Solo Parent Law

What other benefits are available to “solo parents”?

1. To promote the family as the foundation of nation

2. To strengthen its solidarity and ensure its total development Subject to income thresholds (“poverty threshold”) set by the National
Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and subject to the
Who is considered a solo parent?
assessment of the DSWD worker in the area, “solo parents” shall be
1. Birth due to rape and other crimes against chastity (mother entitled to the following:
keeps the child)
2. Death of spouse
3. Detained spouse (more than 1 year sentence) 1. Educational benefits
4. Mental or physical incapacity of spouse (certified by a public
including scholarship programs for qualified solo
medical practitioner)
5. Legal and de facto separation of more than 1 year (left with parents and their children in institutions of basic,
the custody of children)
6. Declaration of nullity of marriage (custody of children) tertiary and technical/skills education, and
7. Abandonment of spouse (at least 1 year)
8. Unmarried father/mother who opted to take care of the nonformal education programs appropriate for solo
children parents and their children.
9. Any other person who cares and supports a child/children
10. Head of the family 2. Housing benefits
including allocation in government low-cost
Children
“Children” refer to those living with and dependent upon the solo housing projects, with liberal terms of payment.
parent for support who are unmarried, unemployed and not more than
eighteen (18) years of age, or even over eighteen (18) years but are 3. Medical assistance
incapable of self-support because of mental and/or physical with comprehensive health care programs for solo
defect/disability.
parents and their children to be implemented by

What are the employment-related benefits available to ALL “solo the DOH through their retained hospitals and

parents”? medical centers and the local government units

1. Flexible work schedule (LGUs) through their

This refers to the right of a solo parent employee provincial/district/city/municipal hospitals and rural

to vary his/her arrival and departure time without health units (RHUs).

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.
2. No work discrimination
Employer are prohibited from discriminating
against any solo parent employee with respect to
terms and conditions of employment on account of
his/her status.
3. Parental leave
“Parental leave” means leave benefits granted to a
solo parent to enable him/her to perform parental
duties and responsibilities where physical
presence is required. In addition to leave
privileges under existing laws, parental leave of
not more than seven (7) working days every year
shall be granted to any solo parent employee who
has rendered service of at least one (1) year.