OFW Questions
We have compiled a list of commonly asked questions by OFWs relating to OWWA, Philhealth, SSS, Pag-Ibig and other matters that relate to life being an overseas Filipino workers. While we strive to make this list as accurate and as updated as possible, this should only serve as reference. Agencies may change policies at any given time without notifying us. Therefore, it’s still best to refer to concerned agencies for confirmation.
Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA)
- What are the OWWA membership requirements?
- What is the Story Behind OWWA’s Logo?
- What are OWWA’s Mission and Vision?
- What are OWWA’s Mandates and Objectives?
- Upon Release of OWWA Benefits, What Should I Bring?
- What is PDOS (Pre Departure Orientation Seminar)?
- How Can I Apply for a Loan Under OWWA-NLSF Livelihood Development Program?
- What are the Loan Packages and Requirements Under the OWWA-NLSF Livelihood Development Program?
- What is the OWWA-NLSF Livelihood Development Program?
- What are OWWA’s Healthcare and Disability/Death Benefits?
- Does OWWA Have Field Offices?
- What is the Model OFW Family of the Year Award?
- Who Compose the OWWA Board of Trustees?
- What Constitutes OWWA’s Fund Source
OWWA Locations
- Where is OWWA Office in Baguio City?
- Where is OWWA Office in Tuguegarao, Cagayan?
- Where is OWWA Office in Laguna?
- Where is OWWA Office in San Fernando, La Union?
- Where is OWWA Office in San Fernando, Pampanga?
- Where is OWWA Office in Manila?
- Where is OWWA Office in Legazpi City?
- Where is OWWA Office in Iloilo City?
- Where is OWWA Office in Cebu City?
- Where is OWWA Office in Tacloban City?
- Where is OWWA Office in Zamboanga City?
- Where is OWWA Office in Cagayan de Oro City?
- Where is OWWA Office in Davao City?
- Where is OWWA Office in Koronadal City?
- Where is OWWA Office in Butuan City?
- Where is OWWA Office in Cotabato City?
OWWA Benefits
- What are the OWWA Benefits?
- How To Be A Member of OWWA?
- What is the Proof of OWWA Membership?
- When is the Effectivity of OWWA Membership?
- What is OWWA Life / Accident Insurance?
- How Much is OWWA Permanent Disability Benefit?
- What is an OEC and How to Apply for OEC?
- What are the Requirements for Claiming OWWA Burial Benefits?
- What are the Requirements for Claiming OWWA Life Insurance Benefits?
- What are the Requirements for Claiming Insurance and Burial Benefits?
- What Are the Requirements to Claim Disability Benefits?
- If Birth or Marriage Certificate is Not Available When Claiming OWWA Benefits, What Should I Bring?
- More Questions? Contact OWWA: +632 551-6641 / +632 551-1560
OWWA Reintegration Program
- What is OWWA Reintegration Program?
- Who are Eligible for OFW Reintegration Program?
- What are the eligible projects under the OFW-Reintegration Program?
- How much can we loan & interest rate from OFW Reintegration Program?
- What is the loan payment schedule & maturity of OFW reintegration program?
- What are the Loan Requirements for OFW Reintegration Program?
- Where to Apply for Loans for OFW Reintegration Program?
- What is OWWA Repatriation Program?
OWWA Seafarers Upgrading Program
- What is Seafarer’s Upgrading Program (SUP)?
- What are the Requirements for the Seafarer’s Upgrading Program (SUP)?
OWWA Scholarships
- What is OWWA’s Education for Development Scholarship Program (EDSP)?
- What are the EDSP Scholarship Privileges?
- What are OWWA EDSP Scholarship Qualifications?
- What are the Required Documents When Applying for OWWA Scholarship?
- What is Education for Development Scholarship Program?
- What are the Eligibility Requirements for OWWA Scholarship?
- What are the conditions to maintain OWWA EDSP Scholarship?
- What documents are required when applying for OWWA Scholarship?
- What are the criteria for selection of OWWA Scholars?
- What are the Eligibility and Documentary Requirements for the Skills-for-Employment Scholarship Program (SESP)?
- What are the Privileges, Eligibility and Documentary Requirements for OWWA EDSP?
- What is Skills-for-Employment Scholarship Program (SESP)?
- What Are the Qualifications for Skills-for-Employment Scholarship Program (SESP)?
- Who are the Qualified Beneficiaries / Dependents of Skills-for-Employment Scholarship Program (SESP)?
- What are the Documents Required for Skills-for-Employment Scholarship Program (SESP)?
- What are the Components of OWWA’s Education and Training Programs?
OWWA Bridging Program
- What is OWWA Bridging Program?
- What is OWWA Tuloy-Aral Project?
- What is DOLE-OWWA Tulay Microsoft Project?
Philhealth
- How do I become a member of Philhealth?
- How much is the Philhealth premium contribution?
- Where can I pay my membership contribution?
- Which banks accept Philhealth payments?
- How do I continue my Philhealth membership coverage?
- How do I amend my membership data?
- What is the effectivity date of PhilHealth coverage?
- Can Filipinos with dual citizenship continue their PhilHealth membership?
- How can I apply/avail/claim my Philhealth benefits?
- Who are qualified Philhealth dependents?
- What is the grace period of Philhealth membership?
- Will we use the same PhilHealth Identification Number (PIN) if we shift to another membership category?
- Why do I have to renew my PhilHealth membership every time I leave the country and work as an OFW?
- I am already an immigrant here in the US. Can I still continue my membership with PhilHealth?
- I am a PhilHealth member sponsored by an LGU; is it still necessary for me to pay my PhilHealth membership as an OFW?
- Are the payments for OWWA Contributions and PhilHealth Premiums different?
- I am currently abroad and my coverage is about to expire. How do I continue paying for my PhilHealth if there are no available payment centers where I am?
Social Security System
- How do I register as an SSS member while I am working abroad?
- What information can be viewed from the SSS Online Inquiry System?
- What are the SSS membership requirements?
- Is there a way I can update my records online in case of change of address?
- What are the requirements to apply for SSS membership?
- How Much SSS Contribution Should I Pay?
- Who are eligible employers required to make SSS contributions?
- Where can I make SSS contribution inquiry online?
- What is a salary loan?
- Who may qualify for SSS salary loan?
- How much can a member loan?
- How long should loans be payable?
- How much is the interest charged on a salary loan?
- In case a loan is not paid, how much is the delinquency interest?
- Is there a service fee when applying for SSS salary loan?
- When can a member renew a salary loan with the SSS?
- How does a member pay back the SSS salary loan?
- What are the obligations of the employer to SSS?
- In case of transfer, separation, or resignation, how can a borrower pay back the loan?
- In case of member-borrower’s death, total disability or retirement, what happens to the unpaid loan?
- What are the requirements needed to apply for a salary loan?
- Where can a borrower file the salary loan application?
- What is SSS Retirement Benefit?
- Who May Qualify for SSS Retirement Benefit?
- What Are the Types of SSS Retirement Benefits?
- How Much Pension Will an SSS Beneficiary Receive?
- What Happens When The Retirement Pensioner Resumes Employment?
- How Much Monthly Pension Receives After Age 60 and Paid 120 Months Contribution?
- How is the SSS Retirement Pension Paid?
- Aside from Retirement Pension What Else Can an SSS Member Receive?
- For How Long Will The Dependent Child Receive His SSS Pension?
- What Will Happen To The Monthly Pension Of An SSS Retiree In Case Of Death?
- What Documents Are Needed In Filing For SSS Retirement Benefit?
- What is SSS Death Benefit?
- Who are the beneficiaries of a deceased member?
- What are the types of SSS death benefits?
- How much is the monthly SSS pension?
- If the deceased member is survived by legitimate, legitimated, or legally adopted and illegitimate children, how is the monthly pension divided?
- How much is the lump sum SSS death benefit?
- Is there anything else a deceased member’s beneficiaries can avail of?
- More Questions? Contact SSS: +632 920-6401 / +632 920-6446 Email: member_relations@sss.gov.ph
Pag Ibig Fund / HMDF
- Who Should Register as Pag Ibig Fund Member?
- How Much is Monthly Pag Ibig Fund Contribution?
- Can a Pag-Ibig member contribute more than the required amount?
- Is my foreign employer required to pay a counterpart contribution?
- What are the benefits of Pag-IBIG Membership?
- What is the Pag Ibig Provident Savings Program?
- When Can a Pag Ibig Member Withdraw His Savings?
- What can a Pag-Ibig member claim at membership termination?
- If a Pag-Ibig member dies, what will happen to his Total Accumulated Value?
- What Short-Term Loans are Available to Pag-Ibig Members?
- What Housing Programs are Available for Pag Ibig Members?
- Do I qualify for a Pag Ibig Housing Loan?
- Who are Eligible to Avail of a Housing Loan Under the Pag-Ibig End-User Financing Program?
- What are the terms of Pag-Ibig Housing Loan?
- What are the Requirements of Housing Loan Application?
- What are the valid ID’s honored by Pag-Ibig / HDMF?
- What are the steps in registration as Pag Ibig member?
- Can I become a voluntary Pag Ibig Fund member?
- Where can I download Pag-Ibig Forms?
- More Questions? Pag-Ibig Hotline : +632 724 4244
Balik Manggagawa
- Who Are Considered Balik-manggagawa?
- What Are The Documents Required For BM Processing?
- What Are The Balik Manggagawa Fees?
- What Is The Validity Period Of BM e-receipt / OEC?
- What Happens If BM E-receipt / OEC Is Lost?
- What If BM E-receipt / OEC Expires Before Usage?
- What Is A Multiple Travel Exit Clearance (MTEC)?
- Who Can Apply For MTEC?
- What Are The Requirements For (BM) Name Hire Processing?
- What Are The Fees For (BM) Name Hire Processing?
- Are Permanent Resident Visa Holders Required To Secure OEC?
- Where Can BM OEC’s Be Secured?
- What Are The Processes Involved In BM Processing?
- Where are the POEA regional offices in the Philippines and Abroad?
- What documents should OFWs bring to the airport before departure from the Philippines?
- How to apply for reduced travel tax for OFW dependents?
- Where can the certified copy of the POEA travel exit clearance be secured?
- What are the requirements for reduced travel tax for OFW dependents?
- Can dependents of OFWs or BMs avail of travel tax exemptions?
- What can a WOL/BM do if the POEA exit clearance has already expired before his date of departure?
- In case of loss of the OEC/e-receipt/MTEC, can a WOL/BM apply for a replacement of the lost POEA exit clearances?
- What is the validity period of the POEA travel exit clearance?
- How long does it take to secure a POEA travel exit clearance?
- What are the fees in securing the POEA travel exit clearance?
- What are the documents needed to get a POEA exit clearance (e-receipt/OEC/MTEC)?
- What is the one way – service delivery system (dropbox) for Balik Manggagawa?
- How to apply POEA travel exit clearance online?
- What is the on line (two-way) application system for Balik Manggagawa?
- Where can a balik-mangagagawa secure a POEA travel exit clearance?
- How can a Balik Manggagawa avail of the travel tax exemption?
- What are the uses of a POEA travel exit clearance?
- What is a POEA travel exit clearance?
- What does a WOL/BM need to do before going back to the jobsite?
- Who are not qualified to register as Balik Manggagawa?
- Who is a Worker-on-leave or Balik-Manggagawa?
- More Questions? POEA Hotline : +632 722 1144 / +632 722 1155
Typical OFW Questions
- Katatapos ko lang ng college, saan ako makahanap ng bakanteng trabaho abroad?
- My wife applied for a domestic helper. The agency wants us to pay P70,000 as placement fee. Is this legal?
- What are the requirements before our company can recruit Filipinos for work abroad?
- Kailangan ba Magbayad ng Travel Tax ang Pamilya ng OFW?
- Nais ng Anak ko na Hindi na Ituloy ang Application sa Agency Dahil Hindi pa rin Siya Nakaka-alis. Pwede ba Bawiin ang Nagastos Namin?
- Two Years Ang Contract ng Asawa Ko Pero Tatlong Buwan Pa Lang Sya Ay Nasibak sa Trabaho. Saan Ako Lalapit Kung Nais Kong Kasuhan ang Amo?
- Isang Buwan ang Bakasyon ng Asawa ko sa Pilipinas Bago Babalik sa Amo. Dadaan pa ba Siya sa POEA?
- Ano ang Pinakaligtas na Paraan na Paghahanap ng Trabaho sa Abroad?
- Ano ang mga Hakbang na Dapat Gawin Habang nag-Apply ng Trabaho o Matapos Matanggap sa Trabaho?
- Paano ko Malalaman Kung Lisensyado ang Agency at Totoo ang Trabahong Kanilang Alok?
- Magkano ang Placement Fee na Sisingilin ng Employment Agency?
- Ano ang mga Dapat Bayaran ng OFW Paalis ng Pilipinas?
- Saan ko mahahanap ang mga opisina ng Philippine Overseas Labor Office sa Abroad?
Sources: http://www.poea.gov.ph/balik/faq_balik_2011.pdf, https://www.sss.gov.ph/sss/index2.jsp?secid=121&cat=2&pg=null, http://www.pagibigfund.gov.ph/faqsub.aspx, http://www.philstar.com/pinoyworldwide/resources.aspx?publicationSubCategoryId=543&articleId=672950