Overseas Filipino workers who no longer have active OWWA membership may still qualify for certain types of financial assistance.
The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration offers the Welfare Assistance Program or WAP, which provides cash relief to qualified active or non-active OWWA members and their families.
The program is intended for those who are not eligible under OWWA’s other existing social benefit programs.
What situations may qualify for assistance?
OWWA lists five main situations that may be covered under the Welfare Assistance Program.
These include calamity assistance for families affected by natural disasters, human-caused disasters, crises, or emergencies such as typhoons, earthquakes, flooding, and political unrest.
The program may also provide bereavement assistance to families of deceased OWWA members who are not covered by the regular death and burial benefit.
Other categories include disability assistance for OFWs who became disabled due to crimes or accidents and medical assistance for illnesses that are not covered under OWWA’s MEDPlus program.
OWWA also lists relief assistance for members who were displaced or laid off in large numbers because of economic, political, or health crises, company bankruptcy, or similar situations.
Inactive membership does not automatically mean disqualified
One important part of WAP is that OWWA specifically identifies the program as assistance for active or non-active members and/or their families.
However, this does not mean every inactive member automatically qualifies for cash aid.
Eligibility still depends on the worker’s situation, the type of assistance being requested, and whether the applicant is already covered by another OWWA benefit.
OWWA’s current program page does not publish one fixed cash amount for all WAP cases, as assistance varies by category and circumstances.
UAE OFWs can ask OWWA Dubai for guidance
OFWs in Dubai and the Northern Emirates who want to know whether they may qualify can contact OWWA Dubai located at the MWO Office in Al Qusais.
MWO Dubai lists OWWA’s hotline as +971 50 558 5536 and email as dubai@owwa.gov.ph for welfare concerns, membership, reintegration programs, and other OWWA services.
Workers or families in the Philippines may also call the OWWA 24/7 Hotline at 1348 for guidance.
Applicants should confirm the documentary requirements for their specific WAP category before submitting a request, as requirements may differ depending on whether the claim involves a calamity, death, disability, medical condition, or displacement.
