Jeanette Garcia
2016-2017 National Veterans & Family Support Ambassador
Changes to the Unmet Needs Program
The VFW’s Unmet Needs Program provides grants to active-duty service members, veterans and their families to assist them with basic life needs. The program provides financial aid of up to $5,000 in the form of a grant – not a loan – so no repayment is required. To further ease the burden, the creditor is paid directly. The program has helped more than 4,100 families and provided $6.3 million in financial aid. In January 2017, the Unmet Needs program provided $281,841.77 in financial aid to 128 families!
Unmet Needs can help families get back on their feet by helping them with the following:
- Household expenses – mortgage, rent, repairs and insurance
- Vehicle expenses – payments and insurance, major vehicle repairs
- Utilities – gas, electric and water
- Food and Clothing
- Children’s well-being – formula, diapers, school and child care expenses
- Medical bills, prescriptions & eyeglasses – the patient’s portion for necessary or emergency medical care only.
Unmet Needs was previously restricted to those who had been deployed in the last six years and had run into unexpected financial difficulties as a result of deployment or other military-related activity. Eligibility requirements have changed and now the financial hardship must be due to one of the following:
- Currently on active duty, whose financial hardship is a result of a current deployment, military pay error, or from being discharged for medical reasons.
- Discharged on or after September 11, 2001, whose financial hardship is a direct result of your military service connected injuries and/or illnesses that are causing an employment hardship.
- Discharged prior to September 11, 2001, who are on a fixed income (VA compensation, SSI, SSDI) and/or your financial hardship is an emergency situation.
Click here for more information and to review the Unmet Needs eligibility criteria and application: http://www.vfw.org/assistance/financial-grants.
Please be aware the application is ONLY online. If someone doesn’t have a computer or isn’t computer-savvy, offer to meet them at the local library or Post home and assist them in submitting the application.
Would you like to help? Members and Auxiliaries can offer financial support to this program in several ways:
- Text NEEDS to 27722 for a $10.00 donation.
- Donate online: http://www.vfw.org/ways-to-help, and select “Unmet Needs.”
- Mail* donations to:
VFW National Headquarters
Attn: VMS – Unmet Needs
406 W. 34th St., 9th Floor
Kansas City, MO 64111
*Please denote it’s for the Unmet Needs Program in the check memo.
Read three stories of how Unmet Needs gave veterans a hand up when they needed it most.