Financial Assistance

Background 

Most military families with exceptional family members struggle to make ends meet despite benefits they may receive to help with care. Financial assistance for purchasing special equipment or home health care services does not cover the many out-of pocket expenses that are the norm for special needs families. These routine expenses include frequent trips for medical treatment, lost wages as a consequence of care, and purchases of supplies and equipment not covered by benefits. On average, special needs families have less earned income than other families because parents are less likely to both be working outside the home. 

Key Points

• Installation Family Centers – Most installation family centers have financial management assistance in the form of classes in managing personal finances, consumer spending, and debt reduction. Some offer budget and debt counseling. All family centers will have information on credit counseling and consumer resources in their communities.
• Military Aid Societies – Military Aid Societies are private, nonprofit organizations that support each of the Services by providing emergency financial assistance in the form of interest-free loans and grants to active and retired service members and their families.
• Social Security Supplemental Security Income (SSI) – The SSI program is a cash assistance program intended to meet basic needs for food, clothing, and shelter for those who are aged, blind, or disabled. Eligibility for SSI creates automatic eligibility for other federal programs, such as Medicaid Children as well as adults may qualify for SSI.
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) – Formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, SNAP provides low-income households with an Electronic Benefit Transfer card (similar to an ATM card) they can use like cash at most grocery stores. SNAP provides crucial support to needy households and to those making the transition from welfare to work.
• Women, Infants and Children (WIC) – WIC is the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children to help safeguard the health of low-income pregnant women, new mothers and their infants, and children up to age five who are at nutritional risk. The program provides nutritious foods to supplement diets, information and counseling on healthy eating, and referrals to health care. 

Resources

• MilitaryINSTALLATIONS – MilitaryINSTALLATIONS is a searchable database of installation and state resources available to military personnel worldwide. Contact information for installation Family Centers can be found through this resource.
• Army Emergency Relief (AER) – AER is a private, nonprofit organization whose sole mission is to help Soldiers and their dependents. AER funds are made available to provide emergency financial assistance to Soldiers (active duty and retired) and their dependents when there is a valid need.
• Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS) – NMCRS is a private, nonprofit organization that  provides financial, educational, and other assistance to Marines, Sailors, eligible family members, and survivors when in need. Services provided include emergency financial assistance, budget counseling, visiting nurses, and emergency financial assistance to qualifying Marines and Sailors in the form of a low-interest loan.
• Air Force Aid Society (AFAS) – AFAS is a private, nonprofit organization that provides emergency financial assistance to Airmen and their families, including interest-free loans, grants or a combination of both. AFAS maintains an open door policy that encourages individuals to apply for assistance when they feel an emergency situation exists.
• Coast Guard Mutual Assistance (CGMA) – CGMA is a private, nonprofit organization that provides financial assistance to members of the Coast Guard community during times of need.  CGMA provides persons associated with the Coast Guard, who demonstrate a financial need, with interest-free loans, personal grants, and confidential financial counseling and referral services.
• Social Security SSI –SSI is a federal income supplement program funded by general tax revenues designed to help aged, blind and disabled people, who have little or no income, providing them with cash to meet basic needs for food, clothing and shelter.
• US Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) – The USDA FNS administers the nutrition assistance programs of the USDA (including SNAP and WIC) to provide children and needy families better access to food and a more healthful diet.
• Department of Defense (DoD) WIC Overseas Program – The DoD WIC Overseas Program provides eligible service members and their families with several important benefits such as nutritious food, tips on how to prepare balanced meals, nutrition and health screenings, and access to other resources that help service members and their families lead healthier lives.

Frequently Asked Questions on Financial Assistance

The following are Frequently Asked Questions on Financial Assistance. Please click on the question and the answer will appear. Click again to hide the answer.

 

What kinds of assistance can installation family centers provide?

Most installation family centers have financial management assistance in the form of classes in managing personal finances, consumer spending, and debt reduction. Some offer budget and debt counseling. All family centers will have information on credit counseling and consumer resources in their communities. For military families who do not have access to an installation family center, service providers can refer them to one of the following national nonprofit credit counseling organizations which link customers to local services throughout the United States or offer services online: National Foundation for Credit Counseling Consumer Credit Counseling Services  Springboard

Most installation family centers have financial management assistance in the form of classes in managing personal finances, consumer spending, and debt reduction. Some offer budget and debt counseling. All family centers will have information on credit counseling and consumer resources in their communities. For military families who do not have access to an installation family center, service providers can refer them to one of the following national nonprofit credit counseling organizations which link customers to local services throughout the United States or offer services online: National Foundation for Credit Counseling Consumer Credit Counseling Services  Springboard

What kinds of financial assistance are available to special needs families?

When having a demonstrated financial need, special needs families can receive financial assistance through the military aid societies. The military aid societies are private, nonprofit organizations that support each of the Services by providing emergency financial assistance in the form of interest-free loans and grants to active and retired service members and their families. This assistance is there when military families have a valid financial need that they cannot meet. Active duty families usually know of or have used these organizations, but Reserve component service members on active duty and their families may not be aware of all the ways these organizations can help military families. More information about military aid societies can be found on their websites: Army Emergency Relief  (AER) Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS) Air Force Aid Society  (AFAS)

When having a demonstrated financial need, special needs families can receive financial assistance through the military aid societies. The military aid societies are private, nonprofit organizations that support each of the Services by providing emergency financial assistance in the form of interest-free loans and grants to active and retired service members and their families. This assistance is there when military families have a valid financial need that they cannot meet. Active duty families usually know of or have used these organizations, but Reserve component service members on active duty and their families may not be aware of all the ways these organizations can help military families. More information about military aid societies can be found on their websites: Army Emergency Relief  (AER) Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS) Air Force Aid Society  (AFAS)

What should special needs families know about financial planning for a special needs child?

Special needs families should begin their financial planning early. This involves understanding the income and asset limitations of federal programs such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and how losing SSI might negatively influence a child's access to other services.

Special needs families should begin their financial planning early. This involves understanding the income and asset limitations of federal programs such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and how losing SSI might negatively influence a child's access to other services.