Socso Contributors Without Driving Licence Can Still Claim Benefits

Social Security Organisation (Socso) stated that contributors who do not have a driver's licence and were involved in work or work-related accidents are still eligible for benefits under the Employment Injury Scheme.

A road safety expert claimed that an individual who did not possess a driver's licence is not eligible for any Socso benefits if they were involved in a traffic accident. Socso explained that the statement was inaccurate and misled the public.

According to Socso, every contributor involved in accidents during work or work-related, eligible for Employment Injury Scheme benefits based on the Employees' Social Security (General) Guidelines 1971 and the Employees' Social Security Act 1969.

Socso said that there is no requirement for the contributor to possess a driver's licence to claim Socso's benefits.

Socso stated that the driver's offence of not owning a licence while driving is an issue that needs to be settled between the individual and the relevant authorities. Socso added that the expert's claim that was recently posted on a news portal is inaccurate.

Socso explained among necessary documents needed for accident claims submission under the Employment Injury Scheme were:

Form 34 for benefit claims
A police report
A medical certificate
A sketch of the accident

Socso said that it investigates every application received before approving and making the payment.

The organisation urged the news outlet to adjust the statement immediately to avoid misleading the public, as it could create a wrong impression towards social protection schemes and Socso's assistance for contributors and target groups.

Socso's Employment Injury Scheme

The Employment Injury Scheme protects workers against accident or occupational diseases happening out of and in the course of their employment.

The scheme covers:

Accidents while the worker is doing their job, such as accidents encountered at work or on a business day.
Accidents that happen during an emergency at the employer's premises while in the course of helping, rescuing, or protecting other people from danger.
Commuting accidents, such as on the way to work, work-related travels, or to the place where they take their meal during authorised recess.
Occupational diseases resulted from their occupation, such as loss of hearing due to continuous excessive noise exposure.

Here are the benefits provided under the Employment Injury Scheme:

Medical benefit: Workers suffering from employment injuries or occupational diseases may receive free medical treatment at SOCSO's panel clinic or government clinic/hospital until they are fully recovered.
Temporary disablement benefit: This benefit is paid for the period the employee is on medical leave certified by a doctor for not less than four days, including the day of the accident.
Permanent disablement benefit: Employees who have a permanent disability due to employment injury will get a daily rate of 90% of their average assumed daily wage, from RM30 to RM118.50 per day.
Constant-attendance allowance: Paid to a worker who suffers from total permanent disablement and severely incapacitated that they require constant attendance of another person.
Facilities for physical or vocational rehabilitation: Physical rehabilitation such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy, reconstructive surgery and others. Vocational rehabilitation includes training in courses. All expenses incurred will be borne by SOCSO.
Dependants' benefit: If a worker dies due to an employment injury, their dependants are entitled to this benefit.
Funeral benefit: Paid to the eligible person if the worker dies due to employment injury or while receiving Permanent Disablement Benefit.
Education benefit: The benefit is in the form of loans given to a dependent child of an insured person who died due to employment injury or is receiving periodical payments for Permanent Disablement Benefit.

If you would like to learn more about Socso's eligibility requirements and assistance schemes, you can refer to the website at www.perkeso.gov.my.

For enquiries, you can contact SOCSO customer service at 1-300-22-8000 or email perkeso@perkeso.gov.my.

Source: Malay Mail/BERNAMA

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