One of the social benefits that the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration provides to Filipino migrant workers is the Welfare Assistance Program. The main goal is to protect and serve OFWs and their families in the Philippines. This financial assistance supports active and inactive OWWA members during some financial struggles.
The OWWA Welfare Assistance Program extends all the benefits that OWWA offers to OFWs regardless of their membership status. It is specially designed to help members who are not yet eligible for the regular OWWA services and programs. The purpose is to provide comfort and support during financial crises.
What Is the Welfare Assistance Program?
The Welfare Assistance Program is a cash assistance for OFWs and their families. The main beneficiaries are former OWWA members or OWWA members who still don’t qualify yet for both special and regular social benefit services of the OWWA. The support is given through various forms including cash assistance during calamities, sickness, health crises, bankruptcy, crime-induced injury, disability, and death.
Here’s a list of OWWA Welfare Assistance Programs:
1. Calamity Assistance
This financial assistance helps both active and inactive OWWA members and their dependents who are hit by typhoons, earthquakes, and other natural or man-made disasters. Under this program, inactive OWWA members will receive a cash aid of up to Php 500, while active OWWA members will get Php 1,000 during natural calamities such as typhoons, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions. For man-made disasters like chemical spills, inactive OWWA members will receive Php 1,500, and active OWWA members will get Php 3,000 cash aid.
2. Disability Assistance
This welfare assistance helps victims of accidents and crimes who sustained partial or complete disability. Since the injured OFW can’t work, OWWA will provide financial assistance between Php 2,500 to Php 25,000 for temporary or partial injuries. In case of permanent disability, the OFW will receive Php 50,000 to Php 100,000 cash aid.
3. Medical Assistance
Another social benefit included in the OWWA Welfare Assistance is medical assistance. It’s a separate service provided to OWWA members who aren’t covered by MEDplus and suffer from injuries or illnesses. In addition, the medical assistance program offers a one-time financial grant to cover medical expenses.
4. Relief Assistance
This cash aid is for OWWA members who are distressed, displaced, and laid off because of political, health, and economic crises as well as bankruptcy and other similar unfortunate events. Relief assistance is designed for both active and inactive OWWA members with cash aid varying for each beneficiary.
5. Bereavement Assistance
With the Bereavement Assistance program, the bereaved family members of OFWs are eligible beneficiaries who can claim a certain amount of cash aid. This is designed for OWWA members who aren’t qualified for the Death and Burial Social Benefit program. Given as a one-time financial grant, beneficiaries can get up to Php 20,000 to cover income loss and funeral expenses.
Benefits of the OWWA Welfare Assistance Program
When it comes to benefits, the OWWA Welfare Assistance Program provides cash relief assistance in order to help members overcome financial difficulties due to unfortunate events including political crises, displacement, accidental-induced injury, and other related circumstances.
Requirements
Whether you’re an active or inactive OWWA member, you can apply for the OWWA Welfare Assistance Program. However, you need to meet the qualifications first before submitting the required documents to OWWA. You need to be an OFW with an active or inactive OWWA membership and eligible dependents.
Here are the requirements you need to prepare to apply for the Welfare Assistance Program:
- For Calamity Assistance, submit two valid IDs of the eligible claimant or OFW, an Authorization Letter and OFW ID if the claimant is non-OFW, a Barangay Certificate for proof of emergency- or disaster-affected community, and certification if the victim of fire
- For Bereavement Assistance, prepare two valid IDs of the claimant, birth certificate or marriage certificate as proof of relationship, death certificate, and Joint Affidavit of 2 disinterested individuals as witnesses of the burial rites
- For Disability Assistance, provide two valid IDs of the claimant, police or accident report, examination procedure result or medical certificate, and Special Power of Attorney if the claimant is non-OFW
- For Medical Assistance, secure two valid IDs of the claimant or OFW, an Authorization Letter and OFW ID if the claimant is non-OFW and a Medical Certificate
- For Relief Assistance, prepare two valid IDs of the claimant or OFW, an Authorization Letter with OFW ID if the claimant is non-OFW, a Work Visa or Termination of Contract as proof of displacement and certification issued by POLO-OWWA in the job site
How to Apply
Step 1: Schedule an appointment with the OWWA Regional Welfare Office or POLO on the OFW’s job site.
Step 2: Go to the nearest POLO or RWO Office.
Step 3: Get a ticket or queuing number and wait until your number is called.
Step 4: Give the required information or OFW ID to the Membership Verification Window and wait until the verification process has been completed.
Step 5: Get a copy of the Application Form and list of requirements to be submitted.
Step 6: Submit the Application Form along with other requirements for evaluation.
Step 7: Your application will be processed and you’ll be notified if it’s been approved.
Step 8: If the application is approved, show your claim stub so you can claim the cash aid via cash or check payout.
Video: OWWA Welfare Assistance Program
In this video, you will discover everything about the OWWA Welfare Assistance Program as part of the social benefits that are offered to OFWs and their families. It shows all the OWWA WAP assistance services that you can apply for in order to get financial assistance and other perks.
Summary
It’s important to know the programs and services offered by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration so that you can enjoy the benefits and cash assistance for OFWs and eligible dependents. With this simple guide to applying for the OWWA Welfare Assistance Program, you can choose the best social benefit that meets your needs.