Financial Relief
Emergency Assistance
To clarify “emergent need” of qualified “indigent” veterans and their dependents requesting temporary VRF/PTVF assistance.
“Emergent Need” is defined to be any emergency in the life of honorably discharged veterans and/or their legal dependents, who meet the prescribed eligibility which necessitates immediate temporary assistance for unforeseen emergencies.
An “Emergency” defined within an “Emergent need”, is a situation or event in the requestor’s life, which needs to be addressed in 72 hours or less. This situation or event will be reviewed and approved by the SCDVS Director; with notification to the Chairman. If the dollar amount is over what can be approved by the Director, a Special Meeting will be called after publishing said meeting, 18 hours prior. Any amount approved by the Director, will be brought to the next Veteran’s Committee Meeting for recording and signature.
“Emergent need” is further defined to mean an unforeseen circumstance causing a temporary financial emergency or hardship that a grant will resolve. The key factor in determining whether or not a grant is approved is the ability of the applicant to manage the obligation for which aid is requested after a grant is made. If there is no reasonable expectation that the VRF/PTVF grant would allow the applicant to resume his/her financial responsibility (within a sensible amount of time), then a grant does not meet policy (reasonable doubt is applied in favor of the applicant).
Documented proof of an unforeseen emergency (proof of problem and need) is required before a Relief Fund application will be considered for assistance. The Relief Fund applicant must provide documentation and needed information to verify eligibility, delinquent bills seeking relief and/or unforeseen emergency requested items and a statement of explanation on reasons why the grant is sought along with explaining how he/she will be able to maintain future financial obligations. The applicant will also need to provide documentations of an emergency (house fire, sick-leave from work, awaiting approved disability benefits/Social Security Disability or unemployment, shut-off notice, foreclosure notice, rent eviction notice, repossession threat notice, etc…) Incomplete applications will not be submitted to the committee for review.
Setting the income limits to determine an eligible indigent veteran/applicant as per the Michigan VA National Geographic Income Threshold Limits, GMT for Priority Group 8 for the current year.
The Veterans Administration geographic income thresholds are being used for the current year as a guideline to determine eligibility of an applicant for the Relief Fund. A veteran and/or his/her dependents must meet or be below these annual/monthly income levels in order to be considered indigent.
The VA describes a dependent as:
• A spouse (Note: We recognize same-sex and common-law marriages)
• A parent, if you’re directly caring for them and their income and net worth are below a certain amount
• An unmarried child (including an adopted child or stepchild) who meets one f the eligibility requirements listed below
An unmarried child must meet:
• They’re under 18 years old, OR
• They’re between the ages of 18 and 23 years old and enrolled in school full time, OR
• They became permanently disabled before they turned 18
Note: For further explanation of “Relationship”, see 38CFR, Chapter 1, Part 3, Subpart-A (Relationship); sections 3.50 – 3.60.
Veterans Relief Fund (PA 214)
Eligibility:
• Veteran discharged under Honorable, Under-Honorable or General Conditions.
• Legal dependent of a person who is on active duty for purposes other than training.
• Legal dependents, or the unmarried widow(er) of a veteran.
• At least 90 days of active military service or less than 90 days as the direct result of separation due to an injury/aggravation while on active duty and at least one day of service in the following periods of conflict or received an Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal. For Peacetime service, service member must have served for 24 months of Peacetime service. Service for purposes of TRAINING, are not eligible.
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Legal dependent of person who died while on active duty.
- WW II December 02, 1941 – December 31, 1946
- Korea June 27, 1950 – January 31, 1955
- Vietnam – February 28 1961 – May 07, 1975
- January 31, 1955 (on or after and received the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal or Vietnam Service Medal)
- Persian Gulf – August 02, 1990 – August 30, 2021
- Iraq War – March 20, 2003 – December 15, 2011
- Afghanistan War – October 7, 2001 – August 30, 2021
Requirements:
- Resident of Shiawassee County, Michigan.
- Household income must be below the current VA’s National Income Thresholds .
Note: National Guard and Reserve members are not eligible for VRF assistance unless they have a DD 214 showing federal activation.
Michigan Veterans Trust Fund
The Michigan Veterans Trust Fund provides emergency grants to Michigan veterans and dependent family members to help them weather short-term financial crisis.
The Michigan Veterans Trust Fund provides emergency grants to Michigan veterans and dependent family members to help them weather short-term financial crisis.
MVTF grants may be applied for through the Shiawassee County Veteran Services office. All applications are investigated and decided upon in confidence. Veterans may request assistance in completing their packet from the MVTF Agent. Additionally, veterans have the right to appeal to the MVTF Board of Trustees if the application is denied at the county or state level, and will be provided with the opportunity to appear before the board to present information and answer questions.
Eligibility:
- Michigan resident
- Honorably discharged with:
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180 days of service during a period of war (90 days for WWI veterans)
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180 days of active duty with award of Armed Forces or Navy/Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal (for service in places such as Grenada, Lebanon, Berlin, Persian Gulf, Mayaguez Operation or Desert Storm)
- Less than 180 days of wartime service due to service-incurred disability
- Wartime service includes the following periods:
- Wartime service includes the following periods:
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WWI – April 6,1917 – November 11, 1918 (Until April 1, 1920 if in service in Russia)
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WWII – December 7, 1941 – December 31, 1946
- Korea – June 27, 1950 – January 31, 1955
- Vietnam – February 28, 1961 – May 7, 1975
- Persian Gulf – August 2, 1990 – present
- Iraq War – March 20, 2003 – December 15, 2011
- Afghanistan War – October 7, 2001 – August 30, 2021
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If a veteran has less than 180 days of active duty during these eras, duty in more than one period may be combined.
- Dependents can apply if veteran is eligible under certain circumstances
Needed documentation
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Discharge papers, separation report or DD-214 (showing the dates of active duty and the character of the release)
- Proof of residence (driver’s license, voter registration, state I.D.)
- Marriage certificate and birth certificates for minor children (legal dependents)
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Death certificate of a deceased spouse or parent
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Bills or account statements regarding the items for which you are seeking an MVTF grant
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Documentation of any disability rating
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Proof of employment or other income
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Evidence of efforts at other appropriate agencies
Applications are accepted and processed by the Veteran Affairs, Relief Fund Agent. The application will then be presented to the County, Michigan Veterans Trust Fund Committee for approval. Once approved at the county level, it will be forwarded to the State for review and payment. We ask that you allow this process 3 – 5 business days for your request.
Veteran Resources
- Vehicles For Veterans – Vehicles For Veterans is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit vehicle donation program dedicated to providing funding that will help to build better lives for all of our nation’s veterans and their families. The Vehicles For Veterans program supports disabled veterans and other causes for our nation’s veterans. These causes include, but are not limited to, health and wellness, employment, medical care, disability, pension, and housing.
- Vehicles For Veterans helps several veterans’ charities throughout the U.S. Charities that have benefited from Vehicles For Veterans that include: Homes For Our Troops, Operation Homefront, Veterans Airlift Command, the Fisher House Foundation, the Semper Fi Fund, the Bob Woodruff Foundation, Operation Gratitude, Minnesota Military Family Foundation, and the Gary Sinise Foundation. In the past, Vehicles For Veterans has also donated proceeds to Disabled American Veterans (DAV).
