How to Claim Pag-IBIG Death Benefits: Requirements and Process (Philippines)

This guide explains—in plain, Philippine legal context—how survivors can claim a deceased member’s Pag-IBIG (HDMF) benefits: who is entitled, what documents to prepare, how to file, how amounts are computed, and practical issues like minors, overseas deaths, and disputes. It is written for non-lawyers but tracks the governing legal concepts under Philippine law (succession, evidence, notarization) and Pag-IBIG’s standard practices.

1) What benefits are available upon a member’s death?

Provident savings (Regular/“Pag-IBIG I/MP1”) The deceased member’s Total Accumulated Value (TAV)—mandatory contributions (employee and employer share, if any) plus dividends—is claimable by beneficiaries/heirs.
Modified Pag-IBIG 2 (MP2) savings Any MP2 account balance and earned dividends are also claimable.
Pag-IBIG death benefit (additional cash assistance) Pag-IBIG grants a fixed death benefit on top of the TAV/MP2 balance. The amount is set by the Fund and may vary by rules in force at the time of claim. Treat this as separate from SSS or GSIS funeral/death benefits.
Insurance attached to Pag-IBIG loans (if any)
- Housing loans carry Mortgage Redemption Insurance (MRI) and fire insurance; MRI typically settles or reduces the outstanding housing loan upon the borrower’s death (subject to policy limits and conditions).
- Short-term loans (e.g., Multi-Purpose/Calamity) may have credit-life coverage or are offset against TAV before release.

Result: Heirs/beneficiaries ordinarily receive (TAV + MP2 + death benefit) − (any valid offsets/obligations). For housing loans, heirs may gain a fully or partly extinguished mortgage via MRI, separate from the provident claim.

2) Who is entitled to claim? (Beneficiaries vs. Heirs)

Pag-IBIG observes (a) the designated beneficiaries on the member’s Member’s Data Form (MDF) or equivalent record; failing that, (b) the legal heirs under the Civil Code’s rules on intestate succession.

If the member designated beneficiaries: Those persons take priority in the proportions designated (or equally, if unspecified).
If no designation, or a designee predeceased the member, or the designation is invalid/ineffective: pay-out follows the Civil Code order—legitimate/illegitimate children and surviving spouse are typically first in line; absent descendants, ascendants (parents), then collaterals (siblings), and so on.
Minors or persons under disability: Payment is released to a court-appointed or legally recognized guardian, or per Pag-IBIG’s acceptable affidavit-guardianship practice for small amounts, if applicable.

Practical effect: Always verify whether the decedent’s MDF lists a living beneficiary. If none, prepare heirship documents (see §4 and §7).

3) What will Pag-IBIG pay?

TAV (Regular/MP1): employee + employer contributions (if any) plus accumulated dividends.
MP2: principal + dividends in the MP2 account.
Death Benefit: a fixed cash amount set by Pag-IBIG rules (separate from TAV/MP2).
Less: outstanding short-term loan balances or lawful charges deducted/offset before release.
Housing loan MRI: handled with the Housing/Loans unit and the insurer; it does not reduce the provident claim but addresses the loan itself.

Note: Exact amounts and dividend rates change over time under Fund policies. Claimants receive an official computation during processing.

4) Core documentary requirements (checklist)

Prepare clear copies and bring originals for authentication. Non-English/Filipino documents require official translation and, if foreign, authentication/apostille.

A. Proof of death

PSA-issued Death Certificate (or civil registrar copy subsequently PSA-endorsed).
For deaths abroad: Foreign death certificate + Report of Death filed with a Philippine Embassy/Consulate, apostilled/authenticated as applicable.

B. Proof of claimant’s identity and authority

Two (2) valid government-issued IDs of the claimant (with signature and photo).
If filing through a representative: Notarized Special Power of Attorney (SPA) + representative’s IDs.

C. Proof of relationship / beneficiary status

If spouse: PSA Marriage Certificate.
If child: PSA Birth Certificate; for illegitimate child, birth record showing filiation.
If parent: decedent’s PSA Birth Certificate.
If designated beneficiary not within immediate family: any ID/records establishing identity as the MDF designee.
If no designated beneficiary or there are multiple heirs:
- Affidavit of Heirship (simple estates) or
- Extrajudicial Settlement of Estate (EJS) with all heirs as parties (if there is no will and no outstanding debts, and heirs are of age; minors must be represented by guardians).
- Publication and bond requirements apply to EJS under Rule 74 when real property is involved; some agencies accept heirship affidavits for benefit releases—but Pag-IBIG may require EJS or court order if claims are contested or complex.

D. Pag-IBIG records and forms

Pag-IBIG MID number of the decedent.
Member’s Data Form (MDF) or screenshot/printout (the branch can also verify).
Application for Provident Benefits Claim (Death) form and Claimant’s Information Sheet (branch/Virtual Pag-IBIG provides current versions).
For MP2 claims: MP2 account details (if known).

E. Special supporting documents (case-by-case)

Police/medical reports (accidental or unusual deaths).
Court orders (guardianship; letters of administration/extrajudicial settlement complications).
Proof of guardianship for minor heirs (DSWD/Court/Notarized guardian’s undertaking per Pag-IBIG policy).
Name discrepancy proofs (IDs, Affidavit of Discrepancy, school or baptismal records).

5) How to file (step-by-step)

Confirm beneficiary status Ask the branch (or via Virtual Pag-IBIG) if the MDF lists a surviving designated beneficiary. If yes, that person files the claim. If none/unclear, organize the heirs and prepare heirship/EJS documents.
Assemble documents (see §4) Prioritize PSA civil registry documents; resolve name/date mismatches early.
Complete Pag-IBIG claim forms Fill out the Provident Benefits (Death) Claim form and the Claimant’s Information Sheet. If a representative files, attach the SPA.
Submit the claim
- In-person at any Pag-IBIG branch (take queue/appointment if required).
- Online via Virtual Pag-IBIG (upload scanned copies; originals may be required for validation).
Verification and computation Pag-IBIG validates identity, relationship/authority, checks for outstanding loans, computes TAV/MP2, applies death benefit, and coordinates MRI handling for any housing loan.
Release of proceeds Proceeds are released to the rightful payee(s) (beneficiary, heir, or legal guardian) via check or credit-to-bank per Pag-IBIG’s current payment modes. Multiple beneficiaries receive their respective shares as designated or as agreed/ordered.

Processing timelines vary with document completeness and case complexity. Contested claims, minors, foreign documents, or guardianship issues extend processing.

6) Special situations & how to handle them

Minors as beneficiaries Provide guardian documents. For larger amounts or adverse claims, expect a court-issued guardianship order. Funds are typically released to the guardian in trust for the minor.
Multiple heirs/contested claims If heirs cannot agree, Pag-IBIG may require a court order (e.g., letters of administration, compromise/judgment). Extrajudicial Settlement is viable if all heirs consent and legal conditions are met.
Deaths abroad Submit foreign death records with apostille/consular authentication + Report of Death. Coordinate with relatives overseas for originals/apostilles to avoid delays.
Name/date inconsistencies Prepare Affidavit of Discrepancy, old school/baptismal records, IDs, or PSA annotations to reconcile.
Outstanding Pag-IBIG loans
- Short-term loans: usually offset against TAV before release.
- Housing loan: MRI claim is filed through the housing loans/insurer channel; heirs should also attend to title transfer/estate matters once the loan is settled.

7) Heirship documents—what to use and when

Simple cases (clear heirs, small personalty, no disputes): Affidavit of Heirship (all heirs sign; notarized). Attach IDs and civil registry proofs.
Broader estates (real property, vehicles, larger amounts) with no will: Extrajudicial Settlement of Estate (EJS) under Rule 74, Sec. 1 (all heirs as parties; publication; bond if needed). Heirs may combine EJS with Deed of Partition.
Disputed or complex estates; minors; unknown heirs: Judicial settlement (estate proceedings). Pag-IBIG follows the final court order for pay-out shares.

Tip: Even if Pag-IBIG accepts an Affidavit of Heirship for the provident claim, you may still need EJS or court proceedings to transfer real properties or vehicle titles outside Pag-IBIG.

8) Taxes, liens, and confidentiality

Tax treatment Under the Pag-IBIG charter and related rules, member contributions and dividends and benefits are generally tax-exempt. Estate taxation in the Philippines has its own framework; however, Pag-IBIG provident benefit releases are typically not subjected to withholding. If the decedent’s broader estate is being settled, consult on estate tax for non-Pag-IBIG assets.
Set-offs and liens Pag-IBIG may offset valid obligations (e.g., unpaid short-term loans) against the provident benefits prior to release.
Data privacy Claim processing will involve sensitive personal information; expect ID verification and document authentication consistent with the Data Privacy Act.

9) Practical tips to avoid delays

Get PSA copies early (death, birth, marriage).
Check the MDF for beneficiary names; if none, start heirship documentation immediately.
Resolve name discrepancies before filing.
Authenticate foreign documents (apostille) and provide official translations.
If minors inherit, prepare guardianship papers or confirm if Pag-IBIG’s small-amount guardianship affidavit will suffice.
Coordinate MRI for any housing loan, separate from the provident claim, to protect the home from foreclosure.

10) Simple Affidavit of Heirship (template)

Affidavit of Heirship (Use of this template is at your own risk; tailor to your facts; sign before a notary public.)

We, $Names of heirs$, of legal age, Filipino citizens, and residents of $addresses$, after having been duly sworn, depose:

That $Name of Decedent$, Filipino, died on $date$ in $place$, as evidenced by the PSA Death Certificate attached as Annex “A”;

That the decedent left no will to our knowledge;

That we are the sole heirs of the decedent as follows: $state relationship—spouse/children/parents etc., with PSA references$;

That the decedent had membership/savings with Pag-IBIG Fund, including Regular/MP1 and MP2 accounts, and we seek release of provident/death benefits in our favor;

That there are no other known heirs and no debts of the decedent insofar as these benefits are concerned;

That we undertake to indemnify Pag-IBIG Fund against any third-party claim arising from this release;

That we execute this affidavit to attest to the foregoing and for submission to Pag-IBIG Fund.

Heirs: $signatures over printed names$ Acknowledgment (Notarial block)

11) Frequently asked questions

Can a non-relative designated in the MDF claim? Yes, designated beneficiaries take precedence. If none is designated, the legal heirs claim.
Do we need a court case? Not if there’s a valid beneficiary or all heirs agree and legal conditions for EJS/Affidavit of Heirship are satisfied. Court proceedings become necessary if there’s a dispute, minors without guardianship, or contested heirship.
How are shares divided when there’s no beneficiary designation? Under intestate succession rules; often the surviving spouse and all children share. Exact shares depend on legitimacy, representation, and other Civil Code rules.
Does Pag-IBIG pay funeral expenses? Pag-IBIG’s death benefit is a fixed cash assistance distinct from SSS/GSIS funeral benefits. SSS funeral benefit is separate and should be claimed with SSS.
What if there are outstanding Pag-IBIG short-term loans? Expect offset from TAV before release. This does not eliminate MRI coverage for a housing loan, which is handled separately.

12) Quick filing roadmap (one-page summary)

Identify payee: MDF beneficiary → file; if none → prepare heirship/EJS.
Collect documents: PSA death + relationship proofs + IDs + Pag-IBIG forms (+ SPA if represented).
Submit at branch or Virtual Pag-IBIG.
Verification/computation: TAV/MP2 + death benefit − offsets; MRI handled with housing loans.
Release to beneficiary/heirs/guardian per documents or court order.

Final note

Rules (amounts, forms, acceptable affidavits, online workflow) evolve. The framework above reflects standard Philippine practice: designated beneficiaries first; otherwise heirs per law; complete civil registry proofs; use heirship/EJS/guardianship documents as needed; expect offsets; and coordinate MRI for housing loans.