OWWA Rebate Program for OFWs: How to Apply

Members of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) are entitled to many benefits, including medical assistance, repatriation assistance, and access to education and training programs. But there’s another benefit that member-OFWs may avail of: OWWA Rebate Program.

The OWWA Rebate Program is based on Section 31 of Republic Act No. 10801 or the “Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Act of 2016.” The law states that OWWA must implement a rebate system for qualified members who have been with the agency for at least 10 years.

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Benefits

Under this program, the amount of the rebate is not equal to the total sum of a member’s contributions. Rather, it is computed based on his/her number of years as a member, and the total contributions made. That being said, the amount may range from PHP 945 to more than PHP 13,000.

The rebate may be used for the member’s personal use, such as additional capital for business, children’s educational expenses, or even for renewing OWWA membership.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the program, an applicant must:

Be an OWWA member for at least 10 years (not necessarily continuous);
Have made at least five (5) contributions to OWWA; and
Have not availed of any major financial assistance or benefit from OWWA (e.g. disability benefits, major scholarships, death benefits).

NOTE: If the member-OFW is deceased but has not availed of death benefits, his/her legal heirs may apply for the rebate, as long as they provide proof of kinship and meet all the requirements.

Application Process

Applying for the OWWA Rebate Program may be summarized into three stages: verification, appointment, and payout.

Verification

Before anything else, a member needs to verify if he/she qualifies for the program. He/She can do this online, by going to the OWWA Rebate Portal on the agency’s official website. After entering his/her full name, date of birth, and Philippine mobile number, the system will automatically check the OWWA Membership Database to confirm his/her eligibility status.

The member may also go directly to the nearest OWWA Regional Welfare Office (RWO) — or Migrant Workers Office (MWO) if based abroad — to verify his/her eligibility status.

Appointment

If the member is confirmed to be eligible for rebate, the online system will prompt him/her to set an appointment with the nearest OWWA-RWO or MWO for the final verification.

At the office, the applicant needs to present the following requirements:

Original Philippine passport;
Two (2) valid, government-issued IDs; and
Proof of OWWA membership (e.g. contribution receipt or digital record).

Payout

Once the final verification has been made, the rebate will be processed. Usually, funds are disbursed via: (a) bank transfer through the member-OFW’s provided account; or (b) remittance center if the member has no active bank accounts.

For more information about the OWWA Rebate Program, interested applicants can visit the agency’s official website, or contact OWWA Hotline 1348.

The OWWA Rebate Program is a welcome benefit for OFWs, especially those who have been members for a long time. The amount may not seem like much, but it could still serve as savings in the bank, as additional capital for a small business, or for other purposes.

Meanwhile, members should also consider getting their very own OWWA e-Card, a smart card that comes with more rewards and benefits. Check out this article to know more about the e-Card.