When a uniformed member of the Philippine National Police (PNP) passes away, their surviving dependents may be entitled to death benefits through the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM). Established under laws and regulations governing police welfare, it is a financial assistance system developed to support families and surviving dependents that a deceased uniformed member of the PNP left behind, recognizing the risks and sacrifices of police service. Its main purpose is to provide immediate and sustained financial aid to beneficiaries, helping them cope with loss while honoring the service of the fallen officer.
When a uniformed member of the PNP passes away, their surviving dependents may apply for death benefits to get burial assistance, lump-sum benefits, burial assistance, reimbursements for service-related expenses, and, if qualified, a monthly pension. This guide explains who can file a claim, where to apply, requirements, benefits covered, and the application procedures, so families can process their claims without confusion.
Overview
The PNP death benefits program is designed to:
- Provide financial assistance to the legal beneficiaries of deceased uniformed members.
- Cover burial expenses, medical costs, and other service-related reimbursements.
- Offer a monthly pension to qualified dependents to help sustain them after the loss of their provider.
Note: This program applies to cases where death occurred in the line of duty, due to illness, or other covered causes, subject to NAPOLCOM’s adjudication process.
Benefits
Applying for this program means getting to enjoy the following benefits:
Lump-Sum Benefits
- Gratuity: Equivalent to 1 year’s salary of the deceased
- Burial expenses: Equivalent to 3 months’ salary
- Reimbursement: For reasonable medical, hospital, and transportation expenses
Monthly Pension
- 50% of the deceased’s salary shared equally among the surviving spouse and legitimate children
- Illegitimate children receive half the share of a legitimate child
- Pension amount is based on posthumous rank and adjusted with active-duty base pay rates
Pension ends if:
- Spouse remarries or cohabits
- Children reach age 18 (unless incapacitated)
- Beneficiary loses citizenship, migrates permanently, or commits a crime against the State
Who Can File a Death Benefit Claim
Claims may be filed by the following persons, in order of priority:
- Surviving spouse
- Surviving dependent legitimate children
- Surviving non-dependent legitimate and illegitimate children
- Surviving parents
- Surviving siblings
Note: If someone is filing on behalf of the claimant, they must present a Special Power of Attorney (SPA).
Qualifications
To qualify for the program, the claimant must meet the following:
- Must be a surviving legal beneficiary of a deceased uniformed member of the PNP.
- Must fall within the order of precedence:
- Surviving spouse
- Surviving dependent legitimate children
- Surviving non-dependent legitimate and illegitimate children
- Surviving parents
- Surviving siblings
- Must provide proof of relationship to the deceased (e.g., PSA-issued birth, marriage, or other relevant certificates).
- For claims by parents or siblings, must show that the deceased was single with no surviving children.
- Death must not be due to:
- Intoxication, illegal drug use, or immoral habits
- Suicide or self-inflicted injury
- Gross negligence
- Unlawful aggression or provocation by the deceased
- Other analogous disqualifying circumstances
Required Documents
Submit originals or certified true copies in triplicate, either hard copy or electronic.
Mandatory documents:
- Latest payslip or Certification of Last Salary Received from PNP Finance Service
- Updated Service Record from PNP DPRM
- Death Certificate from PSA
- Detailed Investigation Report from Chief of Police or immediate supervisor
If married:
- PSA-issued Advisory on Marriages of both spouses
- PSA Birth Certificates of both spouses and surviving children
If single:
- PSA Birth Certificate of the deceased
- CENOMAR
- Birth Certificates of children, if any
- Parents’ Marriage Certificate, if married
If claimant is not the spouse or child:
- Proof of relationship (e.g., PSA Birth Certificates)
If parents or siblings are claimants:
- Proof that the deceased was single and without children
For reimbursements:
- Official receipts for medical/hospital expenses
- Doctor’s prescriptions for medicines
- Receipts for body retrieval or transportation (if death was instant)
Application Process
To apply, simply follow these steps:
Step 1: Submit the application
- File the sworn application with complete requirements at the correct NAPOLCOM office.
Step 2: Pre-assessment
- Documents will be checked for completeness and correctness. Incomplete submissions will be returned with an explanation.
Step 3: Investigation & Hearing
- Hearing is set within 8 working hours from receipt.
- Must be completed within 10 working days from record receipt.
- If needed, a medical opinion will be requested.
Step 4: Adjudication & Decision
- The Regional Director decides within 2 working days after the investigation.
- The claimant receives the decision via mail, courier, or email.
Where to File the Claim
Applications must be filed under oath with the NAPOLCOM Regional Office that has jurisdiction over the last assignment of the deceased PNP member.
Other filing rules include:
- If the member was assigned to the PNP National Headquarters, NSUs, or Special Units, file at NAPOLCOM NCR Office.
- If the member was assigned to a Police Regional Office (PRO) or regional NSU office, file with the corresponding NAPOLCOM Regional Office.
- If filing at the jurisdictional office is impractical, you may file at the NAPOLCOM office nearest to your residence, but coordination with the proper office will be required.
- Claimants from other regions may also submit at the place of incident or place of residence.
Payment Procedures
Once approved, the payment of the benefits are as follows:
For Gratuity, Burial, and Reimbursements
- NAPOLCOM forwards approved claims to the Financial Service (FS).
- FS prepares a request to DBM for fund release.
- Upon receipt of SARO and NCA, payment is processed within 3 working days.
For Monthly Pension
- Processed at NAPOLCOM Central Office after verification of documents.
- Pensioners are included in the payroll once funds are released by DBM.
Grounds for Denial
Application does not mean automatic approval. Claims will be denied if death was caused by:
- Intoxication or illegal drug use
- Suicide or self-harm
- Gross negligence
- Unlawful aggression or provocation by the deceased
- Other analogous cases
Appeals Process
If your claim is denied or the benefits are reduced, the beneficiaries may appeal the result. Just make sure you keep these in mind when you do:
- File an appeal to the Regional Appellate Board (RAB) within 15 days of receiving the decision.
- RAB decides within 7 working days of receiving the complete records.
- If RAB reverses the decision, it must be confirmed by the Commission En Banc.
Need More Help?
For inquiries or other concerns related to the PNP Death Benefits Claim, you may reach out to:
NAPOLCOM Public Assistance Unit
- Office Address: Ground Floor, DILG-NAPOLCOM Center, EDSA corner Quezon Avenue, West Triangle, Quezon City
- Cellphone Numbers: 0998-984-8888; 0917-779-1234.
- Email address: isumbong@napolcom.gov.ph