Army Emergency Relief (AER) Overview

Our Mission

Supporting the well-being of Soldiers, retired Soldiers and Army Families by helping alleviate financial stress and promoting economic stability. AER is rated four stars by Charity Navigator, putting it in the top 10 percent among all U.S. nonprofits. 83 cents of every dollar donated goes directly to programs that support Soldiers and Army Families.

Applying for Assistance

Active duty, retired, and medically retired Soldiers and their eligible Family members can apply for assistance by:

  • Logging onto AER's online portal
  • Contacting their chain of command
  • Contacting their local installation AER office or AER officer
  • Contacting Army Emergency Relief Headquarters
AER Donations

The Army-wide annual AER fund campaign is held 1 March – 15 May of each year. You may contribute online at the Army Emergency Relief website Donate Page, through your AER unit representative, or your local AER office. Donations are accepted year-round. All contributions are tax deductible.  Support the Army’s own non-profit organization – a Strong Tradition of Soldiers helping Soldiers!

Services

AER can normally assist with emergency needs for:

  • Security deposit and first month rent for primary residence
  • Rent or mortgage payment for primary residence
  • Utilities: gas, electric, water, sewage, trash, primary phone, cable, and internet
  • Food, to prevent privation
  • Emergency travel
  • Emergency POV issues:  gas, repair, insurance, insurance deductible, loan payment for essential vehicle, rental vehicle, or repossession recovery
  • Funeral expenses
  • Emergency medical and dental expenses not covered by insurance
  • Repair or purchase of stove, refrigerator, washer, or dryer for primary residence
  • Repair or purchase of HVAC for primary residence
  • Minor home repairs; plumbing, electrical, or roof repairs
  • Purchase of economical/essential furniture (initial setup or disaster situation only)
  • Purchase of child car seat
  • Privation issues due to non-receipt of pay or loss of funds
  • Certain PCS moving costs if Soldier does not have government credit card and did not receive advance travel pay

 

AER does not assist with:

  • Nonessential needs
  • Ordinary leave or vacation
  • Consumer debt, credit cards, or overdrawn bank accounts
  • Marriages
  • Business ventures or investments
  • Fines, legal expenses, judgements, liens, bail, divorce, or child custody case
  • Home purchase, improvements, or repairs (other than mentioned above)
  • Lease of a vehicle
  • Income taxes

Active duty Soldiers seeking assistance from Army Emergency Relief (AER) can apply through the AER portal at www.armyemergencyrelief.org.

Quick Assist Program (QAP)

Through the Quick Assist Program, your Commander or First Sergeant may approve assistance of up to $2,000 for Active Duty Regular Army Soldiers (loan only; additional requirements may apply). To apply:

  1. Complete AER Form 101, selecting "QAP" in Section 16.
  2. Your Commander or First Sergeant must complete Sections 21-24.
  3. Refer to the AER checklist (available under Resources and Forms) for any additional documentation needed.

Assistance for Family Members

Active duty Family members requiring assistance while their Soldier is away from the local area must provide:

  • Current Military ID
  • AER Form 53, Special Power of Attorney (SPOA)
  • Copy of orders
  • Current address and contact information of the Soldier
  • Additional supporting documents as outlined in the AER Checklist

Contact Information

If there is no AER office within a 50-mile radius, assistance can be obtained by visiting Army Emergency Relief www.armyemergencyrelief.org or calling 866-878-6378.

For time-sensitive Emergency Travel requests or assistance with the AER portal during office closures, weekends, or holidays, contact an After-Hours Caseworker by emailing: soldierportalhelp@aerhq.org or calling 866-878-6378.

Scholarship Programs

AER offers scholarship programs for the spouses and dependent children of active duty, retired, and fallen Soldiers. The AER Education Program supports Army Families with education costs. For forms and detailed information on AER scholarship programs, visit: https://www.armyemergencyrelief.org/scholarships/ 

Resources and Forms

AER Category Checklist

Commander/1SG AER Quick Assist Fact Sheet

Routine Request Financial Summary/Budget Form

Spouse Re-Licensing/Re-Certification Assistance Checklist

View all AER Forms

AER Soldier Portal

Education Programs

Spouse Education Assistance Program

The Spouse Education Assistance Program is a need-based scholarship program established to assist Spouses of Army Soldiers in obtaining their first undergraduate degree.  Applicants must apply each year and may receive assistance for up to four academic years of full time study or eight academic years of part time study if they meet the eligibility criteria explained below.

  • Applicant must be the Spouse or widow(er) of an active duty or retired Soldier and reside in the United States.
  • First undergraduate degrees only.
  • May be enrolled part-time (minimum of 6 credit hours per semester or term) or full-time (minimum 12 credit hours per semester or term) in an accredited postsecondary or vocational institution.
  • Must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 grading scale.
  • Active duty military personnel are not eligible.
  • May not be fully funded by other sources

The award amounts vary each year based on the number of applicants, total approved scholarship budget, the applicant's Expected Family Contribution (EFC) reported on the Student Air Report (SAR) from the FAFSA, and the average Cost of Attendance to attend a college or university in the United States as provided by the College Board.

Accredited postsecondary or vocational institution must be listed in the US Department of Education's Database of Accredited Postsecondary Insitutions http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/Search.aspx

Applications and instructions are available for all the scholarships on the AER website at www.aerhq.org