Under AR 930-4, Army Emergency Relief provides EMERGENCY financial assistance in the form of a non-interest bearing loan, grant, or a combination of the two.
We are located on Fort Buchanan in the ACS.
Please bring the following for your visit:
- Military ID Card
- Leave and Earnings Statement
- Leave/PCS Orders
- Substantiating Documents (e.g. Car repair estimate, rental agreement, utility bill)
- Refer to the areas of assistance below for the required forms
The Five Areas of Support
Basic Needs & Housing - Financial support to maintain stable housing and essential living needs
Care During a Crisis - Immediate access to financial support during critical and stressful life events, generally associated with natural disasters
Health & Wellness - Financial support for expenses essential to maintaining health and wellness
Supporting Families - Immediate access to financial support for unique situations impacting family resilience and well-being
Workforce Development - Financial support for workforce development needs to enhance career opportunities, employability, and professional growth.
Required Forms
Eligibility:
1. Soldiers currently serving on Active Duty, along with their eligible family members.
2. Soldiers who have retired from Active Duty after serving 20 or more years (retired due to longevity), and their eligible family members (must present a Retired ID Card).
3. Retired Army Reserve and National Guard Soldiers who are receiving retirement pay from the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS), along with their eligible Family members (Retired ID Card required).
4. Soldiers who are Medically Retired and their eligible family members. This includes those listed on the Permanent Disability Retired List (PDRL) or the Temporary Disability Retirement List (TDRL) (Retired ID Card required).
5. Surviving Spouses and Children of Soldiers who died while on Active Duty (including those on Title 10 orders), or who were in an eligible retired status at the time of death (See paragraph 2-15 for more information).
6. Members of the Army National Guard or Army Reserve (Reserve Component) who are on continuous Active Duty under Title 10 of the U.S. Code for more than 30 consecutive days, and their eligible Family members.
a. The financial need must be directly related to their Title 10 activation.
b. Pre-existing issues that occurred before activation (e.g., rent that was already three months overdue before being called to Active Duty) do not qualify for assistance.
Unauthorized Categories:
IAW AR 930-4, para 2-12, AER financial assistance is not authorized for the following reasons:
Divorce
Marriage
Education expenses (tuition, room and board, books and supplies) (except under the Scholarship Program)
Purchase or lease of new or used POV and costs associated (taxes, registration, insurance and transportation)
Travel of Non-Command sponsored family members from CONUS to overseas command
Ordinary leave or vacation
Liquidation or consolidation of outstanding debts
Business ventures or any similar investment
Funds to replace those overdrawn from a bank account
Civilian court fees, fines, judgments, liens, bail, legal fees, and income taxes
Goods or items for convenience, comfort, or luxury
Continuing assistance
Abortion
Spousal Assistance
- Spouses may receive financial assistance; however, they must be geographically separated and possess a Power of Attorney, Military ID card and provide substantiating documents (eg. car repair estimate, rental agreement, utility bill).
What kind of assistance is given?
- Assistance may be provided in the form of a non-interest bearing loan, a grant (an outright gift of funds) if repayment of loan will cause undue hardship or a combination of the two. Should a loan be given, it will be prorated from the Soldier’s military pay. It is always best to discuss the payment plan with an AER representative.
Is there a dollar limit on AER assistance?
- No. AER assistance will meet your emergency need.
Where does AER receive its funding?
- Voluntary contributions from active and retired soldiers.
- Repayment of AER interest-free loans.
- Income from investments.
- Unsolicited contributions.
After-Hours, weekends, or Holidays Army Emergency Relief Assistance
ASSISTANCE PROVIDED TO SERVICE MEMBERS OF OTHER SERVICES
For Service members from other military branches, please contact your appropriate Military Aid Society as each Aid Society has different eligibility criteria, policies and processes. AER Sections no longer provide financial assistance to members of other branches.
Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society
875 N. Randolph Street, Suite 225
Arlington, VA 22203
Duty Hours Phone: (703) 696-1482
Air Force Aid Society (including Space Force) Air Force Aid Society, Inc.
P.O. Box 2208
Arlington, VA 22202
Duty Hours Phone: (703) 972-2604
Coast Guard Mutual Assistance
1005 N. Glebe Road, Suite 220
Arlington, VA 22201
Phone: (800) 881-2462
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE APPLICATION TYPES:
Basic Needs, Housing & Family Support (available online): Assists with essential living expenses such as basic needs (food, fuel, shelter), childcare, housing, utilities, home repair, vehicle assistance, immigration expenses, and transportation for special leave programs (not including emergency travel.
Career Skills and Spouse Recertification (available online): Supports Soldiers and their families in accessing job training, internships, certification, or licensing programs. The goal is to promote career advancement and long-term financial stability, especially during transitions to civilian life, or for military spouse career development.
Disaster Relief (available online): Delivers financial help during natural disasters, emergencies, major incidents, or government shutdowns. Assistance may cover temporary housing, food, fuel, utilities, and minor home repairs to ensure access to essential needs during critical times.
Emergency Travel Expenses (available online): Supports emergency travel for Soldiers and their families due to serious illness or the death of an immediate family member. It covers costs such as transportation, lodging, and meals during these urgent situations.
Health & Wellness (available online): Provides help with medical and dental expenses (not covered by TRICARE), elder care, special medical equipment, and wellness programs. It is designed to ease the financial burden of health-related needs.
PCS Move / Travel Expenses (available online): Helps with Permanent Change of Station (PCS) movements when a Soldier lacks access to a Government Travel Card or travel advance. It may include help with transportation, housing, food, and utilities to reduce relocation-related financial stress.
Domestic Violence (not available online): Provides financial support to Soldiers and families affected by domestic violence, helping them secure emergency needs such as temporary housing, food, transportation, and other necessities to ensure their safety and well-being.
Quick Assistance Program (not available online): Allows Company Commanders and First Sergeants to quickly approve financial assistance for Soldiers facing urgent needs. It may help with housing, food, utilities, PCS-related costs, and vehicle assistance to provide fast, effective support.
BE AER READY CAMPAIGN:
The severe impacts of past major events such as Irma, Maria, and Fiona serve as a strong reminder of how important it is to be fully prepared for unexpected natural disasters. It is imperative that we ALL stand ready to respond to any events that might impact Soldiers and Families residing in Puerto Rico. To that end, I urge the leadership to encourage every Soldier to proactively establish their AER portal account. The “How to” instruction is attached in the email (Create Portal Account (7-15 mins) and you are “one step” closer to being “AER Ready”).