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In Pain, Out of Work and Can't Pay the
Bills
A Resource Directory for People with CRPS
Resources for Military Personnel and Veterans
Unfortunately, we are finding more and more veterans who
suffer from chronic pain and who have limited financial resources.
The Department of Defense (DOD) has opened the Military Severely
Injured Joint Support Operations (MSIJSO) Center, a 24/7 service
to help severely injured service members find jobs and answer
questions they and their families might have. The MSIJSO Center
offers help through a 24/7 toll-free number, 1-888-774-1361.
In addition, the DOD has partnered with www.military.com
to provide an online Career Center designed to connect severely
injured service members with benefits, resources, and employment
opportunities to help ease their transition.
Military Aid Societies
The following societies can offer veterans and their families
emergency relief.
Army Emergency Relief (AER)
AER is a private not-for-profit organization to help soldiers and
their dependents. AER is the Army's own emergency financial
assistance organization and is dedicated to "Helping
the Army Take Care of Its Own." AER funds are made available
to commanders having AER Sections to provide emergency financial
assistance to soldiers - active & retired - and their
dependents when there is a valid need.
Air Force Aid Society (AFAS)
AFAS provides emergency assistance in the form of an interest
free loan, a grant, or a combination of both. A grant or combination
loan/grant can be given when repayment would cause a genuine
hardship, but is not given to reward financial irresponsibility.
Grants are sometimes given for basic needs; eg, food, utilities,
emergency travel, medical or dental expenses, but they are
not normally used for rent, vehicle repairs, moves, or education.
Unique cases should be coordinated with AFAS headquarters. For more
information, visit the AFAS section at your home base. AFAS
sections are located on all Air Force bases worldwide. Most
are located in the Family Support Center.
Coast Guard Mutual Assistance
Coast Guard Mutual Assistance is a not-for-profit organization
providing financial assistance to the Coast Guard community.
For more information, contact your nearest CGMA representative
or call 800.881.2462 or 202.493.6621.
Navy-Marine Corps Relief (NMCRS)
NMCRS can provide emergency financial assistance in the form
of loans or grants, depending on financial need. NMCRP helps
sailors, marines, or eligible family members who need assistance
with basic living expenses such as food, rent, utilities,
emergency transportation, funerals, medical and dental bills,
essential car repair, pay problems, and other emergency needs.
Contact:
Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society
875 North Randolph Street,
Suite 225
Arlington VA 22203-1977
Tel: 703.696.4904
Fax: 703.696.0144
Other Not-for-Profit Organizations that Assist Veterans
Air Warrior Courage Foundation
A not-for-profit foundation that helps military veterans,
their families and those "air warriors" with the
courage to fight the financial ravages of birth defects, illness,
injury, disease. It focuses on active duty, reserve, and retired
military personnel and their families who need financial assistance
for medical, education, and other extraordinary expenses not
covered by other military, veteran's or charitable institutions.
American Legion
This organization offers temporary financial assistance (TFA) to
keep the children of diseased or disabled veterans at home
rather than institutions. The TFA fund has been used to help
families meet the costs of shelter, food, utilities, and health
expense items when the parents are unable to do so, thereby
keeping the child, or children, in a more stable home environment.
American Red Cross
The Red Cross works with the military aid societies (Army
Emergency Relief, Navy Marine Corps Relief Society, Air Force
Aid Society and the Coast Guard Mutual Assistance). This partnership
helps to provide financial assistance for emergency travel
that requires the presence of the service member or his or
her family, such as the burial of a loved one. The Red Cross
also facilitates assistance that cannot wait until the next
business day, such as food, temporary lodging, urgent medical
needs, or funds to avoid eviction, utility shut off, etc.
Angel Flight for Veterans
This organization provides no-cost or greatly reduced costs
of long-distance, charitable medical transportation travel
for people who need distant specialized medical evaluation,
diagnosis or treatment. Veterans, active duty military personnel
and their families are eligible.
Elks National Veterans Service Commission
In each of the 172 VA Medical Centers there is an Elk committee
at work to help veterans in need, including those who are
homeless.
Contact: BPO Elks of the USA
2750 N. Lakeview Avenue
Chicago, IL
60614-1889
Disabled American Veterans (DAV) National Service Foundation
The DAV National Service Foundation develops financial resources
for the assistance, aid, maintenance, care, support. and rehabilitation
of disabled veterans and their dependents, either directly
or by contributions to the service programs of the Disabled
American Veterans National Organization or its Departments
and Chapters.
Contact: Disabled American Veterans National Service
Foundation
3725 Alexandria Pike
Cold Spring, KY 41076
Toll-free:
877.426.2838
The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans (NCHV)
This not-for-profit organization is the resource and technical
assistance center for a national network of community-based
service providers and local, state, and federal agencies that
provide emergency and supportive housing, food, health services,
job training and placement assistance, legal aid, and case
management support for hundreds of thousands of homeless veterans
each year. The organization offers help in housing, health,
substance abuse and mental health treatment, employment, general
assistance, financial, and legal assistance.
Every VA medical center has a Homeless Veteran Services Coordinator
charged with helping homeless or at risk veterans. To find
the VA Medical Center serving your area, look in the blue
pages of the phone book under "United States Government,
Veterans Affairs," call the VA (toll-free) at 877.222.8387,
or visit the website. For other requests, call 800.838.4357
(800-VET-HELP)
The National Association of Hospital Hospitality Houses,
Inc. (NAHHH)
NAHHH is a network of more than 150 not for profit organizations
located throughout the US that provide family-centered lodging
and support services to families and their loved ones when
confronted with medical emergencies. Each facility assures
that a homelike environment is provided to persons who must
travel to be with a patient or to receive necessary outpatient
care.
Contact: National Association of Hospital Hospitality Houses, Inc.
44 Merrimon Avenue., 1st Floor
Asheville,
NC 28801
Toll free: 800.542.9730
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States: Military
Assistance Program (MAP)
The VFW's Military Assistance Program (MAP) is a quality-of-life
initiative that focuses on easing the financial emergencies
of deploying service members and supporting them and their
family through the hardships of deployment. MAP also provides
one-time grants up to $500 to service members needing emergency
financial assistance. In addition, MAP has forged partnership
with various service providers, including vetjobs.com, aimed
at providing service members with relocation and employment
assistance. Annually, VFW service officers process thousands
of veteran's claims, which have resulted in the recovery of
hundreds of millions dollars in disability compensation claims
for veterans. Service officers, who must pass rigorous testing
and annual certification, also assist veterans in discharge
upgrades, record corrections, education benefits and pension
eligibility.
Contact: MAP office
Tel: 816.756.3390,
ext. 211
Fax: 816.968.1149
E-mail: map@vfw.org ATTN: Veteran
Services
State programs
Check with your individual state government for special funds
for veterans in need. For example, Ohio has programs that
are managed on a county level.
Veterans Service Commission
The Veterans Service Commission (formerly known as the Soldiers
Relief Commission) was established on May 19, 1886, for the
purpose of assisting Honorably Discharged Veterans and their
minor children, spouse, and widows who have met with an unexpected
hardship resulting from lack of employment, illness or injury.
Contact:
Veterans Services Commission
1849 Prospect Ave., 2nd Floor
Cleveland, Ohio 44115
Tel: 216.698.2600
Fax: 216.698.2650
Michigan Emergency Grants
Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs
Michigan National Guard Family Fund, Inc. provides for up
to a $500 grant to soldiers and airmen and their family members
who encounter financial hardships as a result of deployments,
military injuries, or just hard times It was created to help
Air and Army National Guard families who experience financial
difficulties with temporary emergency financial assistance,
and to fund programs and training to maintain and improve
the quality of life of our Michigan National Guard families.
Eligibility includes emergency loss of income through activation
for military duty, inability to maintain employment due to
injury or sudden illness, or job loss; unexpected medical
expenses; pay problems; or the accumulation of legitimate
bills (e.g. rent, mortgage, electric, oil, gas, etc.). In
addition, applicants may be unable to pay for basic needs:
food, shelter, utilities, clothing, medical bills, and transportation
due to unforeseen circumstances. Applications are required
to be submitted with the necessary documentation.
State of Connecticut Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines Fund
The fund, which by statute is administered by The American
Legion, was established to assist needy wartime veterans and
their families It helps with rental payments, mortgage interest
payments, utilities (gas, electric, water) and fuel oil assistance.
It also helps with medical care, emergent dental care, prescription
medication and medical supply assistance, eye care, funeral
expenses, prosthetic devices, home health aide and visiting
Nurse Association homemaker services.
Introduction
Assistive Devices
Caregiver Resources
Clinical Trials
Disability Resources
Government Assistance
Programs
Health Services/Insurance
Independent Living
Centers
Legal Aid
Living Expenses
Patient Assistance
Programs
Service, Faith-based,
and Private Organizations
Transportation
Veterans
Workers Compensation
Appendices:
Federal
Poverty Guidelines
Finding Free Clinics
Updated
September 25, 2008
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