How Do You File a SOCSO (PERKESO) Claim for Work Related Injuries?

You might know SOCSO, do you know what it covers? We have made it easier for you to understand the basics of SOCSO and why it is important for you to read.

What is SOCSO?

When you look at your salary list every month, you see that a portion of your salary is issued and then contributes to SOCSO. Like the EPF contribution, your employer must contribute to you.

The Social Security Organization (SOCSO), also known as Parkeso, is a government organization established to enforce and manage social security schemes under the Employee Social Security Act which, in addition to providing Social Security protection for employees and their dependents.

It is a crime if the employer does not contribute to SOCSO on behalf of their employees. Make sure your employer contributes on your behalf, you can verify your position in the SEMAC or SOCSO branch.

The level of contribution of SOCSO will depend on your salary. For details on how much you and your company contributed, click here.

SOCSO announced that it will increase its pension rate on November 8, 2017, this will be borne by the Work Injury Scheme and the in valuation Scheme. As a result of this increase, SOCSO will provide extraordinary adjustments to pensions to eligible SOCSO recipients starting December 2. Payment will be made to current SOCSO recipients:

• Permanent disability benefits
• Benefits of dependency
• Pension depreciation
• Pension fund

So, if you or your family member is the recipient of all of the above, make sure the pension payments received in December will reflect the increases announced by SOCSO.

What are the benefits of SOCSO?

There are two schemes under SOCSO, namely, the Work Injury Scheme and the valuation Scheme. The Employment Injury Scheme is for temporary disability which serves to disqualify an employee for less than 4 days and care continues until the employee is fully healthy.

Benefits based on the Work Injury Scheme are:

• Treatment facilities
• Temporary disability benefits
• Permanent disability benefits
• Allowance for continuous attendance
• Facilities for physical and vocational rehabilitation
• Return to program
• Benefits of Dependents
• Funeral benefits
• Educational benefits

As with the Invalidation Scheme, it is permanent as an injury and is unlikely to be cured as a result of lost income by losing at least 1/3 of the capacity of a normal healthy person.

Benefits under the Invalidation Scheme are:

• Pension depreciation
• Depreciation Grants
• A constant presence allowance
• Pension fund
• Funeral benefits
• Facilities for physical or vocational rehabilitation and dialysis
• Return to program
• Educational benefits

Aside from coverage, you may also be eligible to get a FREE Health Examination! Under the SOCSO Health Check Program (HSP), SOCSO members aged 40 years or older have the right to undergo a free examination. HSP will screen for diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cervical cancer and breast cancer. However, screening can only be done at registered panel clinics.

On February 28, 2016, it was reported that only 1 in 2.5 million SOCSO members were entitled to a free health check-up that used it. So, if you are entitled to a free health test, you are advised to use it.

Why is SOCSO Important?

SOCSO The main reason why it is very important for you is because it is there to protect you, as well as provide compensation to you if you suffer from work-related injuries. This means that medical care, even any work-related injuries, will be covered by SOCSO, followed by treatment.

So for example, if an employee suffers a permanent injury or needs physical care as a result of an injury, it will be covered by SOCSO. This will include physiotherapy, reconstructive surgical treatment, prosthetic limbs and artificial equipment such as wheelchairs and hearing aids.

Keep in mind that even after a meal break at work (meal breaks permitted), you can also file a compensation claim.

How do you submit a SOCSO claim?

You can submit a claim to SOCSO when you were injured at work, or when you were out of work or when you were out of work. (Form 10) must be submitted to SOCSO.

You will need to submit a punch card or attendance record, medical certificate and a copy of your identity card to the SOCSO branch. If you have an accident during work or travel, you will need to submit additional police reports and a sketch map of the route taken during the accident.

Additional information you must know about SOCSO

Previously, employees earning just over RM3,000 a month were eligible for SOCSO coverage and were subject to the 'always in-one-time policy'. But after the amendments, employees earning a total monthly RM1.5 salary will also be eligible for SOCSO coverage. Effective June 1, 2016, the Social Security Employees Act of 1969 was amended as follows:

The "always one-time" policy doesn't work. All employees employed under a job contract or with a salary of RM4,000 or below must be registered as an apprentice and contribute to SOCSO

Employers must file Form 2 (Employee Registration Form) for employees without SOCSO coverage and submit it to the nearest State Director or Manager Office.

Temporary employees or part-time employees also need to be registered with SOCSO if their salary is below RM1.5. If you are a part-time worker and your employer fails to contribute to SOCSO regardless of your age, this is a crime.