When an Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) member dies, the surviving family’s immediate concern is often financial: burial costs, lost income, repatriation issues, and access to welfare benefits. In practice, however, the first real legal and administrative hurdle is not always the payment itself. It is account verification.

In the Philippine setting, OWWA account verification for deceased member claims is the process of confirming that the deceased was in fact an OWWA member, that the membership was valid and traceable in OWWA records, and that the person filing the claim is the lawful beneficiary or authorized claimant. This stage is decisive. Even where the family is clearly entitled in principle, a claim can be delayed, returned, or denied if the deceased worker’s identity, membership record, or claimant’s status cannot be properly matched with official documents.

This article explains the subject in full legal context: the governing laws, the nature of OWWA membership, the purpose of account verification, the documentary and evidentiary issues involved, who may claim, common grounds for delay or denial, procedural concerns, due process, practical legal problems, and best practices for beneficiaries in the Philippines.

II. Legal nature of OWWA and why verification matters

OWWA is a government instrumentality attached to the Department of Migrant Workers framework and historically linked to the Department of Labor and Employment. It administers welfare programs and benefits for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their qualified dependents or beneficiaries.

Its authority to grant benefits is not purely charitable. It is a statutory welfare function tied to membership, contribution, and legally defined entitlement. That is why OWWA cannot simply release funds on sympathy alone. It must determine:

Whether the deceased was an OWWA member
Whether membership was active or otherwise recognized for the benefit claimed
Who has the legal right to receive the benefit
Whether the supporting records are authentic, complete, and consistent

This is the role of account verification. It is both an administrative safeguard and a legal gatekeeping step.

III. Core legal framework in the Philippines

The topic sits within several layers of Philippine law and administrative policy.

1. The OWWA Act

The principal statute is Republic Act No. 10801, or the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Act. It institutionalized OWWA, defined its powers, and confirmed its role in providing welfare services and benefits to OFWs and their families.

Under this law, OWWA maintains welfare programs funded by member contributions and other sources authorized by law. Because benefits are tied to membership and eligibility, OWWA necessarily has the legal authority to verify records before approving claims.

2. Migrant worker protection laws

The broader migration-law framework includes Republic Act No. 8042, the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995, as amended by Republic Act No. 10022 and later legislation reorganizing migrant worker governance. These laws reinforce the State’s duty to protect OFWs and provide mechanisms for assistance, repatriation, welfare intervention, and support to families.

These statutes do not eliminate documentary requirements; rather, they justify administrative systems that ensure benefits reach the correct persons.

3. Civil law rules on identity, filiation, marriage, and succession

A deceased member claim often turns on civil-status proof. Philippine civil law and family law become relevant because OWWA must determine who is the legal spouse, legitimate or illegitimate child, parent, or other recognized beneficiary. This is where the following matter:

PSA-issued birth certificates
PSA-issued marriage certificates
Death certificate
Court decrees on annulment, nullity, adoption, correction of entries, or guardianship
Rules on legitimacy, filiation, and parental authority

Thus, although an OWWA claim is administrative, it frequently depends on family-law evidence.

4. Rules on public documents and authentication

Philippine administrative bodies routinely require public documents or duly authenticated records. For overseas deaths, foreign-issued death records, police reports, autopsy findings, or hospital records may need authentication or equivalent recognition depending on the office’s documentary standards and the origin of the document.

IV. What “account verification” means in deceased member claims

In plain terms, account verification is the internal and documentary process by which OWWA confirms that the deceased person in the claim papers is the same person reflected in OWWA membership and deployment-related records.

It usually involves checking the following:

Full name of the deceased member
Date of birth
Passport details
Employment or deployment information
OWWA membership number or record
Date of membership or validity period
Employer and jobsite, when relevant
Record of contribution or membership renewal
Identity of the beneficiary or claimant

This process becomes especially important when:

The deceased used different versions of the name
There are spelling inconsistencies
There are multiple passports over time
The OFW transferred jobs or countries
Membership was renewed through different channels
The worker’s documents show maiden and married names
There is a dispute among claimants

Verification is therefore not just a clerical formality. It is a legal determination of identity and entitlement.

V. Why OWWA verifies accounts in death-related claims

There are several legal and administrative reasons.

1. To prevent payment to the wrong person

OWWA disburses public welfare funds. If it pays the wrong claimant, it may cause double payment, fraud, or administrative liability.

2. To confirm membership-based entitlement

Many OWWA benefits are not automatic for every OFW death. Membership status matters. Verification determines whether the deceased falls within the coverage of the specific benefit being claimed.

3. To establish the proper class of beneficiary

In many claims, the crucial question is not whether the worker died, but who should legally receive the benefit.

4. To reconcile conflicting records

Government agencies, employers, recruitment agencies, and families may all submit documents that do not perfectly match. Verification attempts to reconcile these discrepancies.

5. To comply with audit requirements

OWWA is subject to public accountability, including audit scrutiny. Verified documentation protects the agency and the claimant alike.

VI. Common benefits implicated when an OWWA member dies

The exact benefit and documentary requirements can differ depending on the nature of the member’s death, where it occurred, and the program invoked. In broad terms, death-related assistance may involve one or more of the following:

1. Death benefit

This is the principal monetary assistance extended to qualified beneficiaries of a deceased OWWA member, subject to the rules then in force.

2. Burial or funeral assistance

Separate or complementary burial/funeral support may be available under OWWA policies applicable to active members and qualified claimants.

3. Repatriation-related assistance

If death occurred abroad, repatriation of remains or related logistical assistance may arise.

4. Welfare assistance to survivors

Depending on policy and circumstances, family members may also seek educational, psychosocial, livelihood, or emergency support.

5. Insurance-linked or agency-coordinated benefits

Some cases involve interaction with private insurance, employer liability, recruitment agency liability, Social Security System benefits, Employees’ Compensation, or other government assistance. OWWA verification does not automatically settle those other claims, but records used in OWWA processing often overlap with them.

VII. Who may file the claim

This is one of the most important legal issues.

OWWA generally deals with the qualified beneficiary or a duly authorized representative. In practice, priority usually follows family-law relationships, subject to the applicable policy and proof submitted.

Typical claimants include:

1. Legal spouse

A lawful surviving spouse usually has primary standing, but must prove the marriage. If there is a question about nullity, annulment, legal separation, bigamy, or a prior subsisting marriage, the matter becomes legally complicated.

2. Children

Children may claim directly or through a guardian/parent if minors. Proof of filiation is essential. Legitimate and illegitimate children may raise different documentary issues, but both may be relevant depending on the program and rules.

3. Parents

Parents may claim where there is no spouse or child, or where policy recognizes them as next qualified beneficiaries.

4. Siblings or other next of kin

Usually not first-line beneficiaries unless the rules, facts, or absence of closer heirs justify their participation.

5. Authorized representative

A representative may file on behalf of the beneficiary, but representation is not the same as beneficial entitlement. A Special Power of Attorney, authorization letter, or guardianship proof may be required depending on who the real beneficiary is.

VIII. The difference between claimant, beneficiary, and representative

These terms are often confused.

Beneficiary: the person legally entitled to receive the benefit
Claimant: the person who files the papers
Representative: the person authorized to act for the beneficiary

A mother may file the documents, but if the lawful beneficiary is the surviving spouse or child, the mother is only a filer unless she herself is the recognized beneficiary under the rules. Likewise, a sibling who handles paperwork does not become the rightful payee merely by possession of the documents.

This distinction is crucial in account verification because OWWA checks not only whether the deceased member’s account is valid, but whether the filer has the right to receive the proceeds.

IX. Basic documentary universe in deceased member account verification

The exact checklist may vary by office and by the specific benefit. Still, the legal logic behind the usual documents is consistent.

A. Documents proving the death

Death Certificate Preferably PSA-issued if the death is registered in the Philippines. If the death occurred abroad, foreign death records or consular documents may be required first.
Medical certificate, hospital report, autopsy report, or police report These may be needed where the circumstances of death are material, especially in accidental, violent, work-related, or disputed deaths.
Report of death from Philippine post abroad In overseas cases, the Philippine embassy or consulate may be part of the documentary trail.

B. Documents proving identity of the deceased

Passport
Valid government IDs
Employment contract or deployment record
Visa or work permit records
OWWA membership record, official receipt, or reference number
Overseas employment-related records from the appropriate migration authorities

C. Documents proving OWWA membership

OWWA membership receipt or record
Membership confirmation in OWWA database
Proof of renewal or validity period
Deployment-linked membership evidence
Records showing payment through official channels

D. Documents proving the claimant’s legal status

PSA marriage certificate for spouse
PSA birth certificate for child or parent
IDs of claimant
Affidavits where needed
Guardianship papers for minors or incapacitated claimants
Special Power of Attorney for representatives
Court orders if status is under dispute

E. Documents addressing discrepancies

Affidavit of One and the Same Person
PSA-corrected civil registry entries
Court decree correcting name/date/place entries
Previous passport records
Marriage certificate showing change from maiden to married surname
Supporting certifications from employer, embassy, or agency

X. Membership status: the decisive issue

A deceased member claim often succeeds or fails on the question: Was the OFW an OWWA member covered at the relevant time?

This is not always as simple as finding an old receipt. Several legal and factual issues arise.

1. Active membership at the time of death

If the member’s OWWA status was active when death occurred, the claim position is usually stronger.

2. Lapsed or expired membership

A lapsed status may create complications, especially where the benefit rules require active membership or coverage. The family may still attempt to prove continuity or challenge an incorrect database record, but entitlement becomes more difficult.

3. Undocumented or poorly documented renewal

Some workers renew through posts abroad, processing centers, or bundled systems. If the family lacks the receipt but OWWA has internal records, verification may still succeed. If both sides lack clear records, the claimant must reconstruct the membership trail.

4. Reconciliation with deployment history

Where the OFW changed employers, returned to the Philippines, redeployed, or shifted country of work, OWWA may need to reconcile multiple periods and records.

5. Name mismatch in membership records

This is common among members who used:

different spellings
maiden and married surnames
abbreviations
a clerical error in first or middle name
different passport numbers over time

The practical effect is delay, not always denial. The claimant may need to prove that all records refer to one and the same person.

XI. Typical verification problems in Philippine practice

1. Different spellings of the name

Even a one-letter mismatch can stall processing if not explained.

2. Maiden name versus married name

Female OFWs frequently encounter this issue. OWWA may have one name; the death certificate may show another; the passport may show yet another version.

3. Date of birth inconsistency

This can affect database matching and may trigger requests for additional proof.

4. Passport changes

The member may have renewed or replaced the passport multiple times. Old and new numbers may need to be linked.

5. Delayed registration of death

If the death certificate was late-registered or initially unavailable due to a foreign death, OWWA may require supplementary proof.

6. Multiple claimants

Spouse, parents, and children may each assert entitlement. OWWA may hold release until the proper beneficiary is established.

7. Void or questionable marriage

Where the “spouse” cannot prove a valid marriage, or where there is evidence of a prior undissolved marriage, beneficiary status becomes legally contested.

8. Illegitimate child without complete supporting proof

The child may be entitled, but filiation must still be proven through legally acceptable documents.

9. Claims filed by relatives who are not beneficiaries

A representative may process papers, but OWWA may refuse direct release to one who is not the lawful payee.

10. Missing proof of membership

The family may know the deceased was an OFW, but OWWA benefit entitlement is not the same as overseas work in general. Membership must still be shown or verified.

XII. Account verification as an evidentiary process

Legally, this stage is an exercise in administrative fact-finding. OWWA is not conducting a full trial, but it is evaluating documents to determine entitlement. The burden, in practical terms, falls heavily on the claimant.

This means the claimant should be able to prove:

The fact of death
The identity of the deceased
OWWA membership or coverage
The claimant’s relationship or authority
The absence of disqualifying contradictions

OWWA may require original documents, certified copies, or supplemental affidavits. Where discrepancies exist, it may ask for additional proof rather than outright deny the claim.

XIII. Foreign death cases: special concerns

Where the member died abroad, account verification becomes more complex because the death and identity trail may span multiple jurisdictions.

Key issues include:

1. Foreign death certificate

It may need to be properly issued, translated if necessary, and recognized for local processing.

2. Embassy or consular reporting

The Philippine Foreign Service Post often becomes a crucial source of certification, coordination, and documentary support.

3. Repatriation of remains

Separate documents may exist regarding transport, embalming, police clearance, cause of death, and consignee details.

4. Employer and recruitment agency records

These may help confirm identity, last known worksite, and circumstances of death.

5. Timing gaps

There can be a delay between death abroad and civil registration or local documentary availability in the Philippines. OWWA may accept interim proofs while awaiting final registration, depending on the particular office and claim stage.

XIV. The legal role of the PSA and civil registry documents

In Philippine claims administration, PSA-issued civil registry documents carry great weight because they are the standard public records used to prove birth, marriage, and death.

They matter because they establish:

filiation
marital status
legal surname
date and place of birth
death registration

Where the PSA document is inconsistent with other records, that inconsistency is not a minor clerical inconvenience. It may directly affect who is recognized as beneficiary.

For example:

A woman claims as spouse, but no marriage record appears.
A child claims, but the PSA birth certificate does not show the deceased as parent.
A parent claims, but the worker’s birth record carries unexplained name discrepancies.

In such cases, OWWA may require correction, explanation, or judicial proof before release.

XV. Beneficiary disputes: where OWWA stops and civil law begins

OWWA can verify documents, but it is not a family court. When there is a serious dispute about lawful beneficiary status, especially involving conflicting spouses, denied filiation, or inheritance-type conflict, the issue may go beyond ordinary administrative processing.

Examples:

1. Two persons both claim to be the lawful spouse

OWWA may suspend release pending clearer proof.

2. A child’s filiation is denied by other claimants

OWWA may require stronger civil-status evidence or wait for competent proof.

3. Bigamous or void marriage issues

If one marriage appears void or a prior marriage subsists, OWWA may not resolve the entire family-law controversy by itself.

4. Heirship versus designated entitlement

Not all welfare claims perfectly follow ordinary succession law. The agency applies its own beneficiary rules, but where legal status is contested, civil law still shapes the outcome.

In hard cases, the claimant may need:

court action
settlement among beneficiaries
notarized waiver or extrajudicial arrangement, where acceptable
a legal opinion or adjudicative resolution from the proper forum

XVI. Affidavits: useful but not magical

Families often assume that a notarized affidavit can solve every documentary problem. It cannot.

An affidavit may help explain:

spelling differences
one-and-the-same-person issues
circumstances of delayed registration
authority of a representative
loss of documents

But an affidavit does not automatically replace:

a death certificate
a marriage certificate
a birth certificate
a court decree required by law
official proof of membership where the record is genuinely absent

Affidavits supplement evidence; they do not always cure missing legal status.

XVII. Can OWWA deny a claim purely because of documentary inconsistency?

It can deny or hold a claim where the inconsistency affects a material issue such as identity, membership, or beneficiary entitlement. However, fairness and administrative due process generally require that the claimant be informed of deficiencies and given a chance to complete or clarify the submission, unless the claim is plainly ineligible on its face.

The better view is this:

Minor clerical issues should lead to clarification requests
Material contradictions may justify suspension or denial
Fraud indicators may justify stricter scrutiny or rejection

Examples of material issues:

wrong identity entirely
no proof the deceased was the OWWA member
no proof claimant is spouse/child/parent
two irreconcilable claimants
fabricated documents
membership expired outside coverage and no basis for exception

XVIII. Administrative due process in OWWA claim handling

Even though OWWA claims are administrative rather than judicial, basic due process principles still matter. In practical terms, claimants should expect:

Notice of required documents
Opportunity to submit lacking or corrective documents
A reason for non-processing, return, or denial
Processing through the proper office or channel
Administrative review or elevation where available under agency practice

A claimant should insist on clarity. If a claim is stalled, the key legal question is: What specific deficiency prevents verification? It is not enough to hear that the “system cannot find the account” if the problem is actually a spelling mismatch, wrong birthdate, missing marriage proof, or unvalidated membership period.

XIX. Account verification versus claim approval

These are not the same.

Account verification asks: Is the member record valid and identifiable?
Claim approval asks: Given the verified account and submitted documents, is the claimant entitled to payment?

A family may succeed in account verification yet still face issues in approval if:

the claimant is not the proper beneficiary
the required death circumstances proof is lacking
the release documents are incomplete
there is a dispute among beneficiaries

Conversely, a family may have a substantively valid claim but be unable to move forward until account verification problems are resolved.

XX. The role of recruitment agencies, employers, and posts abroad

In overseas death cases, third parties often hold essential records.

1. Recruitment agencies

They may have:

deployment papers
contract copies
employer details
next-of-kin information
insurance or death-reporting records

2. Foreign employers

They may hold:

incident reports
hospital records
employment confirmations
death-related assistance papers

3. Philippine embassies or consulates

They may help with:

report of death
repatriation coordination
authentication trail
communication with foreign authorities

These records do not replace OWWA membership records, but they may support verification where the family lacks papers.

XXI. Minors, incapacitated beneficiaries, and guardianship issues

When the lawful beneficiary is a minor child, OWWA may require release through a parent or legal guardian. The agency must protect the beneficiary from unauthorized collection.

Issues that commonly arise:

parents are separated
one parent is abroad
a grandparent files without clear authority
the child is legitimate or illegitimate and documents differ
the parent who files is not the one named in available records

In such cases, OWWA may require:

child’s birth certificate
ID of parent/guardian
proof of guardianship or authority
affidavits or court-issued authority where necessary

If the beneficiary is incapacitated, representation becomes even more document-sensitive.

XXII. Effect of succession law: is the OWWA benefit part of the estate?

This is a subtle legal point. Welfare benefits payable to a designated or legally preferred beneficiary are not always treated in the same way as ordinary estate assets for succession purposes. In practice, OWWA applies its own beneficiary rules and documentary standards. That said, estate disputes can spill over into OWWA processing when claimants contest each other’s legal status.

So while the claim is not simply a standard probate question, succession principles may become relevant where:

there is no clear beneficiary class
several heirs demand shares
the decedent’s marital or parental status is contested
release needs to be aligned with legal heirship proof

The practical rule is that OWWA does not become a probate court, but probate-type disputes can obstruct payment.

XXIII. Late filing and delay

A common concern is whether delay kills the claim. The answer depends on the applicable policy or program, but as a general matter, delay is dangerous because it creates evidentiary problems:

records become harder to retrieve
agencies change systems
receipts are lost
witnesses become unavailable
civil registry corrections become harder
disputes among relatives intensify

Even where the claim is not yet barred by agency rules, delay weakens the evidence needed for verification.

XXIV. Standard of proof in practical terms

OWWA does not normally require proof beyond reasonable doubt. But it does require enough reliable documentation to satisfy an administrative standard of authenticity and eligibility.

A claimant should aim to submit evidence that is:

official
consistent
current
readable
complete
traceable to the deceased and the claimant

Where perfect consistency is impossible, the claimant should close the gaps with:

official corrections
linked records
explanatory affidavits
embassy or employer certifications
old and new IDs/passports
supporting family records

XXV. Common reasons claims are delayed or denied

1. No verifiable OWWA membership record

The family proves overseas work but not membership.

2. Membership not valid for the claim period

Coverage dates do not align, or available proof is insufficient.

3. Identity mismatch

The deceased in the death papers cannot be confidently matched to the OWWA member record.

4. Wrong claimant

The filer is not the lawful beneficiary.

5. Incomplete civil-status proof

No marriage certificate, unclear filiation, missing birth records.

6. Multiple adverse claimants

OWWA defers release until the conflict is resolved or clarified.

7. Foreign documents not adequately supported

Overseas death records are incomplete, unofficial, untranslated, or otherwise unacceptable.

8. Suspected fraud or altered records

This can halt the claim entirely and may expose the filer to legal consequences.

XXVI. How discrepancies are usually cured

A. Name discrepancies

Use PSA records, passport history, marriage certificate, and affidavit of one and the same person.

B. Date-of-birth discrepancies

Submit corrected civil registry records or supporting public documents.

C. Missing proof of marriage

Obtain PSA certification or, if unavailable, pursue the proper legal route to establish status; an affidavit alone may not suffice.

D. Child’s filiation issues

Use PSA birth certificate, acknowledgment records, adoption decree if applicable, or other legally competent proof.

E. Lost proof of membership

Request internal verification from OWWA and gather deployment-linked records that may help locate the account.

F. Authority of representative

Submit SPA, IDs, and beneficiary proof; for minors, add guardianship-related documents as needed.

XXVII. Fraud risk and legal exposure

Because death-related welfare claims can involve substantial sums and emotional urgency, the risk of fraudulent filing is real. False documents, fake claimants, or impersonation can expose the filer to:

criminal liability for falsification or use of falsified documents
estafa-type exposure depending on conduct
administrative referral or blacklisting
permanent denial of the claim
recovery action if funds were wrongfully released

Families should never “fix” missing documents through fabricated papers. That can destroy an otherwise valid claim.

XXVIII. Practical legal approach for beneficiaries

A sound Philippine legal strategy for OWWA deceased member claims usually follows this order:

1. Establish the death with proper records

Get the death certificate and supporting incident records.

2. Reconstruct the deceased’s identity trail

Match passport, civil registry, employment, and OWWA records.

3. Confirm membership status

Locate OWWA receipts, reference numbers, prior renewals, and deployment records.

4. Identify the true beneficiary

Do not assume the relative handling the papers is automatically entitled.

5. Fix discrepancies before formal escalation

Correct name and civil-status issues early if possible.

6. Organize the file chronologically

A coherent documentary bundle helps verification officers connect the record.

7. Keep copies of everything submitted

Including acknowledgment receipts and deficiency notices.

8. Ask for the specific deficiency in writing or in exact terms

This prevents endless back-and-forth over vague “verification problems.”

XXIX. Important distinctions that families often miss

1. OWWA membership is not identical to being an OFW

Not every overseas worker is automatically verifiable as an OWWA member for a given claim.

2. Relationship by fact is not always relationship by law

A long-time live-in partner may face difficulty if there is no valid marriage and the rule requires a lawful spouse.

3. Handling burial does not equal beneficiary status

The one who spent for funeral expenses is not automatically the one entitled to the OWWA death benefit.

4. One document rarely decides everything

A death certificate proves death, not necessarily membership or beneficiary entitlement.

5. Verification failure is often curable

Many cases are delayed because of record mismatch, not because the family is truly ineligible.

XXX. Administrative fairness and the humane purpose of the law

Philippine labor and migrant welfare law is generally construed liberally in favor of worker protection, but liberality does not erase the need for proof. The humane purpose of OWWA is to aid OFWs and their families, especially in death cases. At the same time, that humanitarian purpose must be carried out through lawful disbursement.

The right legal balance is this:

OWWA should not impose irrational barriers where records substantially match and entitlement is clear.
Claimants should not expect OWWA to ignore material gaps in identity, membership, or beneficiary proof.

A fair process is one that is both compassionate and document-based.

XXXI. Where legal counsel becomes important

Legal assistance may be necessary when:

two or more persons claim the same benefit
there is a void-marriage or bigamy issue
a child’s filiation is disputed
the claim has been denied on contested legal grounds
civil registry corrections are needed
foreign documents are difficult to reconcile
the family suspects the employer, agency, or another relative is withholding records
the matter overlaps with insurance, labor, criminal, or estate litigation

At that point, the problem is no longer merely “verification” in the clerical sense. It becomes a legal-status dispute.

XXXII. A model legal understanding of the topic

The best way to understand OWWA account verification for deceased member claims is this:

It is the administrative mechanism by which OWWA determines whether a death-related welfare claim can legally proceed. It is not only about locating an account in a computer system. It is about matching three legal realities:

The deceased person in the civil and factual records
The OWWA member in the agency’s welfare records
The lawful beneficiary or authorized claimant under Philippine law and OWWA policy

When those three align, the claim is usually processable. When one of them breaks—identity, membership, or beneficiary status—the claim stalls.

XXXIII. Conclusion

In the Philippine context, OWWA account verification for deceased member claims is a legally significant step that sits at the intersection of migrant welfare law, administrative law, civil registry law, family law, and evidentiary practice. The claim does not rise or fall on grief alone, nor on overseas work alone, nor even on death alone. It depends on verified membership and verified entitlement.

The essential legal points are these:

OWWA may lawfully require account verification before paying death-related claims.
Verification focuses on identity, membership, coverage, and beneficiary status.
PSA documents, passport records, deployment records, and OWWA membership records are central.
Beneficiary disputes and civil-status defects are among the most common obstacles.
Affidavits can help explain, but they do not always substitute for official records.
Foreign death cases demand extra documentary discipline.
Many delays come from reconcilable discrepancies, not true ineligibility.
The claimant who presents the clearest, most consistent documentary chain usually has the strongest case.

In the end, the legal heart of the matter is simple: before OWWA can release a deceased member benefit, it must be satisfied that the right member has been identified and the right person is being paid. That is the purpose, and the legal meaning, of account verification.