With a PWD ID, you can avail of special perks and privileges, whether your medical condition is visible or not. This identification card both proves your condition and entitles you to PWD benefits in the Philippines. This includes discounts to help ease your medical expenses.
Find out how to get a PWD ID in the Philippines in this quick and easy guide.
What is a PWD ID?
The PWD ID is the standard identification card for persons with disability (PWDs) in the Philippines. It's issued by the Persons with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO) or the city/municipal Social Welfare and Development Office where the cardholder lives. Cardholders can use this card to avail of PWD discounts and other benefits as mandated by the law.
The PWD ID is free of charge when issued for the first time. There's a minimal fee for PWD ID renewal due to expiration, damage, or loss of card.
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What is the Validity of the PWD Card?
The PWD ID is valid for three years.[1]
House Bill 8440 pushes for the lifetime validity of PWD IDs so that persons with disabilities, especially those with physical impairments and mobility problems, no longer have to constantly renew their IDs.
Who Can Get a PWD ID?
Who is considered a PWD? Any Filipino with a permanent disability can apply for a PWD ID. Republic Act 10754[2] defines persons with disability as those with "long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments" that interfere with their interactions in society.
👉 PWD List of Disabilities in the Philippines
The Department of Health (DOH) considers those with the following types of disabilities eligible for a PWD ID:
- Psychosocial disability - Bipolar disorder, depression, ADHD, schizophrenia, epilepsy, and other long-term and recurring mental or behavioral issues
- Disability resulting from a chronic illness - Orthopedic disability due to cancer, blindness due to diabetes, and other disabilities due to a chronic disease
- Learning disability - Processing problems that hinder learning math, reading, writing, and other basic skills
- Visual disability - Does not include simple poor eyesight, unless the visual impairment can't be corrected; individuals with such conditions need to present a medical certificate from their ophthalmologist with a clearance of functional limitation due to poor eyesight
- Orthopedic (Musculoskeletal) disability - Dwarfism, amputated hands or feet, scoliosis
- Hearing disability - Auditory disabilities such as profound hearing loss
- Speech impairment - Speech disabilities ranging from inability to speak to insufficiently clear speech
Refer to this list[3] for other disabilities.
How to Get a PWD ID in the Philippines
PWD ID application steps may vary per city or municipality. Nevertheless, here are the general guidelines on how to get a PWD ID in the Philippines:
Step 1: Prepare the PWD ID Card Requirements
To get your PWD card in the Philippines, prepare the following:
- Completed PWD ID application form (available at any PWD Registration Center)
- Two recent 1x1 ID photos with name and signature or thumb marks at the back
- Any valid government-issued ID (in the absence of a valid ID, a barangay certificate)
- Document to confirm disability condition from licensed private or government clinic, or hospital-based medical professional
Step 2: File Your PWD ID Application
Where to get PWD ID? Bring all the PWD ID requirements and submit them to any of the following offices, whichever is applicable:
- PDAO of the city hall or municipal hall where you live
- City/Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office
- City or Municipal Health Office or its satellite offices
- Office of the Mayor
- Office of the Barangay Captain
- National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) office (for urgent cases)
Alternatively, you may accomplish the Online ID Application Form in the Department of Health Philippine Registry for Persons with Disability.[4]
Step 3: Undergo the Data Encoding Process
The next step is to encode your personal information. If you have confidential data regarding your medical condition, an officer will conduct a private interview with you.
Step 4: Claim Your PWD ID
Claim your PWD ID card and the purchase booklet you'll use each time you avail of a PWD benefit.
PWD ID Discounts and Benefits List in the Philippines
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PWDs in the Philippines enjoy certain discounts and privileges under RA 10754. To avail of these, they must present their PWD ID. In the absence of this ID, those with an apparent disability may present their passport to avail of PWD discounts and benefits.
📌 20% Discount and Value Added Tax (VAT) Exemption
PWDs are entitled to a 20% discount and exempted from paying VAT when buying certain products and services nationwide for their exclusive use. The PWD discount and VAT exemption applies to the following categories:[5]
- Food, drinks, desserts, and other consumable food items
- Medicines and medical supplies based on DOH guidelines
- Medical and dental services, including professional fees, diagnostic, and laboratory fees, in all private healthcare facilities
- Professional fees of attending physicians in all private healthcare facilities
- Fares for domestic air and sea travel
- Fares for land transportation, including PUVs like jeeps, buses, taxis, trains, and TNVS/ride-hailing services
- Services in hotels, restaurants, and recreation centers
- Admission fees in theaters, cinemas, concert halls, etc.
- Funeral and burial services for the death of a PWD
Notes:
- PWDs can't get double discounts. If a particular service is on a promotional discount, PWDs can avail of either the 20% PWD discount or the establishment's offered discount, whichever is higher.
- People who are both a PWD and a senior citizen can use either their senior citizen ID or PWD ID to avail of the 20% discount.
📌 5% Special Discount on Basic Necessities and Prime Commodities
The law also grants a 5% PWD discount in the Philippines on top of the mandatory 20% discount and VAT exemption. The special discount applies to the purchase of basic necessities (such as rice, fresh meat, fresh fruits, and drinking water) and prime commodities (such as processed meat, dairy products, and construction materials) as determined by the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Trade and Industry.
Notes:
- To qualify for the 5% discount, the total purchase should not be more than ₱1,300 per week.
- Any unused amount cannot be carried over to the next week.
- A PWD who's also a senior citizen may avail of the discount from only one category.
📌 Mandatory Coverage Under SSS/GSIS, PhilHealth, and Pag-IBIG
Membership with the Social Security System (SSS)/Government Service Insurance System, (GSIS), PhilHealth, and Pag-IBIG Fund is compulsory for PWD workers in the Philippines. This means all working PWDs are entitled to the same benefits from these government agencies as other members.
📌 Educational Assistance
Scholarships, educational grants, subsidies, allowances, and other forms of financial support are available to PWDs in the Philippines. Books, learning materials, and uniform allowance are included, provided the PWD meets the requirements. These privileges apply to elementary, high school, college, post-graduate, vocational, or technical education in public and private schools.
📌 Express Lanes for PWDs
PWDs are a priority in all commercial and government transactions in the Philippines. The law requires establishments to create express lanes for PWDs. In the absence of express lanes, PWDs will still be prioritized.
📌 City-Specific PWD Benefits
Aside from the PWD benefits implemented on a national level, some cities provide their PWD residents with additional privileges, such as the following:
- Cash gifts/financial assistance in Makati, Cebu City, etc.
- Free parking in Muntinlupa, Cebu City, Cavite, etc.
- Discounted parking in select areas of Quezon City, Makati, etc.
How to Get a PWD ID: FAQs
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1. Is a PWD ID considered a valid ID?
Yes, it’s accepted as a valid ID in most government and private transactions.
2. Do persons with disabilities have PhilHealth coverage?
Yes, they have automatic and mandatory PhilHealth coverage.
3. Do I still need to go to the Municipal/City Social Welfare Development Office if I apply for my PWD ID online?
Yes. A successful PWD ID online application doesn’t mean you’ll be automatically issued a PWD ID. You still need to go to your Municipal or City Social Welfare Development Office to complete the process and receive the PWD ID.
4. How do I verify the status of my PWD ID card?
Go to the Department of Health's Philippine Registry for Persons with Disability at pwd.doh.gov.ph/home.php. Click ID Verification and enter your ID number to check the status of your PWD ID.
5. What if the PWD is bedridden and can’t go to the Municipal/City Social Welfare Development Office?
Their designated guardian can go instead. Just present an authorization letter and other documentary requirements on behalf of the PWD.
6. How do I renew my PWD ID?
Fill up the application form and submit the same documentary requirements. Bring your expired PWD ID with you, as you need to surrender it before you receive a new one.
7. I lost my PWD ID. What should I do?
Get a notarized Affidavit of Loss and present this at your PDAO with your purchase booklet and a valid ID.
8. Where do I report a fake PWD ID?
The Social Welfare Department requests the public to report any incidents involving the sale of fake PWD IDs to the NCDA (through council@ncda.gov.ph), PDAO, or any law enforcement agency.
9. Are those with a psychosocial or learning disability entitled to PWD benefits?
Yes. PWDs with disabilities other than physical ones can get a PWD ID and enjoy the privileges that come with it.
Take the case of an owner of a restaurant in Makati who posted her experience with a customer who presented a PWD ID card.[6] She mentioned that the customer looked “pretty able-bodied.” She added that she felt it was too easy to get a PWD card and that it was being abused.
In the now-deleted post, the restaurant owner attached a photo of the PWD card, which stated that the ID bearer has a “psychosocial disability.” The post blew up when netizens shared their thoughts about disabilities, which aren't always visibly seen or noticed. The restaurant owner has since issued an apology for her unfair judgment.
If you’re someone with psychosocial, learning, mental, or intellectual disabilities and an establishment doesn’t honor your PWD ID, report the incident to the NCDA via email.
10. Are PWDs exempted from Expanded Number Coding?
According to the MMDA, senior citizens and persons with disabilities are no longer exempted.[7] Instead, PWDs and senior citizens can use the window hours of 10:01 a.m. until before 5 p.m. to travel.
11. Are online purchases eligible for the PWD discount?
Yes. Under the Joint Memorandum No. 1 Series of 2002,[5] PWDs can avail of the 20% discount on their purchases of essential goods and commodities through online platforms.
Related reading:
- PSA Serbilis vs PSAHelpline: Which Online Delivery Service is Better?
- What is the PhilSys ID: Complete Guide from Registration to Delivery
Final Thoughts
Now that you know how to get a PWD ID in the Philippines, note that not all applications get approved. The government is very strict when it comes to evaluating applicants. After all, some abuse the system by faking their disability or using a fake ID to enjoy PWD discounts and privileges.
If your PWD ID application is declined, it may be due to issues regarding the documents. Apply again when you collate the complete and correct PWD ID requirements.
💳 Compare Credit Card Options via Moneymax
Need a valid ID so you can apply for a credit card smoothly? Once you get your ID, compare some of the best credit cards in the Philippines below:
| Credit Card | Best For | Key Features |
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UnionBank Rewards Credit Card
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Rewards
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Metrobank Platinum Mastercard®
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Dining
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BPI Rewards Card
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Beginners
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UnionBank Lazada Credit Card
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Online Shopping
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Petron BPI Card
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Fuel Purchases and Auto Services
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Sources:
- [1] House bill seeks lifetime validity of PWD IDs (GMA News Online, 2023)
- [2] Republic Act 10754 (NCDA)
- [3] Guidelines on the Implementation of the Comprehensive Program for Children/Persons with Disabilities (DWSD)
- [4] Online ID Application Form in the Department of Health Philippine Registry for Persons with Disability
- [5] Joint Memorandum No. 01 Series of 2022 (DTI website)
- [6] Restaurant Owner Apologizes After Questioning The Validity Of Customer With PWD Card (Yummy PH, 2022)
- [7] MMDA lifts exemptions on senior citizens, PWDs in number coding traffic scheme (The Manila Times, 2022)
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