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How to Claim SOCSO (PERKESO) in Malaysia

Employment injury, EIS unemployment payouts, invalidity benefits — what you're entitled to and how to claim it.

Contribution

Employee: 0.5%

Employer Rate

1.75% of wages

Injury Claim Window

Report within 48h

EIS Claim Window

60 days from last day

Main Portal

assist.perkeso.gov.my

SOCSO vs PERKESO: They're the same thing. SOCSO (Social Security Organisation) is the English name; PERKESO (Pertubuhan Keselamatan Sosial) is the Malay name. Both refer to the government body that manages employment injury, invalidity, and unemployment insurance for Malaysian workers.

What SOCSO Covers — The Three Schemes

PERKESO administers three distinct schemes. Most employed Malaysians are covered under all three — knowing which scheme covers your situation determines which form you fill in and where you go.

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Employment Injury Scheme (EIS)

Covers workplace accidents and occupational diseases. Includes free medical treatment, temporary/permanent disablement benefits, and death benefits. Malay: Skim Perlindungan Kemalangan Pekerjaan.

Who: All SOCSO contributors

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Invalidity Scheme

Monthly pension if you become permanently invalid and can no longer work due to any cause (not just workplace accidents). Malay: Skim Bencana Badan dan Hilang Upaya.

Who: Employees earning ≤ RM5,000/month

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Employment Insurance System (EIS / SIP)

Unemployment payouts if retrenched or constructively dismissed. Up to 80% of salary for month 1, tapering over 6 months. Malay: Sistem Insurans Pekerjaan.

Who: All EIS contributors (separate from SOCSO)

Note on EIS vs Employment Injury: Confusingly, "EIS" can mean two different things — the Employment Injury Scheme (workplace accidents, administered by SOCSO) and the Employment Insurance System (unemployment benefits, also administered by PERKESO since 2018). This guide covers both. When in doubt, look at the context.

Who Must Contribute to SOCSO?

Contributions are automatic if you're an employed worker — your employer deducts them from your salary each month. You don't need to register yourself.

Category	Employment Injury Scheme	Invalidity Scheme
Employees earning ≤ RM5,000/month	✅ Covered	✅ Covered
Employees earning > RM5,000/month (hired before July 2001)	✅ Covered	✅ Covered (if previously contributing)
Employees earning > RM5,000/month (hired after July 2001)	✅ Covered	❌ Not covered (can opt in voluntarily)
Foreign workers	✅ Employment Injury only	❌ Not covered
Self-employed (voluntary)	✅ Can opt in via i-Saraan	❌ Not covered
Domestic workers	❌ Not covered	❌ Not covered

Contribution ceiling: SOCSO contributions are capped at a wage of RM5,000/month. If you earn above RM5,000, contributions are still calculated at RM5,000. Your employer pays 1.75% and you pay 0.5% of your monthly wages.

Claiming Employment Injury Benefits (Workplace Accident)

If you're injured at work or develop an occupational disease (penyakit pekerjaan), follow these steps. Speed matters — report within 48 hours and don't delay treatment.

Report the accident to your employer immediately
Notify your employer within 48 hours of the accident (or as soon as practically possible). For occupational diseases, report as soon as you receive a doctor's diagnosis. Do NOT wait. Your employer is legally obligated to file a report on your behalf — if they refuse, you can report directly to the nearest PERKESO branch.
Seek treatment at a PERKESO panel clinic or government hospital
Go to a PERKESO-approved panel clinic (klinik panel PERKESO) for free treatment. You can find the nearest one at assist.perkeso.gov.my or the PERKESO app. If it's an emergency, go to any government hospital (Hospital Kerajaan) — treatment will be covered. Bring your IC (MyKad) and inform them it's a workplace injury. Do NOT go to a private hospital unless it's a life-threatening emergency, as coverage differs.
Your employer submits Form 10 (Notice of Accident)
Your employer must submit Form 10 (Notis Kemalangan) to the nearest PERKESO branch within 48 hours of the accident. The form requires accident details, your particulars, and the employer's SOCSO number. If your employer doesn't do this, PERKESO cannot process your claim. You can escalate to PERKESO directly or file a complaint with the Labour Department.
Get a Medical Certificate (Form 11A or MC)
The treating doctor will issue a medical certificate. For PERKESO claims, they may issue Form 11A specifically. Keep all medical certificates, bills, and receipts. These documents support your claim for Temporary Disablement Benefit (Elaun Hilang Upaya Sementara).
Claim Temporary Disablement Benefit (if unable to work)
If you cannot work due to the injury, submit Form 34 (Claim for Temporary Disablement Benefit). This pays you 80% of your average daily wage for each day you're certified unfit for work, starting from the 4th day of incapacity. The first 3 days are not covered. Claims can be submitted at any PERKESO branch or online via the ASSIST portal.
PERKESO assesses permanent disablement (if applicable)
If you have a lasting impairment from the injury, PERKESO's Medical Board will assess the degree of permanent disablement. Compensation is then calculated as a lump sum or monthly pension based on the assessed percentage. Partial permanent disablement gets a lump sum; total permanent disablement gets a monthly pension.

Free treatment at panel clinics: You pay nothing at PERKESO panel clinics for work injury treatment. Bring your MyKad and state that it's a SOCSO work injury claim. The clinic bills PERKESO directly.

Employment Injury Benefits — What You Can Claim

Benefit	What It Covers	Amount
Medical Benefit	Treatment, surgery, hospitalisation at panel clinics	Free (no limit)
Temporary Disablement Benefit	Income replacement while certified unfit (from day 4)	80% daily wage/day
Permanent Disablement Benefit	Lasting impairment from workplace injury	Lump sum or monthly pension (based on % disability)
Dependent's Benefit	Monthly pension to dependants if worker dies	Monthly pension to spouse + children
Funeral Benefit	One-time payment toward funeral costs	RM2,000
Rehabilitation	Physical therapy, prosthetics, retraining	As assessed by PERKESO
Constant Attendance Allowance	If total permanent disablement requires full-time care	40% of permanent disablement pension

Claiming EIS (SIP) — If You Were Retrenched

The Employment Insurance System (Sistem Insurans Pekerjaan / SIP) provides income replacement if you lose your job through no fault of your own. You must have contributed to EIS for at least 12 months in the past 24 months.

60-day deadline — don't miss it: EIS SIP claims must be filed within 60 days of your last day of employment. After 60 days, you lose your entitlement. Most people miss this because they don't know SIP exists. File immediately after your last day, even if you haven't found a new job yet.

Who qualifies for EIS SIP payouts?

Retrenched workers (VSS / MSS / forced redundancy) — most common case
Fixed-term contract ended — if your contract was not renewed
Constructive dismissal — if you were forced to resign due to employer's conduct
NOT eligible: Voluntary resignation without cause, retirement, contract completion by mutual agreement

How much does EIS SIP pay?

Month	% of Last Drawn Salary
Month 1	80%
Month 2	50%
Month 3	40%
Month 4	40%
Month 5	30%
Month 6	30%

Capped at the insured wage ceiling (RM4,000/month). So maximum Month 1 payout = RM3,200.

Confirm eligibility via the SIP portal
Visit sip.perkeso.gov.my and log in with your MyKad number. Check your contribution history and confirm you meet the 12-month minimum. If you don't have an account, register using your IC.
Get your letter of retrenchment or notice of termination
You need documentary proof of job loss — a retrenchment letter (surat pembuangan kerja), VSS/MSS agreement, or contract non-renewal letter. If your employer is uncooperative, PERKESO can still process claims with supporting documents.
Submit your SIP claim online (within 60 days)
Go to sip.perkeso.gov.my, click "File a Claim" and upload your supporting documents. You can also walk into any PERKESO branch. The claim is reviewed within a few working days and payouts are credited to your bank account monthly.
Attend job placement / retraining (optional but recommended)
SIP entitles you to free career counselling, job matching, and retraining programmes through PERKESO's network. These are genuinely useful — use them. You can decline these services and still receive the cash payouts.

Invalidity Pension — If You Can No Longer Work

The Invalidity Scheme (Skim Bencana Badan dan Hilang Upaya) provides a monthly pension if you become permanently invalid and unable to work due to any cause — not just workplace injuries. This is separate from the Employment Injury Scheme.

Who qualifies: You must have contributed to the Invalidity Scheme for at least 24 monthly contributions in the last 40 months before becoming invalid. Employees earning above RM5,000/month who were hired after July 2001 may NOT be covered unless they opted in voluntarily.

Invalidity Pension (Pencen Hilang Upaya): Monthly pension if you are assessed as permanently invalid (unable to earn one-third of normal wages). Amount based on contribution history and insured wage.
Invalidity Grant (Geran Hilang Upaya): One-time lump sum if you are permanently invalid but don't meet the minimum contribution threshold for a pension.
Constant Attendance Allowance: Additional monthly allowance if your condition requires a full-time caregiver.
Survivor's Pension: Monthly pension to your spouse and children if you die while receiving invalidity pension.
Funeral Benefit: RM2,000 to your family upon death.

To apply: visit the nearest PERKESO branch with your medical reports and IC. PERKESO's Medical Board will assess your condition. Processing takes several weeks.

Key Documents & Forms

Form / Document	Purpose	Who Submits
Form 10	Notice of Accident — required for ALL workplace injury claims	Employer (must file within 48h)
Form 11A	Medical Certificate (for work injury treatment)	Panel clinic doctor
Form 34	Claim for Temporary Disablement Benefit (income replacement)	Employee
Form 68	Claim for Permanent Disablement Benefit	Employee
SIP Claim Form	EIS unemployment payout claim (online at sip.perkeso.gov.my)	Employee (online)
MyKad / IC	Required for all PERKESO transactions	Employee
Retrenchment Letter	Proof of job loss for EIS SIP claim	Provided by employer

Where to Go — PERKESO Offices & Online

PERKESO ASSIST Portal: assist.perkeso.gov.my — check contributions, find panel clinics, submit claims, download forms. Main digital platform for all PERKESO matters.
SIP (EIS) Portal: sip.perkeso.gov.my — specifically for filing unemployment insurance claims after retrenchment.
PERKESO Website: perkeso.gov.my — branch locations, contribution tables, forms download.
PERKESO Offices: Branches in all major cities — Kuala Lumpur, Petaling Jaya, Penang, Johor Bahru, Ipoh, Kuching, Kota Kinabalu, Kuantan, and more. Use the branch locator on perkeso.gov.my.
PERKESO Hotline: 1-300-22-8000 (Monday–Friday, 8am–5pm)
Email: Available via the perkeso.gov.my contact form for non-urgent queries.

Pro Tips — What Most People Miss

Check your SOCSO statement annually. Log in to assist.perkeso.gov.my and verify that your employer has been making contributions. Employers who don't contribute are liable under the SOCSO Act — but you need to catch it. Gaps in contributions can affect your invalidity and EIS entitlements. Your EPF statement doesn't show SOCSO — you have to check PERKESO separately.
The 60-day EIS deadline is real and non-negotiable. PERKESO will not process SIP claims filed after 60 days from your last day of employment, no matter the reason. Most retrenched workers lose this entitlement simply because nobody told them it existed. If you've been retrenched in the last 2 months and haven't claimed, do it now.
Your employer must file Form 10 — if they don't, escalate. Some employers avoid filing workplace accident reports to keep their insurance premiums low. This is illegal. If your employer refuses to file, contact PERKESO directly at 1-300-22-8000 or visit any branch with your accident details. You can also file an eAduan with the Labour Department. PERKESO can still process your claim based on medical evidence even without Form 10 in some cases.
Temporary disablement benefit starts from day 4, not day 1. The first 3 days of incapacity are not covered. If you're injured and your employer is paying your salary during those 3 days, that is the expected arrangement. From day 4 onwards, PERKESO covers 80% of your daily wage for each certified sick day — not your employer. Make sure the clinic issues the correct medical certificate (Form 11A or equivalent) for PERKESO processing.
Occupational diseases count as workplace injuries. If you develop a condition directly related to your work environment — hearing loss from factory noise, respiratory illness from chemicals, repetitive strain injuries — these may qualify as occupational diseases (penyakit pekerjaan) under the Employment Injury Scheme. The condition must be listed under the Third Schedule of the SOCSO Act. Consult PERKESO if you're unsure.
Voluntary SOCSO coverage is available if you're self-employed. If you're a freelancer, gig worker, or sole proprietor, you can opt in to the Employment Injury Scheme voluntarily through the Skim Perlindungan Pekerja Sendiri (formerly part of i-Saraan or direct PERKESO registration). This gives you access to medical and disablement benefits for work-related injuries. Premiums are based on the wage level you choose.

Frequently Asked Questions

I was injured at work but my employer says it's not covered. What should I do?

If your employer claims your injury isn't covered or refuses to file Form 10, contact PERKESO directly at 1-300-22-8000 or visit any PERKESO branch. You can submit an injury report directly in some cases. Also file a complaint with the Department of Labour (Jabatan Tenaga Kerja) via eaduan.jtksm.gov.my. Employers who fail to report workplace accidents are committing an offence under the SOCSO Act 1969. Keep all medical evidence, witness names, and written communications with your employer.

How do I check my SOCSO contribution history?

Log in to the PERKESO ASSIST portal at assist.perkeso.gov.my using your MyKad number and registered mobile number. Your contribution history is listed by month. You can also download a statement showing all employer contributions made on your behalf. If you find gaps, it means your employer hasn't been contributing — which you should raise with your HR department or report to PERKESO.

I earn more than RM5,000 per month. Am I still covered by SOCSO?

Yes, but with limitations. For the Employment Injury Scheme, all employees are covered regardless of salary — but contributions and benefits are capped at the RM5,000 wage ceiling. For the Invalidity Scheme, employees earning above RM5,000 hired after July 2001 are typically NOT automatically enrolled — but they can opt in voluntarily. Check your payslip to see if both "SOCSO" and "EIS" deductions appear — if they do, you're contributing to both schemes.

I resigned voluntarily — can I still claim EIS?

For cash payouts (SIP), no — voluntary resignation is not eligible. However, if you resigned due to your employer's conduct (constructive dismissal — pembuangan kerja secara konstruktif), you may still qualify. Examples: employer materially changed your contract without consent, forced you into untenable conditions, or committed serious breaches of your employment terms. If you believe this applies, consult a labour lawyer or contact PERKESO. For career services and job matching under EIS, you may still access these regardless of resignation reason.

My employer went bankrupt. Can I still claim my SOCSO benefits?

Yes. SOCSO benefits (employment injury and invalidity) are paid by PERKESO directly — not by your employer. Even if your employer is insolvent, bankrupt, or has ceased operations, you are still entitled to your benefits as long as contributions were made. For EIS SIP unemployment payouts, the same applies — PERKESO holds and pays the funds, not the employer. For any unpaid wages, file separately with the Department of Insolvency (Jabatan Insolvensi Malaysia).

What is the difference between SOCSO EIS and EPF withdrawal?

These are entirely separate entitlements with different eligibility, timing, and purposes. SOCSO EIS (SIP) is unemployment insurance — income replacement for up to 6 months after retrenchment, funded by your EIS contributions and paid monthly by PERKESO. EPF withdrawal (Akaun Fleksibel or Akaun 2) is your own retirement savings — you can withdraw it under certain conditions, but early withdrawal reduces your retirement fund. You are entitled to claim BOTH — they don't cancel each other out. See the EPF guide and resignation guide for EPF withdrawal details.

How long does a PERKESO claim take to process?

Processing time varies by claim type. Temporary disablement benefits (Form 34) typically take 7–14 working days once all documents are complete. EIS SIP claims are usually processed within a few working days, with the first payout within 2–3 weeks of approval. Permanent disablement claims take longer — the PERKESO Medical Board needs to assess your condition, which can take 4–8 weeks. Invalidity pension claims are the most complex and can take 2–3 months. Check claim status anytime via the ASSIST portal.

Related Guides

⚠ Disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, medical, or financial advice. SOCSO/PERKESO rules and benefit amounts can change. Always verify with PERKESO directly at perkeso.gov.my or 1-300-22-8000 for your specific situation. Last reviewed: March 2026.