Applications must be completed in their entirety by the Service Member or an immediate family member and include copies of all available supporting documentation, for example, a proof of need statement and copies of current billing statements to which the grant, if awarded, would be applied.

   All grant applications will be reviewed and grants awarded based on need as determined by The Family Readiness Council’s Finance Committee using the Grants Criteria below.

   Applicants ordinarily will be notified of the Finance Committee’s decision by mail within ten working days of the Finance Committee’s receipt of the applicant’s properly prepared application including supporting documentation.

   Upon awarding grants, the Finance Committee reserves the right to make payments directly to creditors on behalf of the family.  To facilitate prompt payment, names/addresses and account numbers should be included with the application.

   To be eligible New York State Service Members and their immediate family must be experiencing financial hardship.  Proof of such hardship must be provided in writing by the applicant.

  Qualifying needs might include, but not be limited to, catastrophic emergencies of a personal or household nature, and other events resulting in significant unanticipated losses of family income or increases in family expenses.  It is not intended that grants be awarded to offset reduced family income.  It is not the intent of the program that grants be awarded due to pre-existing mismanagement of personal household income. 

  Grants are limited to no more than $500 per application.  The total amount of any grants awarded to qualified applicants may not exceed $1,000 per family for 24 months from the date of the first grant award.  The Council, at its discretion, may waive the 24 month restriction when in its judgment extenuating circumstances merit such action.