What non-medical help can DSWD give (burial, educational, transportation, food)?
Last updated: 2026-07-12 · Educational content; not legal advice.
Short answer
Beyond medical assistance, the DSWD's AICS (Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations) program provides non-medical help to people in crisis: burial or funeral assistance after a death in the family, educational assistance for a student's tuition or school needs, transportation assistance for stranded individuals or those who must travel for an emergency, food assistance, and general cash assistance for other crisis situations. The exact amount is not fixed — it is assessed case by case by a DSWD social worker based on your need and the program's guidelines. Medical and hospital-bill assistance is handled through the same AICS program (covered in the Healthcare cluster).
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Frequently asked
What kinds of non-medical assistance does AICS cover?
Common types are burial/funeral assistance, educational assistance, transportation assistance (including for stranded persons), food assistance, and general cash assistance for a crisis. These are separate from medical assistance, which the same program also provides.
How much can I get?
There is no fixed amount published as an entitlement — a DSWD social worker assesses each case based on the person's situation, need, and the program's guidelines, and the assistance may be given in cash or in kind. Do not trust anyone who guarantees a specific payout for a fee.
Where is AICS available?
AICS is available through DSWD field offices, Crisis Intervention Units/Sections, and DSWD-run service desks. Local government social welfare offices (C/MSWDO) may offer parallel local assistance.
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Government IDs, pensions, and non-medical welfare for seniors, PWDs, solo parents, and poor families — how to get the senior citizen (OSCA) ID and its benefits (RA 9994), the monthly social pension for indigent seniors (RA 11916), the centenarian and milestone-age cash gifts (RA 10868 as amended by RA 11982), the PWD ID and who qualifies and the employer hiring incentive (RA 7277 as amended by RA 9442 and RA 10754), the Solo Parent ID and who counts as a solo parent and the 10% discount on baby needs (RA 8972 as amended by RA 11861), who qualifies for 4Ps and the cash-grant structure and conditions (RA 11310), the non-medical DSWD AICS help (burial, educational, transportation, food) and how to apply, replacing a lost ID, and your right to have these IDs issued free of charge without a fixer (RA 11032). The senior/PWD 20% purchase discount and DSWD medical assistance are in the Healthcare & Hospitals cluster.