General Assistance
General Information
General Assistance may be provided when unexpected events or expenses cause a serious financial burden and financial need is demonstrated. General Assistance differs from Emergency Assistance because the qualifying circumstance does not immediately endanger personal well being or require urgent help. Certain eligibility and assistance restrictions apply, and are outlined in the CGMA Manual.
Authorized Assistance
Examples of assistance which may be considered as General Assistance include:
Adoption
A loan may be provided to assist eligible Coast Guard service members who are in the process of adopting a child and are qualified to participate in and receive reimbursement from the Coast Guard Reimbursement of Adoption Expenses Program (COMDTINST 1754.9 series). Coast Guard Mutual Assistance does not provide funds to initiate or settle other adoption cases (cases where the CGMA client is not participating in the Coast Guard Reimbursement of Adoption Expenses Program), including expenses associated with overseas adoptions. Exceptions may be considered in those rare situations where a family tragedy requires a client to adopt a child or seek legal guardianship of a child of another family member. Additional Information
When child support is not received assistance may be considered for families with stepchildren, or for single parents who are facing a financial hardship due to not receiving anticipated child support.
When the CGMA client is unable to pay child support assistance may be considered on a one-time basis when unexpected events or expenses cause a serious financial burden and financial need is demonstrated. Additional Information
Assistance for childcare may be provided on a one-time basis to assist a client during an emergency situation, but is not normally provided for regular monthly childcare costs. Additional Information
Assistance may be provided to assist in obtaining the initial licensing fee and liability insurance necessary to gain Coast Guard Certification to operate an In-Home Childcare facility. Additional Information
When a client shows financial need, CGMA will pay reasonable fees for clients to receive professional financial counseling. Clients do not have to request financial assistance from CGMA to be entitled to this service. Additional Information
Assistance may be considered for clients facing financial difficulties paying their outstanding government travel card bills; when the client used their government travel card for authorized purchases, filed their claim for reimbursement in a timely manner, and at no fault of their own, did not received timely reimbursement from the Coast Guard. Additional Information
Assistance may be considered when a client has an urgent need to obtain or replace essential household furnishings but is unable to do so using their own resources. This urgent need may be the result of lost, damaged or delayed shipment of household goods, a determination that shipment of household goods is not authorized, a fire or other disaster, a family member unexpectedly moving into the household, or other legitimate causes. Additional Information
Assistance may be provided when clients are required to pay major, unexpected, immigration fees that are beyond their financial ability using their own resources. Assistance will be limited to the immigration fees associated with the client or their immediate family members. Additional Information
When situations arise that prevent a client from being able to afford their own insurance coverage, a loan may be provided for the minimum insurance payment required to prevent a lapse in, or to reinstate the insurance. A loan may also be considered for the down payment necessary to begin insurance coverage or to assist with the initial increased cost of insurance caused by a move that results in higher rates in the new state, higher required limits or the need to change insurance companies. Additional Information
Assistance for basic living expenses may be considered when a family is facing financial difficulties from the loss of income due to prolonged illness or injury. Assistance will be limited to actual need and not necessarily the amount of lost income and will not be of a continuing nature. Additional Information
Assistance may be provided when the move is in the best interest of the client or immediate family. This may include financial, health, or safety reasons, or when it has been determined that an emergency move is needed to get the client or family out of harms way. Assistance may also be provided if the family is enduring unacceptable living conditions due to fire, flood, other natural disasters, or unhealthy or unsafe conditions. Additional Information
There are a variety of situations where assistance may be requested for travel expenses. Assistance may be provided to meet genuine need and to fund travel for only those persons necessary. When entitled, advances, allowances and transportation provided by the government should be used. Assistance from CGMA may not be provided in lieu of government entitlements simply because it is easier to do so. Additional Information
Assistance may be considered for an immediate family member in a situation where the CGMA sponsor is providing inadequate or no support for their immediate family members. After verifying need, emergency assistance may be provided to prevent privation (food, eviction, loss of utilities), stabilize the situation, and allow time for social service support and other long-term arrangements. Command involvement is required and may include counseling the CGMA sponsor and/or reporting the situation to the appropriate Family Advocacy Program authorities. Assistance will normally be limited to a one-time basis and must contribute to resolving the problem. Additional Information
Assistance for past due bills and expenses may be considered when a client, who is normally able to pay all of their normal recurring bills and expenses, is experiencing short-term difficulty in making payments due to an illness, emergency, unforeseen circumstance or other legitimate reasons which created a hardship, preventing them from having sufficient funds to pay their bills using their own resources. However, assistance is not intended to permit clients to live beyond their income, nor is it to be used to provide frequent help for basic needs. Additional Information
Assistance may be provided to clients facing financial difficulties due to pay, travel (advance or claim) and allotment problems, or delays that are not the fault of the client. Additional Information
CGMA funds may be used to assist clients who have demonstrated a financial need with authorized vehicle repairs. Assistance is not to be provided to clients who have the ability to pay for repairs from their own resources, but prefer to use an interest-free loan from CGMA to pay for repairs, while using their own funds for other purposes. When appropriate, clients will be expected to pay for a portion of the repairs from their own resources with CGMA providing the remainder of needed funds. Prior to providing assistance, Representatives must verify that the vehicle being repaired is registered in the name of the client or spouse and is properly insured. Additional Information
Assistance may be considered for clients who have demonstrated a financial need for other vehicle expenses, such as insurance, payments, car rentals, purchase, lease, or replacement. Additional Information
Applications
Applications are available:
