Did you know that the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has a regular program for the “poor, vulnerable, and disadvantaged” members of society? This is known as the “Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations” or simply, AICS.
As the term suggests, AICS comes to the aid of Filipinos who are in difficult circumstances by providing them with much-needed financial support. These include educational assistance, medical aid, transportation assistance, and burial assistance. Keep on reading to learn more about each type of assistance!
Types of Financial Assistance from DSWD’s AICS Program
There are certain situations where everybody could use financial assistance: critical illness, a sudden death in the family, natural disasters, and so on. For the poor, vulnerable, and disadvantaged — facing these situations would be truly difficult, if not for the support of programs such as DSWD’s AICS.
Through AICS, Filipinos in crisis situations can avail of different types of financial assistance, depending on their need. The aid is delivered through DSWD’s Central Office or Field Offices, which are located all over the country. At present, AICS offers four types of financial assistance: educational assistance, medical assistance, burial assistance, and transportation assistance.
You can learn more about AICS, its legal basis, and implementation in the following infographic shared by DSWD:
Educational Assistance
DSWD’s Educational Assistance program caters to “students in crisis.” These include students coming from poor families, indigents, working students, children of solo parents, children of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), orphans, victims of abuse, and victims of natural calamities.
To apply for educational assistance, applicants need to prepare the following:
- Certificate of Enrollment or Registration Card;
- School ID;
- Barangay Certificate of Residency/Indigency or ANY Valid ID; and
- Reference/Endorsement Letter from a Legislator (optional).
Qualified recipients of the program will receive cash assistance depending on their school level (i.e. elementary, high school, senior high, college). They can use this money to pay for tuition and other school fees, to buy essential school supplies, or as daily allowance.
As of this writing, those who want to apply for educational assistance in the National Capital Region (NCR) are urged to register through this link: https://forms.gle/4KohFYnbamsyiNGJ6. Enter the required information, attach the necessary documents, and make sure that everything is complete and correct before submitting your application. Then, wait for a call and text from DSWD regarding the schedule of your payout.
Medical Assistance
As the term says, this type of DSWD assistance provides medical aid for poor, vulnerable, and disadvantaged persons and their families. The amount to be given will depend on a case-to-case basis. Nonetheless, applicants are directed to submit these documents to DSWD:
- Clinical Abstract or Medical Certificate (with license/PTR No. of the attending physician);
- Prescription (for medicine);
- Laboratory Request/Medical Procedures (recommended by the attending physician) and Quotation of the Procedure;
- Billing Statement (for hospital bill);
- Social Case Study Report from LGU (for financial assistance worth PHP 5,000 and above); and
- Barangay Certificate of Residency/Indigency and ANY Valid ID of the patient or his/her representative.
NOTE: Examples of a valid ID include Driver’s License, Postal ID, School ID, Voter’s ID, or Senior Citizen ID.
Death and Burial Assistance
The DSWD Death and Burial assistance is given to poor, vulnerable, and disadvantaged families who need help with the funeral and burial expenses of a loved one who recently passed away. Applicants are expected to submit the following documents to DSWD:
- Registered Death Certificate (original or certified copy);
- Funeral Contract;
- Permit to Transfer (transport of cadaver);
- Barangay Certificate and ANY Valid ID; and
- Social Case Study Report from LGU.
Transportation Assistance
The DSWD Transportation cash assistance is given to the following: (a) “strandees” due to natural calamity; (b) people returning to their hometowns; (c) victims of illegal recruitment; (d) victims of “pick pockets;” (e) people who need to travel for medical care; and (f) people with a sudden death in the family.
To apply for transportation assistance, applicants need to submit the following documents to DSWD:
- Barangay Certificate of Residency/Indigency and ANY Valid ID;
- Police Blotter (for victims of pick pockets, illegal recruitment, etc.); and
- Social Case Study Report from LGU.
Video: Filipina Benefits from DSWD Medical Aid
Across the country, DSWD has helped many people through its AICS program. One of them is Jessica Odan from Tabuk, Kalinga, who received medical assistance. Her hospital bill amounted to PHP 65,000… but she ended up not having to pay anything! Watch this video to learn more about her experience, as shared by DSWD’s official Facebook page:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Meanwhile, here are some frequently asked questions — and answers — about DSWD’s AICS program and the different types of assistance that it offers:
1. What is DSWD’s AICS program?
The acronym AICS stands for “Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations,” a regular DWSD program that provides financial assistance people in crisis. Currently, the program offers four types of financial aid: educational assistance, medical assistance, burial assistance, and transportation assistance.
2. How can I avail of financial assistance from DWSD?
To avail of financial assistance, applicants are urged to go to the nearest DSWD office in their respective areas. There’s the DSWD Central Office in Quezon City, DSWD Field Offices, and satellite offices in every Local Government Unit (LGU) across the Philippines.
The DSWD will provide instructions on how you can apply for the type of financial assistance you need. Generally, however, there are three basic steps:
- Step One. The first step is the screening, where you need to submit documentary requirements.
- Step Two. A Social Worker will interview you and assess your application. He/She will determine the type of assistance based on your actual needs.
- Step Three. Upon approval, the final step is the payout or release of financial assistance to the applicants.
3. What are the required documents?
The required documents depend on the type of financial assistance you are applying for. For example, you’ll need to submit a Certificate of Enrollment and Student ID if you are applying for educational assistance. Meanwhile, a Medical Certificate, Prescription and Billing Statement are usually required when applying for medical assistance. Moreover, a Death Certificate is required for those who need burial assistance.
In some cases, a Social Case Study Report from the LGU may be required. For all types of financial assistance, however, you’ll need to submit a Barangay Certificate of Residency/Indigency and ANY Valid ID. In addition, in cases where the application is submitted by a representative, a duly signed authorization letter is required.
4. When will I receive the financial assistance?
For financial assistance below PHP 10,000 — the aid may be released within just one (1) day. Meanwhile, financial assistance worth PHP 10,000 and above may be released within three (3) to five (5) days, as this would be subject to the approval of upper management. Moreover, assistance worth PHP 10,000 and above may be released through a “Guarantee Letter,” especially in the case of medical and funeral assistance.
5. What if I don’t have a valid ID?
If you are a victim of natural calamity, or you’re in a situation where you have no available valid ID, you may be exempted from having to present an ID to avail of financial assistance. However, you will still need to present a Barangay Certificate of Residency/Indigency, or a justification from a DSWD Social Welfare Officer regarding your situation.
5. Who can I call to ask about DSWD’s financial assistance programs?
If you have any questions, concerns, or complaints regarding AICS or other programs of DSWD, you can call their Agency Operations Center (AOC) through the following Hotline Numbers:
- Smart — 0943 464 8026 / 0943 464 8086 / 0932 933 3251
- Globe — 0995 715 3926 / 0995 715 3934
NOTE: Please keep in mind that the above numbers are available from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm every Monday through Friday, and from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm every Saturday, Sunday, and during holidays.
Summary
Indeed, DSWD’s AICS is a great program that truly benefits Filipinos, especially those who belong to the poor, vulnerable, and disadvantaged sectors. Whether you’re in the Philippines or abroad, you can rest assured that there are programs like these that our families and friends can apply for during their times of need — be it for medical, educational, or other purposes.
Contact Information: DSWD Central Office
For more information about DSWD’s AICS Program and the different types of financial assistance that it offers, you can get in touch with the DSWD Central Office through the following contact details:
Address: Batasang Pambansa Complex, Constitution Hills, Quezon City, Philippines, 1126
Telephone: (02) 8931 8101
Email: inquiry@dswd.gov.ph
Website: https://www.dswd.gov.ph/
NOTE: Aside from the DSWD Central Office in Quezon City, the agency has Field Offices across the Philippines. Here is the link to the directory of DSWD Field Offices, including the telephone number and website of each office:
https://www.dswd.gov.ph/directory-of-officials-field-office/.
Google Map Location
The DSWD Central Office is located at the Batasang Pambansa Complex in Quezon City. Here is the office’s location on Google Maps, for your reference:
DISCLAIMER: We hope that the above guide has been helpful, especially if you or someone you know needs to apply for financial assistance from DSWD. Also, please note that this guide is presented for general, information-sharing purposes only. For more information about DSWD’s AICS Program, please visit the agency’s official website and Facebook page.
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