Frequently Asked Questions
APPLICATION
The Fund's Charitable Class (those eligible to apply for a grant) includes:
- Employed by Fresenius Medical Care AG or any of its subsidiaries that are wholly or majority-owned on the date of the application; and
- Be of regular status (includes on an approved leave of absence); and
- Does not have an “end date” in the HR management system documenting a known termination date.
Note: Excludes temporary and per diem employees
Which events and expenses qualify for a grant?
Charitable Class members can apply for a grant if they have been impacted by one of the following unforeseen events and one or more of the associated expenses:
- IMMEDIATE NEEDS EXPENSE: Food - Immediate needs only (usually applicable up to 2-4 weeks after the Event)
- IMMEDIATE NEEDS EXPENSE: Clothing - Immediate needs only (usually applicable up to 2-4 weeks after the Event)
- IMMEDIATE NEEDS EXPENSE: Reasonable evacuation expenses resulting from an Event
- MEDICAL EXPENSE: Travel expenses related to the medical care
- HOUSING EXPENSE: Rent - Temporary housing up to 30 days
- HOUSING EXPENSE: Reasonable repairs to damaged property
- HOUSING EXPENSE: Essential appliances and furnishings
- HOUSING EXPENSE: Essential utilities (gas, water and electricity)
- HOUSING EXPENSE: Security deposits (for new housing if unable to inhabit existing home)
- HOUSING EXPENSE: Mortgage or rent assistance for primary residence
- MISC. EXPENSE: Unable to work due to the event
- MISC. EXPENSE: Unexpected child care up to 60 days
- IMMEDIATE NEEDS EXPENSE: Reasonable evacuation expenses resulting from an Event
- IMMEDIATE NEEDS EXPENSE: Reasonable funeral, travel and burial expenses.
- MEDICAL EXPENSE: Significant medical expenses
- HOUSING EXPENSE: Reasonable repairs to damaged property
- HOUSING EXPENSE: Essential utilities (gas, water and electricity)
- HOUSING EXPENSE: Security deposits (for new housing if unable to inhabit existing home)
- HOUSING EXPENSE: Mortgage or rent assistance for primary residence
- MISC. EXPENSE: Unable to work due to the event
- MISC. EXPENSE: Unexpected child care up to 60 days
- IMMEDIATE NEEDS EXPENSE: Reasonable evacuation expenses resulting from an Event
- IMMEDIATE NEEDS EXPENSE: Reasonable funeral, travel and burial expenses.
- MEDICAL EXPENSE: Significant medical expenses
- MEDICAL EXPENSE: Prescription medications
- MEDICAL EXPENSE: Travel expenses related to the medical care
- HOUSING EXPENSE: Adaptive improvements and solutions related to the Event
- MISC. EXPENSE: Unable to work due to the event
- MISC. EXPENSE: Unexpected child care up to 60 days
▼ EVENT: Military Deployment (employee, spouse or domestic partner called to active duty)
- HOUSING EXPENSE: Rent - Temporary housing up to 30 days
- HOUSING EXPENSE: Essential utilities (gas, water and electricity)
- HOUSING EXPENSE: Mortgage or rent assistance for primary residence
- IMMEDIATE NEEDS EXPENSE: Food - Immediate needs only (usually applicable up to 2-4 weeks after the Event)
- IMMEDIATE NEEDS EXPENSE: Clothing - Immediate needs only (usually applicable up to 2-4 weeks after the Event)
- IMMEDIATE NEEDS EXPENSE: Reasonable evacuation expenses resulting from an Event
- IMMEDIATE NEEDS EXPENSE: Reasonable funeral, travel and burial expenses.
- MEDICAL EXPENSE: Significant medical expenses
- HOUSING EXPENSE: Rent - Temporary housing up to 30 days
- HOUSING EXPENSE: Reasonable repairs to damaged property
- HOUSING EXPENSE: Essential appliances and furnishings
- HOUSING EXPENSE: Essential utilities (gas, water and electricity)
- HOUSING EXPENSE: Security deposits (for new housing if unable to inhabit existing home)
- HOUSING EXPENSE: Mortgage or rent assistance for primary residence
- HOUSING EXPENSE: Adaptive improvements and solutions related to the Event
- TRANSPORTATION EXPENSE: Repairs other than routine maintenance, or repairs that could not have been avoided
- TRANSPORTATION EXPENSE: Cost of public or commercial transportation
- TRANSPORTATION EXPENSE: Cost of car rental up to 30 days
- IMMEDIATE NEEDS EXPENSE: Food - Immediate needs only (usually applicable up to 2-4 weeks after the Event)
- IMMEDIATE NEEDS EXPENSE: Clothing - Immediate needs only (usually applicable up to 2-4 weeks after the Event)
- IMMEDIATE NEEDS EXPENSE: Reasonable evacuation expenses resulting from an Event
- HOUSING EXPENSE: Rent - Temporary housing up to 30 days
- HOUSING EXPENSE: Reasonable repairs to damaged property
- HOUSING EXPENSE: Essential appliances and furnishings
- HOUSING EXPENSE: Essential utilities (gas, water and electricity)
- HOUSING EXPENSE: Security deposits (for new housing if unable to inhabit existing home)
- HOUSING EXPENSE: Mortgage or rent assistance for primary residence
- MISC. EXPENSE: Unable to work due to the event
- MISC. EXPENSE: Unexpected child care up to 60 days
▼ EVENT: Serious illness or injury
- MEDICAL EXPENSE: Significant medical expenses
- MEDICAL EXPENSE: Prescription medications
- MEDICAL EXPENSE: Travel expenses related to the medical care
- HOUSING EXPENSE: Essential utilities (gas, water and electricity)
- HOUSING EXPENSE: Mortgage or rent assistance for primary residence
- HOUSING EXPENSE: Adaptive improvements and solutions related to the Event
- MISC. EXPENSE: Unable to work due to the event
- MISC. EXPENSE: Unexpected child care up to 60 days
▼ EVENT: Non-routine/exceptional medical expense
- MEDICAL EXPENSE: Significant medical expenses
- MEDICAL EXPENSE: Prescription medications
- MEDICAL EXPENSE: Travel expenses related to the medical care
- HOUSING EXPENSE: Essential utilities (gas, water and electricity)
- HOUSING EXPENSE: Mortgage or rent assistance for primary residence
- HOUSING EXPENSE: Adaptive improvements and solutions related to the Event
- MISC. EXPENSE: Unable to work due to the event
- MISC. EXPENSE: Unexpected child care up to 60 days
▼ EVENT: Victim of a violent crime
- MEDICAL EXPENSE: Significant medical expenses
- MEDICAL EXPENSE: Prescription medications
- MEDICAL EXPENSE: Travel expenses related to the medical care
- HOUSING EXPENSE: Rent - Temporary housing up to 30 days
- HOUSING EXPENSE: Mortgage or rent assistance for primary residence
- MISC. EXPENSE: Unable to work due to the event
- MISC. EXPENSE: Unexpected child care up to 60 days
- MEDICAL EXPENSE: Significant medical expenses
- MEDICAL EXPENSE: Travel expenses related to the medical care
- MISC. EXPENSE: Expenses resulting from flight from domestic violence such as temporary housing, etc.
- MISC. EXPENSE: Unable to work due to the event
- MISC. EXPENSE: Unexpected child care up to 60 days
- IMMEDIATE NEEDS EXPENSE: Reasonable funeral, travel and burial expenses.
- MEDICAL EXPENSE: Significant medical expenses
What are the criteria to qualify for a grant?
The Fund was designed to provide financial assistance to as many eligible applicants as possible in accordance with the Fund's criteria and United States IRS regulations. Emergency Assistance Foundation (EAF), the Fund's administrator, strives to award grants whenever possible, but there are many factors that determine whether a grant can be awarded. The most basic criteria include the following:
- You or your eligible dependent (including your spouse/domestic partner) were impacted by one of the Fund’s designated events.
- Due to the impact of the designated event, you or your eligible dependent (including your spouse/domestic partner) incurred one or more of the Fund’s qualified expenses.
- Your application would meet the following conditions:
- You are applying within 90 days after the event.
- Standard grant awards are limited to 1 every 12 months.
- If your previous application was not awarded, you must wait 3 months before reapplying.
- IRS regulations require us to ask for proof of the event that has impacted you or your eligible dependent (including your spouse/domestic partner), as well as proof of the resulting expense(s) for which you are seeking assistance. You must be able to provide the required supporting documentation, which should be dated within 60 days of the application date. Please review our Supporting Documentation Guide at eafrelief.org/appresourcedocs for detailed information.
- If the Fund has set a lifetime maximum for standard awards, and you have already exceeded this maximum, you will not be eligible for additional standard grant awards.
How large of a grant can I apply for?
Who does the Fund consider an immediate family member?
- Spouse or partner in a civil union or domestic partnership*
- Parent/parent-in-law/step-parent
- Child/child-in-law/step-child
- Sibling/sibling-in-law/step-sibling
- Grandparent/grandparent-in-law/step-grandparent
- Grandchild/grandchild-in-law/step-grandchild
*A domestic partnership is defined as "an on-going and committed spouse-like relationship between adults.”
What does “Unable to Work due to the Event” mean?
Who does the Fund include as eligible dependents?
Are grants from the Fund taxable?
To apply for a grant, click the "Apply for a grant" button. Be sure to look for any relevant emails in any filtered inboxes and spam or junk folders.
Please review our Grant Application Guide at eafrelief.org/appresourcedocs for step-by-step grant application instructions.
Can I apply for a grant on behalf of someone else?
How does the grant review, award, and payment process work?
INITIAL REVIEW: Once your application is submitted and received by Emergency Assistance Foundation (EAF), one of our objective Reviewers will be assigned to review your application. If any additional information or supporting documentation is needed, they will let you know. Your application will remain in Initial Review until all supporting documentation is received and the application is complete. This stage normally takes 7-10 business days but, depending on the applicant's response time and the information/documentation, timing can vary.
QUALITY CHECK: After the Initial Review process is complete, your application will enter the final stage of review, in which a second Reviewer completes a final quality check. This stage normally takes 2-3 business days unless there is a need for additional clarification.
AWARD NOTIFICATION & PAYMENT PROCESS: You will be notified by email if your grant is awarded or not awarded. If you are awarded a grant, the email you receive will include all of the important details related to the grant amount and payment information/instructions.
The processing of grant payments could take up to two weeks. Please note that this time estimate assumes there are sufficient assets to make the grant payment. In addition, banking systems vary by country and certain banking regulations may cause delays that are beyond EAF’s control.
Please review our Grant Payment Guides at eafrelief.org/appresourcedocs for additional detail.
When I apply for a grant, will my personal information remain confidential?
How do I contact Applicant Support?