The application will open on August 1, 2024 .

There is no due date, however the application will remain open until funds are depleted.

You will need to upload documents to confirm your identity and residency, and a screenshot of your my.AmeriCorps or eGrants homepage verifying your AmeriCorps member status.
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The table below provides a list of documents you can use for identity and residency. Please ensure you have a clear copy of one item from List A OR one item from both List B and List C.

[List A] Iowa or a Bordering State Residency & Identity Documents

• State Identification Card showing your full name and address
• State Driver License showing your full name and address
• Utility bill showing your full name and current address
• Cell phone bill or internet bill showing your full name and current address
• Insurance statement showing your full name and current address
• Bank statement showing your full name and current address
• 2022 or 2023 tax return showing your full name and current address
• Paystub from employer showing your full name and your current address
• None. I am going to select one option each from List B and List C
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[List B] Identity Documents

• Any State or Country Identification Card showing your full name 
• Any State Driver's License showing full name 
• Any government issued card showing your full name
• Passport showing your full name
• Birth certificate showing your full name
• None. I am going to select one option from List A 
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[List C] Residency Documents

Signed and dated letter* stating the full name and phone number of the person writing the letter from the following entities: 

• Landlord 
• Employer
• Representative from your place of worship
• Social worker or advocate
• None. I am going to select one option from List A

*You may use this letter template for this application.

AmeriCorps Member Verification: You will need to upload your My.AmeriCorps Portal screenshot to confirm that you are an active AmeriCorps member. For an example of the My.AmeriCorps Portal, please visit bit.ly/3TWyZAi.

Proof of Need: Proof of need is not required at the time of application. However, you are able to submit documents such as a dated bill or invoice; or a signed and dated letter from an authorized entity such as a landlord, doctor or social worker.

Each AmeriCorps member should submit their own application that includes their own funding request for their own emergency expense.

Please give all applicants their Submission ID and tell them to write it down and/or take a photo and save it somewhere. This number is very important to track the status of their application.

If you need to update or correct an error on your application after it has been submitted, please contact us as (206) 558-6144  or support@ameraid.org.

Due to the anticipated high number of applications, there will not be an appeal process. However, if a new financial emergency occurs during the 2024-25 service year, we encourage you to please review the eligibility requirements listed, and submit a new application for review if you meet the criteria.

Please note that eligible applicants are only able to receive a one-time payment, for now. 

If you submit multiple applications by mistake, Scholar Fund will be able to identify that multiple applications were submitted and will review the application that conveys the higher need. Applicants may also be contacted via phone call or text if application issues are detected. 

Applications will begin to be reviewed on a weekly basis. Starting the week of August 5th, 2024, decisions will go out weekly to the email address linked to your account and via text message. You may look up the status of your application at any time by logging back into the application portal. Please be patient as we are reviewing applications.

Payments are up to $500, and can be processed as a check or ACH, which is a direct deposit into your bank account.

Eligible applicants are only able to receive a one-time payment, for now.

Payments will be released to the community in weekly intervals starting the week of August 5th, 2024. Mailed checks may take longer to receive, and we expect everyone will receive payment within 14 days after you have been given your award notice.

There are two options for receiving payments: 
Check

• When: 7-14 days after you have been notified of an award. 
• How: Mail via postal service to the mailing address you provided. 
• *Physical checks are void after 90 days.

Direct deposit

• When: 2-5 days after you have been notified of an award.
• How: Transferred to the direct deposit info you provided. 

Yes, the mailing address could be a P.O. box or any address where you feel more comfortable receiving payment.

Yes, you can change your form of payment after you have been approved. Please contact Scholar Fund at (206) 558-6144  or at support@ameraid.org with your name, submission ID, and the form of payment you would prefer.

No, once you are approved changes cannot be made to your award amount.

No, if you receive a payment of $500 or less, you do not have to pay this money back or report it on your taxes because the payment is under $600.

The nonprofit organization Scholar Fund will not voluntarily share your data with government entities. Scholar Fund is responsible for collecting the personal information you voluntarily submit on the application for the Member Assistance Fund.

To help prevent unauthorized access, maintain data accuracy, and ensure the correct use of information, Scholar Fund has instituted appropriate physical, electronic, and managerial procedures to safeguard and secure the information they collect.
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‍You can learn more about the Scholar Fund’s comprehensive Privacy Policy here (English only). 

Personal information will never be voluntarily shared with your landlord, your employer, or any government agency including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, ICE, other law enforcement, or any other agency. All information is stored securely in an encrypted format so it cannot be accessed.

According to our contract with America's Service Commissions (ASC), the only people with access to an applicant’s personal information is Scholar Fund, the community organization that manages the fund. We will not share your information with anyone else. But if there is a legal subpoena, we may be legally required to release personal information. It’s unlikely that this would happen, but not impossible.

The information you provide in the application is stored securely in an encrypted format so it cannot be accessed. If you feel more comfortable, please block out your Social Security Number. However, please make sure your name, birth date, and National Service Participant ID (NSPID) are clearly visible.
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Also make sure to never share your eGrants portal screenshots in an unsecure way such as text or an un-encrypted email.

Demographic questions are asked to better understand who is being served with the Member Assistance Fund. Your answers will have no effect on your eligibility, and you can choose not to disclose any demographic information.The information you provide will never be shared with any government agency with your name attached to it.

In order to identify fraud, avoid duplicates, and maintain disbursement limits, Scholar Fund has developed several mechanisms to screen for discrepancies, which includes a thorough application review process, spam filters, and address verification. Applicants may also be contacted via phone or text if application issues are detected.

If you discover that an applicant has been approved and/or funded multiple times, please notify Scholar Fund at (206) 558-6144  or support@ameraid.org. If applicants apply using different names or slightly different information, it makes deduplication difficult. However, a payment can be stopped if it has not been cashed.