Benefits and Privileges of Solo Parent in the Philippines

Last Updated: Nov 11, 2024 by |


The Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines enacted RA. 8972 or the Solo Parent’s Welfare Act, was signed into law on November 7, 2000 and took effect on November 28, 2000. This provides benefits and privileges to solo parents and their children. It aims to develop a comprehensive package of social development and welfare services for solo parents and their children to be carried out by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) as the lead agency, various government agencies including PSA, and other related NGOs.


This law covers fathers or mothers who raise their children alone due to situations like the death of a spouse, abandonment, separation, or even those who bear children as a result of rape. The measure also applies to anyone who are entrusted with the responsibility of raising children who are not their own, such as godchildren, nieces, or nephews.

The great news is that, an amended version of RA 8972 which is RA 11861 also known as the Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act has been passed by the 18th Congress on June 4, 2022.

Who is Considered as Solo Parent?

A solo parent refers to any individual who falls under any of the following categories:

a. A parent who provides sole parental care and support of the child or children due to:

  1. Birth as consequence of rape
  2. Death of the spouse
  3. Detention of the spouse for at least three (3) months or service of sentence for a criminal conviction or discrimination because of a physical or mental condition or disability
  4. Physical or mental incapacity of the spouse as certified by a public or private medical practitioner
  5. Legal separation of de facto separation for at least six (6) months
  6. Declaration of nullity or annulment of marriage
  7. Abandonment by the spouse for at least six (6) months

b. Spouse, any family member or the guardian of the child or children of an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW), provided that:

  1. The OFW belongs to the low/semi-skilled worker category and is away from the Philippines for an uninterrupted period of twelve (12) months
  2. Or if the OFW, his or her spouse, family member, or guardian of the child or children are unmarried mother of father, legal guardian, foster or adaptive parent

Solo Parent Benefits and Privileges

Flexible work schedule

A solo parent employee has the right to vary his/her arrival and departure time without affecting the core work hours as defined by the employer. The employer shall provide for a flexible working schedule for solo parents, as long as it shall not affect individual and company productivity. In case of certain meritorious grounds, the employer may request exemption from DOLE.

No work discrimination

Employer is prohibited from discriminating against any solo parent employee with respect to terms and conditions of employment on account of his/her status.

Parental leave

The parental leave of seven (7) days shall be granted to any Solo Parent employee subject to the following conditions:


  1. The solo parent must have rendered government service for a least one (1) year, whether continuous or broken, reckoned at the time of the effectivity of the law on September 22, 2002, regardless of the employment status.
  2. The parental leave shall be availed of every year and shall not be convertible to cash. If not availed within the calendar year, said privilege shall be forfeited within the same year.
  3. The parental leave shall be availed of on a continuous or staggered basis, subject to the approval of the Administrator. In this regard, the solo parent shall submit the application for parental leave at least one (1) week prior to availing the solo parent leave, except on emergency cases.
  4. The solo parent employee may avail of parental leave under any of the following circumstances:
  5. Attend to personal milestones of a child such as birthday, communion, graduation and other similar events;
  6. Perform parental obligations such as enrollment and attendance in school programs, PTA meetings and the like;
  7. Attend to medical social, spiritual and recreational needs of the child;
  8. Other similar circumstances necessary in the performance of parental duties and responsibilities, where physical presence of the parent is required.
  9. The head of agency/office concerned may determine whether granting of parental leave is proper or may conduct the necessary investigation to ascertain if grounds for termination and withdrawal of the privilege exist.

Additional Benefits of Solo Parent under the Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act

  1. Solo parents who earn a minimum wage or less are now eligible to a P1,000 monthly cash support
  2. Until the child is six years old, those making less than P250,000 will also be entitled to a 10 percent discount and a value-added tax exemption on baby supplies like milk, diapers, vaccinations, and medications.
  3. In addition to their existing advantages, senior citizens and people with disabilities who are single parents are also eligible for the discounts.
  4. The law also mandates the provision of scholarships to deserving children of single parents by the Department of Education, the Commission on Higher Education, and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.
  5. Work Discrimination Protection
  6. Automatic Health Coverage

Requirements and Procedure for Securing a Solo Parent ID

Step 1. Go to the City/Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office

Step 2. Bring the following documents:

  • Barangay certificate certifying Solo Parent’s residency in the barangay for the last six months
  • Documents/Evidence that the applicant is a solo parent (e.g. death certificate of spouse, declaration of nullity of marriage, medical certificate – if incapacitated
  • Income Tax Return (ITR) or certification from the barangay/municipal treasurer.

Step 3. The social worker receives and ensures that all documents are complete and registers the applications with an appropriate case number in the log-book Registry of Solo Parents.

Step 4. Once the C/MSWD Office issues the Solo Parent ID, a solo parent can apply for services he/she needs from the C/MSWD Office or to specific agencies providing such assistance/services.

The ID will be issued after 30 days from filing. The validity of the ID is one year and is renewable.

Criteria for Support

Any Solo Parent whose income falls below the poverty threshold as set by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and subject to the assessment of the DSWD worker in the area shall be eligible for assistance. A solo parent can directly inquire from the following agencies to avail of their services:

  • Health Services (DOH)
  • Educational Services (CHED, TESDA)
  • Housing (NHA)
  • Parental Leave (Employer, DOLE, CSC)

Note: A solo parent whose income is above the poverty threshold shall enjoy only such limited benefits as flexible work schedule, parental leave and others to be determined by the DSWD.

Read: How to File for Child Support in the Philippines

And that’s it; don’t forget to spread the good news to your friends & relatives.

Source: Philippines Official Gazette

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21 thoughts on “Benefits and Privileges of Solo Parent in the Philippines”


  1. but then you leave out one of the most important part. Section 3, subsection 10 of the RA 8972 which could be abused or misinterpreted on the grant of solo parent priviledge

    (b) “Children” – refer to those living with and dependent upon the solo parent for support who are unmarried, unemployed and not more than eighteen (18) years of age, or even over eighteen (18) years but are incapable of self-support because of mental and/or physical defect/disability.

    Reply

  2. Yun mga requirements po ay depende sa MSWD o CSWD ng bawat lugar.
    Mas mabuting sa kanila muna talaga mag-inquire.
    O kaya sa sariling barangay magtanong since merong barangay groups sila.
    Abala din po sa aplikante yun pupunta sila dala requirements na “nabasa sa internet” tapos pagdating sa CSWD eh kulang pa pala at kailangan nila bumalik.

    Reply

  3. Pano po ako makakakuha ng school allowance ng 3 anak ko po na 8 y/o 11y/o grade 2 .. at 13y/o grade 7…15 y/o grade 9.. Aq po ay single parent hindi po ako kasal o kinasal may mahigit 7 taon napo ako solo parent. May id napo ako ng 2018 pero ndi ko pa po nagamit s mga benifits ko. Ngaun po akoy nakikitira sa bahay ng aking tatay. Ako po ay wlang pinag kakakitaan sa ngaun at ang tanging tatay ko lamang po ang nag iintindi samin. Sana po matulungan nyo q mag ka trabaho. At mabigyan ng sariling matutuluyan Kmi poy nakikipisan lang. Naway tugunan nyo po ang aking hiling ukol saking pangangailangan at ng aking mga anak

    Reply

  4. My Mother is a solo parent since 1999 was my father died
    but she did’nt feel of this kind of act, my mother work hard to produce the needs of her child….
    Now me at age of 31 and my brother is 26,
    me now has already have a work,and my brother is a college graduate and looking for the job.
    as a elder,I support them for a long years….
    Now , I dont know if my mother is still entitled of this…
    She always said to me… that everytime the social work distributing a thing to people… My mother does not receive because they said that my name of my mother was not on the list….

    and I want to know if a solo parent is has pension…
    is she entitled or not?
    but she has an ID of a solo parent…

    Reply

  5. What are other benefits? My daughter is now a solo parent, she doesnt have a work, but she already has a SOLO PARENT ID. She cant even use it for any discounts when purchasing milk, medicines or check ups for her son. We thought that being a bearer of a solo parent id, she can use it to get a discounts just like a senior citizen or pwd. Thanks in advance for your response\s

    Reply

  6. I’m john member poh ako Ng sss
    Tanong Ko LNG po Kong pwdi poba ako
    Maka loan kht my utang poh ako un LNG
    Poh salamat..

    Reply

  9. ako nga pala c edith villamor maloloyon solo parent s dalawa po anak q.. 9yrs old at 11yrs old tulongan nyo nmam.po ako
    .

    Reply

  10. Kami po may i.d. ng solo parent this year lang naibigay pero wala po kaming na rerecieve na 1k monthly. Sabi po sa gcash ibibigay pero wala naman po.

    Reply

  12. 10months pa lang po ako naging solo parent,namatay po ang live in ko po dahil sa accident,ngayon po Ay nakikitIra po kami sa mga taong nagmamalasakit sa amin.wala po akong trabaho pero minsan po kami Ay nangangalakal Kapag nakakakuha kami ng pangpuhunan Kapag kami Ay nahahakutan ng gravel and sand…minsan kulang po ang aming kita dahil may mga bayarin din po kami tulad ng kuryente,at ang iba Ay sa pagkaon namin..Gusto ko rin po sana na mkaavail din po ako ng mga benepisyo galing sa ganitong inaanunsyi ng kinauukulan…ng sa gayon Ay makadagdag din po sa aming pang araw araw….

    Reply

  14. Wala nmn benefits dto s LAS PIÑAS, yung 7day leave d agad inaaprubahan ng companya. Wish ko lng scholarship sna totoo…

    Reply

  16. 19 yrs na po akong solo parent. Isa lng po ang anak ko, ako po ay biyuda. College na po ang anak ko sa UDM. Nursing student po. May work po ako pero halos lampas minimum lang po ng konti. Sabi po sa akin saDSWD district 2 hindi na po ako qualified kc 18 yrs old na ang anak ko. Pwede po ba akong mag enroll.

    Reply

  17. I am Carmelita Rivas Sulit, a 62 years old residing at P. Mabungahon 3, Barangay Pagatpatan, Butuan City. Ako’ y hihingi ng tulong sa inyo kasi sa ngayon I have two granddaughters who are under to my care ( 13 years old and 8 years old). The 13 years old granddaughter is PWD, their single mom, who was my daughter died last 2016. Since then, they are under to my care and support for their daily needs.

    Honestly, I am a retired teacher, teaching in a certain private institution here, where I received 6k as my monthly pension. Due to this I may ask your help .

    Reply

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