally apply to you. Please refer to the FAQ document.

Social Security Schemes under SOCSO/PERKESO

For further information, including how to make claims under Housewives’ Social Security Scheme or Skim Keselamatan Sosial Suri Rumah, please refer to the SKSSR website.

Please also find out other social security schemes under SOCSO/PERKESO. If you are self-employed, do learn How to Apply for SOCSO / PERKESO Self-Employment Social Security Scheme (also has great benefits).

Share this article to people in your life who may be able to benefit from the scheme. Take care and until next time!