OWWA Death Benefit for OFW: Requirements, Amounts, and How to Claim
OWWA's death benefit is one of six financial recovery programs available when an OFW dies abroad. It pays PHP 100,000 for a natural death or PHP 200,000 for an accidental death, plus PHP 20,000 in burial assistance on top. But the payout hinges on one condition that catches many families off guard: the membership must be active at the time of death.
Benefit Amounts
| Cause of Death | Death Benefit | Burial Assistance | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural causes | PHP 100,000 | PHP 20,000 | PHP 120,000 |
| Accident | PHP 200,000 | PHP 20,000 | PHP 220,000 |
The burial assistance (PHP 20,000) is paid on top of the death benefit to help defray funeral expenses, regardless of cause.
Beyond the lump sum, OWWA also provides ongoing support through the Education and Livelihood Assistance Program (ELAP):
- Education allowance for one designated child of the deceased: PHP 5,000 per year for elementary, PHP 8,000 for high school, PHP 10,000 for college
- Livelihood grant of PHP 15,000 (one-time) for the surviving spouse to start a micro-enterprise
The Membership Trap
OWWA membership costs USD 25 and is valid for two years. It is typically processed as part of the OFW deployment paperwork. The problem: if the worker's contract ended and they did not renew before redeploying (or before death), the membership may have lapsed.
A lapsed membership makes the death-benefit claim ineligible under the active-membership requirement. Confirm the membership status with OWWA before filing.
How to check status: The surviving family can verify membership by calling the OWWA hotline at 1348 (domestic) or visiting the nearest OWWA Regional Welfare Office with the deceased's passport bio page and OFW records.
Required Documents
To file the claim, the primary beneficiary must submit:
- PSA-issued death certificate and the Consular Report of Death (ROD) issued by the Philippine Embassy or Consulate in KSA
- PSA-issued marriage certificate (if the claimant is the surviving spouse) or PSA-issued birth certificate (if a child or parent)
- Deceased's Philippine passport bio page (photocopy)
- Claimant's valid government-issued ID
- Proof of OWWA membership — the OWWA membership receipt or the OFW Information Sheet showing the OWWA contribution
- Duly accomplished OWWA claim form — available at the Regional Welfare Office
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Where to File
File at the OWWA Regional Welfare Office nearest to the claimant's residence in the Philippines. The regional offices process claims and release checks or bank transfers. The OWWA central number (1348) can direct you to the correct regional office.
For OFW families dealing with a death in Saudi Arabia specifically, the Migrant Workers Office in Riyadh (+966-50-285-0944) or Jeddah (+966-56-981-9720) can help gather documents on the Saudi side and coordinate with the embassy to get the ROD issued faster.
Processing Time
Ask the OWWA office for its current processing timeline once it confirms that the file is complete. The main documentation delay is waiting for the PSA-issued death certificate from abroad, which can take four to eight months; keep the ROD and Saudi death certificate with the claim file while the PSA record is pending.
OWWA Is Not the Only Benefit
The OWWA death benefit runs in parallel with other programs — filing for one does not affect or offset the others:
- SSS death benefit/funeral benefit (PHP 12,000–60,000+ depending on contributions)
- RA 10022 compulsory insurance (USD 10,000–15,000 plus repatriation costs)
- DMW AKSYON Fund (up to PHP 100,000 immediate financial assistance)
- Pag-IBIG Fund (total accumulated value plus PHP 6,000 death benefit)
- Saudi end-of-service benefits (under Article 84, Saudi Labor Law)
A family that files all six programs can recover a combined total well above PHP 1 million, depending on the worker's salary, service length, and SSS contribution history.
The Philippines–Saudi bereavement guide details all six programs with the exact filing requirements, calculation worksheets, and a financial benefits tracker you can use to manage simultaneous claims.
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