The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) serves as the primary social safety net for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). Central to its mandate is the provision of life insurance and death benefits, ensuring that the families of migrant workers are not left in financial ruin following a tragedy.

Under the Philippine legal framework, specifically Republic Act No. 10801 (The OWWA Charter), these benefits are mandatory for all active OWWA members.

1. Eligibility and Membership Status

To qualify for these benefits, the OFW must be an active member at the time of death.

Active Status: Membership is valid for two years from the date of contribution, regardless of whether the OFW stays with the same employer or moves to a new one.
Automatic Coverage: Coverage begins the moment the $25.00 membership fee is paid.
Inactive Members: If the membership has expired, the family may not be entitled to the full suite of insurance benefits, though they may still apply for certain compassionate assistance programs depending on current OWWA board resolutions.

2. Breakdown of Death Benefits

OWWA provides a structured insurance payout based on the cause of death. These amounts are fixed by law and OWWA regulations:

Cause of Death	Benefit Amount
Natural Cause	₱100,000.00
Accidental Cause	₱200,000.00
Burial Benefit	₱20,000.00 (provided in addition to the amounts above)

Note: "Accidental death" generally refers to deaths resulting from external, violent, and visible means, excluding self-inflicted injuries or deaths occurring during the commission of a crime by the OFW.

3. Beneficiaries: Who Can Claim?

The order of precedence for claimants follows the Philippine Law on Succession:

Primary Beneficiaries: Legal Spouse and legitimate children.
Secondary Beneficiaries: Parents (if the OFW was single) or siblings (if parents are deceased).
Designated Beneficiaries: Any person specifically named by the OFW in their OWWA Information Sheet.

4. Documentary Requirements

Filing a claim requires the submission of specific legal documents to the nearest OWWA Regional Welfare Office (RWO) or the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) if the family is abroad.

Death Certificate: Issued by the foreign local authority (must be authenticated/apostilled) or the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
Official Foreign Police Report: Mandatory if the cause of death was an accident.
Proof of Relationship: PSA-issued Marriage Contract (for spouses) or Birth Certificate (for children/parents).
Valid IDs: Two valid government-issued IDs of the claimant.
OFW’s Passport: Or any document proving OFW status (e.g., OEC, E-Card).

5. The Filing Process

Notification: The family should notify the OWWA Regional Office covering their permanent residence in the Philippines.
Verification: OWWA verifies the membership status in their database.
Submission: The claimant submits the complete folder of requirements.
Processing: Claims are typically processed within 30 to 45 days, provided there are no disputes regarding beneficiaries.
Payment: Benefits are usually released via check or bank transfer directly to the legal beneficiaries.

6. Additional Integrated Benefits

Beyond the direct cash payout, the family of a deceased active OFW is often entitled to:

Education for Development Scholarship Program (EDSP): A scholarship for one child of the deceased OFW, providing financial assistance for a four-year or five-year baccalaureate course.
ELAP (Education and Livelihood Assistance Program): A specialized program providing a ₱15,000.00 livelihood grant to the surviving spouse and an educational allowance for one child.

7. Limitations and Exclusions

Claims must be filed within three (3) years from the date of death. Failure to file within this prescriptive period may lead to the forfeiture of the benefit. Furthermore, if an OFW’s death is found to be due to their own deliberate act (e.g., suicide) or participation in illegal activities, the claim for accidental death benefits may be denied or downgraded to natural death benefits, subject to investigation.