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- Eligibility
- Basic Operating Principles
- Need and Circumstances
- Loans and Grants
- Examples of Financial Assistance Covered By Society Policies
- Examples of Special Situations and Unique Needs
- What AFAS Can't Do
- AFAS Financial Assistance Form
Eligibility
- Active duty members and their dependents
- Retired Air Force personnel and their dependents, but not on a continuing basis. Case by case review.
- Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve personnel on extended duty over 15 days, away from their home
station, under Title 10, U.S. Code.
- Spouses and dependent age children of deceased Air Force personnel (who died on active duty or in retired status).
Basic Operating Principles
Emergency assistance usually combines an assessment of the emergency situation and an evaluation of the personal budget to arrive at a decision to make an interest free loan, a grant, or combination of both.
AFAS maintains an open door policy that encourages individuals to apply for assistance when they feel an emergency situation exists -- but keeps the commander informed when a personal problem surfaces that might affect the performance of duty.
Timely response to personal emergencies is the AFAS watchword: Streamlined procedures are authorized when the need is under $250 or the situation is urgent.
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Need and Circumstances
- Financial assistance is given when a qualifying individual cannot otherwise pay for specific basic needs
essential to continued personal effectiveness as an Air force member.
- The Society believes that it is better to err on the side of generosity in assisting with need.
However, AFAS does not provide assistance for nonessentials, nor does it supplement the income
of people who consistently lack sufficient self-discipline to live within their means.
- The Society does not use contributed dollars to assist members with "wants" and "desires" -- needs are first priority.
Loans and Grants
- Emergency Assistance can be given as an interest free loan, a grant, or a combination of both.
- Most assistance is provided as interest free loans with repayment set according to budget surplus.
- Grant or combination loan/grant given when repayment would cause a genuine hardship, but should not be given to reward financial irresponsibility. Grants are sometimes given for basic needs; e.g., food, utilities, emergency travel, medical or dental expenses. They are not normally used for rent, vehicle repairs, moves, or education. Unique cases should be coordinated with HQ AFAS..
- Each case is evaluated on its own merits.
- Emergency Assistance is given when:
- A member cannot otherwise pay for specific basic needs -- lack of which would affect the member's
Air Force job or the essential quality and dignity of life the Air Force wants for its people.
- The need is essential.
- It is aimed at specific needs -- and, generally limited to relatively short term periods.
- A member cannot otherwise pay for specific basic needs -- lack of which would affect the member's
Air Force job or the essential quality and dignity of life the Air Force wants for its people.
- Emergency Assistance is not given (except to alleviate an immediate hardship):
- If it merely postpones a long-term inability to exist on present pay and allowances.
Note: If counseling and a stringent budget, coupled with a loan or grant won't solve
the problem, then command participation may be necessary.
- For non-essentials -- or to supplement the income of people who consistently lack sufficient
self discipline to live within their means.
- For continuing long-term assistance commitments.
- To replace funds due to garnishment (e.g. DPP, government issued travel cards, military fines).
- If it merely postpones a long-term inability to exist on present pay and allowances.
Note: If counseling and a stringent budget, coupled with a loan or grant won't solve
the problem, then command participation may be necessary.
Examples of Financial Assistance Covered By Society Policies
Assistance policies are reviewed continuously to insure responsiveness to the essential needs of all eligible. Current policy is to help as follows:
(a) BASIC LIVING EXPENSES
- Short-term costs related to the necessities of everyday living.
The goal is to avoid privation, for example: FOOD RENT UTILITIES
- Assistance for authorized care under TRICARE or MEDICARE for the patient's share of charges
and for payment required in advance. AFAS is not able to finance medical care for cronic illness
of indefinite duration.
- For all health services, equipment, and supplies determined to be within the TRICARE range of benefits.
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(c) DENTAL CARE
- Assistance can be provided when the member does not have sufficient funds to cover dependent dental
care payments required in advance or patient's share of charges not covered by dental insurance.
- For essential care, not purely cosmetic treatment.
- Costs should be reasonable and the care consistent with that given in uniformed services facilities.
- Base dental surgeons should be asked to evaluate requests for dental assistance to verify the
appropriateness/reasonableness of care and safeguard against unnecessary care/cost.
- AFAS can help with required orthodontics care. Assistance is normally given for the down payment and
the member can work out a payment plan with the dentist.
- Dental assistance is not authorized for dependents of members who disenroll from the insurance
program unless approved by HQ.
(d) FUNERAL EXPENSES
- Most active duty members receive SGLI when a spouse or dependent child dies.
- AFAS provides bridge loan assistance when needed to cover necessary costs of funeral until SGLI pays.
- Assistance up to $3500 may be given to cover necessary costs for the funeral of a dependent parent living with the member.
- Often requires chain of command to get actively involved in negotiating cost of services with local funeral home and
acting as an agent for the member, to include requesting the assistance when the member is unable to do so.
- AFAS goal is MINIMUM red tape.
- Active duty members faced with the expenses of burying immediate family members (i.e. parent, brother, sister) may
seek AFAS assistance if there is no other means of providing for the burial. This assistance is provided on a
case-by-case basis, and is usually a loan.
(e) RESPITE CARE - "The Gift of Time"
- The Respite Care Program provides a "break" of a few hours a week or month to active duty military
families who have the responsibility of 24 hour-a-day care for an ill or disabled family member.
- Assistance is given in the form of a grant and is based on need - the need for respite time, as well as financial need.
- Families are referred to AFAS through the EFMP Officer or Family Advocacy.
- Assistance can be given to repair a vehicle that is essential for everyday functioning of an individual
or family for commuting to work, shopping, medical appointments and household errands.
- AFAS objective is to help you assure that members have suitable essential transportation.
- Vehicle repair assistance is usually provided as a loan.
- Assistance should be approved prior to having the vehicle repaired.
(g) ASSISTANCE WITH OTHER EMERGENCIES
- Assistance can be provided for expenses related to travel on a personal emergency.
- Generally requires that the person be on emergency leave or have support from unit commander indicating
the travel is essential.
- Active duty member stranded on either emergency or ordinary leave may be provided assistance to return to
duty station.
- Accidents or breakdowns while traveling to a new duty station pose special problems.
- Remind your people that the Red Cross and other service relief agencies will represent AFAS when an Air Force
base isn't nearby. (AFAS ultimately reimburses all other agencies who make disbursements)
- Although government allowances usually cover PCS moves, young families may experience unexpected out-of-pocket
costs that AFAS might help with.
- Because emotions run high and definitions of personal emergencies vary, don't hesitate to seek clarification
on available AFAS assistance.
(h)PAY/ALLOTMENT PROBLEMS
- Even the best of pay systems can turn unfriendly -- perhaps with a move or the start/stop of allotments.
- AFAS will help overcome a short term pay crisis. At some point you may be asked to verify the situation.
- Help is provided on the basis of essential need rather than replacing the reduction of normal income.
- American Red Cross has primary responsibility for relief of emergencies caused by widespread disasters.
- AFAS is prepared to supplement Red Cross assistance on a needs basis.
- In case of a solitary disaster (e.g. a home fire), AFAS will assist with immediate emergency needs for living essentials
to include temporary lodging.
- AFAS cannot take the place of homeowners or renters insurance.
- AFAS will not automatically replace losses. Each case is assessed individually and immediate needs are addressed.
- AFAS provides emergency assistance to surviving spouses and dependent minor orphans at the time of, or shortly after,
the death of an Air Force member.
- The object is to relieve the surviving dependent of immediate financial distress, normally for short
term basic living expenses.
Examples of Special Situations and Unique Needs
AFAS programs are regulation driven but not intended to be excessively bureaucratic.
Every problem situation is unique and sensitivity demands an attempt to try to help solve your people problems.
Here are just a few of the special situations in which AFAS assistance has worked:
- Help was provided to enable a member to purchase a special van equipped with a lift and hand controlled
operating system for an Air Force disabled spouse.
- A dependent child without tooth enamel was helped with special treatment to prevent jaw deterioration.
- An Air Force MSgt was assisted to purchase a specialized computer which enabled his multi-handicapped child
to communicate.
- A recent Widow with severe alcohol problems was assisted with special treatment at a rehabilitation center.
- Help with the purchase of a respirator made it possible for a young Air Force family to care for their
newborn at home.
- Must be flexible to be genuinely responsive.
- Must entertain exceptions to policy.
- Must have the benefit of your on-scene insights.
What AFAS Can't Do
We can aid in many ways but we do have some restrictions.
Funds of the Society are not available as a matter of convenience. For instance, assistance is not given:
- To pay for non-essentials such as second automobiles, television sets, VCR's, microwaves.
- To pay for essentials that cost more than the average standard.
- To provide basic needs on a continuing basis.
- To finance business ventures, to purchase a home, or similar permanent investment.
- To finance vacations or activities on normal annual leave.
- To pay credit card debt including government issued travel cards.
- To cover bad checks, provide bail, or pay fines.
- To pay DPP bills or replace funds due to garnishments.
- To pay taxes and legal expenses.
- To make contributions to other charitable or religious organizations.
- To assist in maintaining a standard of living inconsistent with the pay allowances of the Air Force member.
- To fund non-TRICARE approved medical procedures such as abortions.
AFAS Financial Assistance Form
- Print Only Version
Application for Air Force Aid Society Financial Assistance (PDF) - NEW! Interactive Form
Application for Air Force Aid Society Financial Assistance (PDF)
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