If you are in need of emergency financial assistance:   

Army Emergency Relief: AER is a private, nonprofit organization established to help Soldiers and their families in emergency financial situations due to no fault of their own. AER provides financial assistance through zero percent interest loans, and in certain cases, grants. Make AER your first choice for financial assistance. 

For more information about how the Financial Readiness Program can help you, contact Army Community Service.   

Other helpful financial readiness links include:   

  • Thrift Savings Plan: A federal government-sponsored, long-term retirement savings and investment plan, available for both federal civilian employees and members of the uniformed services.
  • Military Saves: A component of the nonprofit America Saves and a partner in the Department of Defense’s Financial Readiness Campaign, Military Saves seeks to motivate, support and encourage military families to save money, reduce debt and build wealth.
  • Money Matters: A mobile-optimized resource with calculators for savings, debt reduction and other reference material in one location.
  • Home Buying and Selling: The National Military Family Association has compiled a great list of financial resources to help military families. 
  • Army OneSource: Network of the services and delivery of support to Soldiers and their families.
  • Military OneSource: A Department of Defense-funded program that provides comprehensive information on every aspect of military life at no cost to active duty, National Guard, Reserve members and their families.
  • Credit Report: Get a free copy of your credit report every 12 months from each credit reporting company.
  • Office of Servicemember Affairs: A component of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau helps to educate and empower military members, veterans and their families in the consumer financial marketplace.
  • Saveandinvest.org: A project of the FINRA Investor Education Foundation, a free, unbiased resource dedicated to your financial health. Helps you make informed decisions through easy-to-use tools and resources, and arms you with the information you need to protect yourself from investment fraud.
  • Better Business Bureau Military Line: Provides specialized education and support services, which meets the needs of active and retired military personnel and their families. 
  • U.S. Savings Bonds: A shorter-term savings option with competitive interest rates and backed by the full faith and credit of the United States.

 

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

child saluting Areas of Assistance

Required Forms

Who Does AER Assist?

  • Soldiers on extended active duty and their dependents.
  • Members of the Reserve components of the Army (Army National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve) on continuous active duty for more than 30 days and their dependents. (This applies to soldiers on AD for training (ADT) or serving under various sections of title 10, United States Code).
  • Soldiers retired from active duty because of longevity or physical disability, or retired upon reaching age 60 (Reserve components) and their dependents.
  • Widows/widowers and orphans of Soldiers who died while on active duty or after they retired.

AER cannot assist with:

  • Help pay for nonessentials.
  • Finance ordinary leave or vacation.
  • Pay fines or legal expenses.
  • Help liquidate or consolidate debt.
  • Assist with house purchase or home improvements.
  • Help purchase, rent or lease a vehicle.
  • Cover bad checks.
  • Pay credit card bills.
  • Funds to replace those overdrawn from bank account.

Spousal Assistance

  • Spouses may receive financial assistance; however, they must be geographically separated and possess a power of attorney, military identification 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.

Should you need emergency assistance after duty hours, on weekends or when ACS is closed, contact: