Death is the only thing that we are sure will happen to all of us. It is inevitable. Losing a loved one hard and losing them in an untimely manner is harder. When the pandemic hit in 2020, a lot of people succumbed to it and Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) suffered the most. Deceased OFWs’ bodies can’t go back to the Philippines and need to be buried in their host country in fear of spreading the virus. Because of this, the fear of getting sick and dying alone magnifies the feeling of helplessness and despair not only to OFWs but to their families and friends.
The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) understands that most OFWs are breadwinners. This is why they created the Death and Burial Insurance Benefits for OFWs’ beneficiaries. This OWWA program provides cash assistance to help families give their loved ones a proper burial.
Benefits
The Death and Burial Benefits program is intended for deceased OFWs with active employment contracts. It aims to help the surviving family members with financial responsibility that will enable them to give a proper burial to OFWs who died due to natural causes or accidents.
Cash Assistance:
- Natural cause – Php 100,000
- Accident cause – Php 200,000
- Burial Gratuity – Php 20,000
Qualification
An OFW will receive the Death and Burial benefits from OWWA if they meet the following criteria:
- Active OWWA member at the time of death
- Death happened during the duration of the OFW’s employment contract
- The cause of death was work-related
Requirements
If the OFW family member is qualified to get the benefits, check the list of documentary requirements and where to get them.
- Application Form
- OFW Membership Record (MR)
- Can get a copay in OWWA Regional Welfare Office (RWO)
- Passport or Seaman’s Identification Record Book (SIRB) of the OFW
- Original Death Certificate
- Must be validated or issued by the Philippine Statistic Authority or Local Civil Registrar
- Foreign Death Certificate with Airway Bill and Consular Mortuary Certificate or No Objection Certificate (for OFWs who died abroad)
- Police or Accident Report (if death was caused by an accident)
- Burial permit and official receipt of payment in funeral
- Affidavit of Undertaking executed by claimant
- Proof of relation to the deceased OFW member
- Marriage Certificate
- Certificate of No Marriage (CENOMAR) of the deceased OFW if they are single
- Birth Certificate of the deceased OFW if the claimant is the parent
- Death Certificate of the deceased OFW and Birth Certificate of the claimant for the child of the OFW
- Two valid government-issued identification and one 1×1 picture of the claimant
Application Process
To apply for the death and burial benefits of OWWA, the claimant must follow these easy steps.
Step 1: Prepare all documentary requirements and make sure they are complete.
Step 2: Go to the OWWA Regional Welfare Office (RWO). Get a queueing number and wait for it to be called.
Step 3: Go to the membership Verification Desk and present the OFW ID.
Step 4: Submit the application form and documentary requirements for validation and evaluation. After submitting, you will receive a serial reference/tracking number that can be used to track the status of your application.
If the documents are invalid or incomplete, you will receive a notification via SMS or email.
Step 5: If the application has been approved, get the claim stub. You can claim the financial assistance through check or cash pay-out. Make sure that the claimant has a bank account to receive the cash assistance or through an electronic payment facility.
Remember that some OWWA Regional Welfare Offices (RWO) require booked appointments before going to their office. Make sure to call them first to clarify or book an appointment through this link: https://appointment.owwa.gov.ph/.
On the day of the release of the financial assistance, bring two (2) original and valid identifications:
- Passport
- Office/company ID
- Postal ID
- Driver’s License
- Original NBI Clearance
- Senior Citizenship ID
Video: OFW death benefits for OWWA members
Watch this interview with Susan K and OWWA Administration Hans Cacdac by Bantay OCW to know more about the OWWA Death benefits.
Frequently Asked Questions
How will I know if the financial grant has been granted to me?
The OWWA Regional Welfare Office (RWO) or Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) will send a notification via SMS, call, or email once your application is accepted.
How will I know the status of my application?
The claimants will receive a serial reference/tracking number that they will use to track their application status. Likewise, if your documents are incomplete or invalid, you will also receive a notification.
How much cash assistance can OWWA give to the family of the deceased OFW?
The OWWA provides financial assistance worth Php 100,000 for natural-cause death and Php 200,000 for accidental-cause. They will also give up to Php 20,000 for funeral expenses.
What should I bring when claiming the death and burial benefits?
The claimant must bring two (2) original and valid copies of the following identification cards:
- Passport
- Office/company ID
- Postal ID
- Driver’s License
- Original NBI Clearance
- Senior Citizenship ID
How long do I have to wait before I can receive the cash assistance from OWWA?
Once approved, the OWWA will release the cash assistance and transfer it to the claimant’s bank account or electronic payment facility within two (2) weeks.
Summary
The death of a loved one is never easy. It is heartbreaking and devastating knowing that you will never see or hug that person anymore. It is more difficult for the surviving family if they have to worry about the funeral. This is why the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) wanted to ease the pain by providing financial assistance to the bereaved families of the deceased Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW).
The Death and Burial Benefits of OWWA aim to help the family with the burial and also to help them stand on their own feet after the death of a family member. This is an opportunity for them to continue the life that the deceased OFW was dreaming of.