The Short Answer
If the OFW is an active OWWA member, the family can usually ask OWWA for help in hard times: welfare assistance (for example, when the worker is sick or in trouble), death and disability benefits, scholarships and education help for children, and livelihood programs. Membership costs US$25 per contract, and the law says the employer pays it. Amounts and rules change, so check OWWA's current amounts before you file.
Example: The Bautista Family of Bayambang, Pangasinan
Names and details in this example are made up.
Lorna Bautista worked as a household service worker in Kuwait. Her husband Eddie and their two children, Kyla (15) and Paolo (10), live in Barangay Poblacion, Bayambang, Pangasinan. Lorna's contract was processed through a DMW-licensed agency in 2025, so she was an active OWWA member.
In March 2026, Lorna fell ill and died in a hospital in Kuwait.
Bringing her home. Eddie called the agency and OWWA. The Migrant Workers Office in Kuwait and OWWA helped arrange to bring Lorna's remains home to Pangasinan.
Claiming the benefits. Eddie went to the OWWA regional office covering Pangasinan. He brought Lorna's Death Certificate (the foreign one, and later the PSA copy of the Report of Death), their PSA Marriage Certificate, the children's PSA Birth Certificates, his valid ID and proof of Lorna's membership, such as her contract or OEC (her exit clearance). OWWA asked him to fill in its claim forms for the death benefit and the burial benefit. Eddie had spent about ₱80,000 on the wake and burial, so he kept every receipt. He checked OWWA's current amounts at the office rather than relying on what neighbours said.
The children's schooling. OWWA staff told Eddie about education help for children of members who died, and how to apply for Kyla and Paolo.
Other claims. Eddie also asked the SSS about a death benefit, since Lorna had paid SSS contributions as an OFW, and asked the agency about any insurance under her contract. See benefits after a death.
First: Is the OFW an Active Member?
Most OWWA benefits go to active members and their families. Under the OWWA Act, Republic Act No. 10801 (RA 10801):
- An OFW becomes a member when their contract is processed by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), or by registering voluntarily at the job site or online.
- The contribution is US$25 (or its peso equivalent), and the law says it must be paid by the employer or principal (the foreign employer the agency recruits for), not the worker.
- Membership lasts until the contract ends or two years, whichever comes first. It is renewed with each new contract.
If you are not sure whether your OFW is active, ask OWWA. Bring their passport details and contract or OEC (the exit clearance). Some help may still be open to members whose membership has lapsed, so ask anyway.
What OWWA Offers
| Kind of Help | What It Is For |
|---|---|
| Welfare assistance | Help for members and families in hard situations, such as illness, injury, calamities or a death in the family. OWWA decides case by case. |
| Repatriation (coming home) | Helping a distressed worker come home, or bringing home the remains of a worker who died abroad. |
| Death and burial benefits | Paid to the family of an active member who died, whether from illness or an accident. |
| Disability benefits | For an active member who became disabled or lost a body part. |
| Education and training | Scholarships and education help for members' children, and for children of members who died, plus skills training. |
| Livelihood and reintegration | Help for returning OFWs and their families to start a small business or find work at home. |
Program names, amounts and who qualifies change from time to time. Check OWWA's current programs and amounts on its website or at a regional office before you apply.
How to Claim
- Go to OWWA. File at the OWWA regional office covering where you live, or at the OWWA central office. An OFW abroad can ask the Migrant Workers Office (MWO) at the job site.
- Bring proof of membership, such as the OFW's contract, OEC or OWWA records.
- Bring proof of the event: a Medical Certificate, a Death Certificate, a police or hospital report, or receipts.
- Bring proof of relationship: your PSA Marriage Certificate or the children's PSA Birth Certificates. See getting PSA Birth, Marriage and Death Certificates.
- Bring your valid ID. If someone else files for you, bring an Authorization Letter or a Special Power of Attorney, and ask OWWA first which it accepts.
OWWA may ask for more papers, depending on the program. Keep copies of everything you hand in.
Other Help to Look Into
- SSS. OFWs can be SSS members. If the OFW paid contributions, the family may claim SSS benefits too. See SSS benefits: what you can claim and how.
- Agency and employer. Ask about insurance or benefits under the OFW's contract, and unpaid salary. The DMW can help if the agency does not answer.
- Pag-IBIG. OFW members' savings and death benefit go to the heirs when a member dies. See money your family can claim after a death.
- What the OFW left behind. Property and bank deposits the OFW left behind pass to the heirs. See who inherits without a will.
Common Questions
Magkano ang Makukuha Namin sa OWWA Kung Namatay ang OFW?
OWWA pays death and burial benefits to the family of an active member, but the amounts are set by OWWA and change from time to time. Check OWWA's current amounts at its website or regional office instead of relying on what you hear.
Sino ang Nagbabayad ng OWWA Membership?
Under RA 10801, the US$25 contribution must be paid by the employer or principal, not the worker. It covers one contract, up to two years.
Expired na ang OWWA Membership ng Asawa Ko. May Makukuha pa ba Kami?
Most benefits, like the death and disability benefits, are for active members. Some welfare help may still be open to former members and their families. Ask OWWA what you can apply for.
Can OWWA Help My Child Go to College?
OWWA runs scholarship and education programs for children of members, and education help for children of members who died. Each has its own rules on who qualifies and when to apply. Ask OWWA about the current programs.
Can I File for My Husband While He Is Still Abroad?
For many programs, yes, a family member can file at the OWWA regional office. Bring proof of your relationship and of his membership. Ask OWWA whether an Authorization Letter or an SPA is needed.
Not legal advice. This is general information. For advice on your own situation, consult a lawyer. If you cannot afford one, the Public Attorney's Office (PAO) or an IBP legal aid office may help for free.
Government fees, rules and requirements change, so always check with the office concerned before you go. This page explains the general rules; it cannot tell you how they apply to your own family or case. Last reviewed October 8, 2026.