Frequently Asked Questions
APPLICATION
The Fund's Charitable Class (those eligible to apply for a grant) includes:
- Be employed by Stericycle on the date of the application; and
- Be regularly scheduled to work as a part-time or full-time team member; or
- Be on approved medical leave or approved leave of absence for less than one year; and
- Not be a director-level or above team member or an eligible dependent of a director-level or above team member.
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
- 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
- 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 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
▼ EVENT: Serious illness or injury
- MEDICAL EXPENSE: Significant medical expenses
- HOUSING EXPENSE: Essential utilities (gas, water and electricity)
- HOUSING EXPENSE: Mortgage or rent assistance for primary residence
▼ EVENT: Victim of a violent crime
- MEDICAL EXPENSE: Significant medical expenses
- 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
- MEDICAL EXPENSE: Significant medical expenses
- 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
- IMMEDIATE NEEDS EXPENSE: Reasonable funeral, travel and burial expenses.
- MEDICAL EXPENSE: Significant medical expenses
- HOUSING EXPENSE: Essential utilities (gas, water and electricity)
- HOUSING EXPENSE: Mortgage or rent assistance for primary residence
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 270 days after the event.
- Standard grant awards are limited to 1 every 12 months.
- If your previous application was not awarded, you must wait 0 days before reapplying.
- The Event occurred after you became a member of the Fund's Charitable Class.
- 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 standards 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?