Military Family Relief Fund
Beginning on January 2, 2007, the Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs (IDVA) began accepting grant applications from the families of deployed or recently deployed National Guard members and members of the Selected Reserves.
The emergency grants may be used by the families for needs such as food, housing, utilities, medical services, transportation and other essential family support expenses which were caused by the mobilization of the service member. Grants up to $5,000 will be awarded to families to alleviate these needs and may be applied for annually, if required.
To consider and approve grant requests, an eight-person board has been appointed by the Governor consisting of three members selected by the Governor, a member of each of the four major veterans' organizations, the Director of IDVA, the Adjutant General of the Indiana National Guard, two non-voting members of the Indiana Senate and two non-voting members of the House.
Requirements are:
1. The service member must be serving honorably or must have received an honorable discharge.
2. The need for financial assistance must have occurred during the time that the individual served on active duty (no pre-existing financial difficulties will be considered).
3. The qualified individual has served at least 30 days of active duty. Grants will also be awarded for families still suffering hardships for up to six months after demobilization.
4. There is a documented need for financial assistance for necessities of daily living that include food, clothing, housing, utilities, medical service, prescriptions, insurance payments or other needs.
5. The applicant to the fund must fill out a complete application with proof that the qualified individual or family member has incurred a specific monetary expense related to the necessities listed above.
6. The applicant in order to be eligible must show that the need is due to the mobilization/deployment, have incurred a significant increase in the necessities of daily living, or have suffered a significant emergency that warrants financial assistance.
7. Proof of active duty which consists of a copy of orders issued by an authorized headquarters and documentation that the duty was actually performed.
8. The applicant must sign and date the application.
9. The qualified individual or family member can only receive $5,000 in grants from the family relief fund in any one calendar year. The Director of the Indiana Dept. of Veterans Affairs may waive the requirements for emergent cases only upon written request indicating the circumstances justifying such a waiver.
Applications can be obtained online at http://www.in.gov/dva/ or
Contact your local County
Veterans' Service Office or
Call toll free:1-800-400-4520
to have application mailed.
Please submit completed applications to:
Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs
Attn: Military Family Relief Fund
302 W. Washington St. Room E-120
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
Applications and documentation may also be faxed to 317-232-7721
For more information contact Jewel Brammann at 317-232-3922 or
email at sbrammann@in.gov .
- Download an application (MS Word Version)
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