Helping Hands Grant Type 3. Independent Living Grants
Care For Others makes Independent Living Grants by remitting payment to a creditor/vendor on behalf of persons who are permanently unable to work but who nevertheless are normally able to live independently on the fixed income to which they are entitled- for example their retirement income (pension, social security) or their permanent disability income (SSI).
In making an Independent Living Grant our goal is to help financially responsible persons who cannot work to continue to live independently on their limited fixed incomes .Care For Others will assist them with a one time, short term, unexpected, unaffordable expense that conventional agencies and resources cannot assist them with.
You should apply for an Independent Living Grant if:
• You need assistance to cover a small, irregular expense that would subsequently improve the quality of your life, but which you cannot afford without assistance because of your fixed income. For example a permanently disabled person who can usually make ends meet on their disability payment needs help with an access ramp repair that is not covered by Medicare. This individual would be a good candidate for an Independent Living Grant.
• You need help with a regularly scheduled payment like rent because of a short term emergency situation that hinders your ability to remain independent. For example, a retired person who is normally self sufficient but needs help because an unexpected furnace repair this winter has made it temporarily impossible for that person to pay the rent. He/she would also be a good candidate for an Independent Living Grant.
In order to qualify for an Independent Living Grant:
1. You must be permanently unable to work due to a disability or retirement;
2. Your household’s single largest source of income must be either
disability income or pension /retirement income to which your household
is entitled. (This must be the income from the income provider in the
household. An unemployed parent cannot be using his/her child’s
permanent disability payments as earned income.)
3. Your household’s total earned income from all sources including
retirement and or disability must be equal to double your rent or
mortgage but not more than your rent or mortgage plus $2500. If there are working adults in the same household their income will be added to the fixed income amount to calculate total household income for eligibility.
4. The expense with which you need assistance can be paid on your behalf, directly to a vendor
5. The expense with which you need assistance can be paid in full
for no more than the maximum grant for which your household qualifies
from Care For Others.
6. The expense with which you need assistance can be documented.
Please note:
Independent Living Grants cannot be used to remit payment for regular expenses that are no longer feasible due to a permanent reduction in income. For example a person who becomes disabled and can no longer afford his/her monthly rent or mortgage because of reduced income to which he/she is now entitled because of permanent disability benefits would not be a good candidate for an Independent Living Grant.
General Documentation Requirements for Helping Hands Grants
As a 501 c 3 (tax exempt) organization, Care For Others is required by law to perform due diligence on the applications we receive prior to making a grant.
Applications should be honest, concise and factual. If any verbal or written information is found to be dishonest, fraudulent or deceptive during the verification process the applicant will automatically become ineligible for assistance.
Before we can review an application for a Helping Hands Grant we must have documentation for the following:
• Proof of identity. This may be in the form of a drivers license, state issued ID or a military ID
• Proof of address. This may be in the form of a utility
bill or other major bill in the name of the applicant and being mailed
to the address listed on the application.
• Proof of employment/income. Usually documentation of two
months income is required This can be in the form of pay stubs where
salary and hours worked are indicated., social security benefits letters
and disability benefits letters. In the case when it is new employment
or income is direct deposited a letter from the employer on their letter
head indicating contracted hours, salary, position and start date will
suffice. In most cases the most recent copy of your income tax return
will be requested. In addition, the name, address and contact number at
place of employment is required.
• Proof of circumstances surrounding your need. For example
if a person has requested help paying rent because they had surgery and
lost income because of medical leave we would require documentation
from their physician as to the date of surgery and when they were
released to return to work.
• Proof of expense and amount of assistance requested. For
example if a person is requesting help with a car repair bill we would
request an estimate from a certified car mechanic. If the estimate is
over $500 two estimates will be required. In addition all requests for car repairs would require proof of current car insurance.
In addition:
• Your application and documentation must be able to prove that
your expense is short term and it is a documentable extenuating
circumstance.
• You must be able to prove that there is a plan in place to improve
your situation. (i.e. a documented job search or working
with an employment agency, taking a class to improve employment options
and working with a budget counselor are a few examples).
• Your household net income (after deductions) must be at least 50%
more than what you are paying in rent or mortgage but no more than
your rent or mortgage plus $2500. For example if your rent or mortgage
is $500 a month, your household net income must be a minimum of $1000
and no more than $3000.
• All savings and investment resources must be utilized before seeking our assistance.
• All resources through your state, county or local organizations,
churches and clubs must be exhausted before seeking our assistance.
All documentation is completely confidential. We will never request documentation that an honest applicant could not obtain. However, an application cannot be sent to the review board or receive funding until we have documentation to support it. All documentation must be received no later than 30 days after your application is filed or your application will become null and void.
