When a hurricane, flood, fire or another disaster turns your household upside down, figuring out how to pay for everything that was damaged can quickly become overwhelming.
If you’re part of the Coast Guard community, Coast Guard Mutual Assistance, or CGMA, may be able to help.
CGMA provides disaster assistance through a combination of grants and interest-free loans, with help available for things like lost food, essential household property, home repairs and vehicle damage.
What Is Coast Guard Mutual Assistance?
Coast Guard Mutual Assistance is the official relief society of the U.S. Coast Guard.
It’s not a federal benefits program. CGMA is supported through donations and provides financial assistance specifically to members of the Coast Guard community.
Its Disaster & Emergency Assistance program can help after major disasters like hurricanes as well as personal disasters such as fires.
Who Can Get CGMA Disaster Assistance?
CGMA disaster assistance is available to several groups connected to the Coast Guard, including:
- Active Duty members
- Reservists
- Retired Coast Guard military personnel
- Coast Guard Auxiliary members
- Civilian employees
- Public Health Service officers serving with the Coast Guard
- Chaplains serving with the Coast Guard
- Surviving spouses
CGMA doesn’t publish a standard household income limit for applying for this disaster assistance.
However, eligibility and the amount of assistance you receive will depend on your circumstances, documented losses and the type of help you’re requesting. Financial need may also be considered for certain assistance decisions.
How Much Disaster Assistance Can I Get?
CGMA offers several different forms of disaster assistance.
The amount available depends on what happened and what you lost.
Immediate Disaster Loan: Up to $7,500
CGMA may provide an interest-free immediate loan of up to $7,500 after a qualifying disaster.
No payment is expected during the first three months.
This is a loan, so it generally must be repaid. However, CGMA may consider converting disaster loan assistance to a grant when there is demonstrated financial need, subject to CGMA’s review and requirements.
Food Loss Grant: Up to $500
If you lose perishable food because of a qualifying disaster situation, CGMA may provide:
- $250 if you don’t have dependents
- $500 if you have dependents
CGMA’s current disaster assistance information says receipts aren’t required for this grant.
Qualifying food-loss situations can include loss caused by a named storm, mandatory evacuation or a power outage lasting more than 24 hours.
Personal Property Loss Grant: Up to $2,500
CGMA may provide a grant of up to $2,500 to help replace essential personal and household property lost because of a disaster.
This assistance is intended for necessary items rather than simply replacing everything that was damaged or destroyed.
Your actual award will depend on your qualifying losses and CGMA’s review.
Home or Vehicle Repair Grant: Up to $6,000
CGMA’s Home & Vehicle Repair Grant provides up to $6,000 toward qualifying insured losses that weren’t fully reimbursed.
For a home, assistance can include qualifying repairs to an owner-occupied primary residence.
Current assistance can include eligible costs such as:
- Structural repairs
- HVAC
- Plumbing
- Electrical repairs
- Fence repairs
- Debris removal
For vehicle damage, assistance may help with qualifying repair costs or losses not fully covered by insurance.
Can I Get More Than One Type of Assistance?
CGMA offers separate loans and grants for different types of disaster-related needs.
For example, someone may have lost food, essential household property and also suffered damage to a home or vehicle.
However, don’t assume that simply adding every maximum together means you’ll automatically qualify for that total amount.
CGMA reviews requests based on the applicant’s circumstances, qualifying losses, documentation and other applicable program requirements.
What Documents Will I Need?
Documentation depends on the assistance you’re requesting.
CGMA generally requires applicants to document and justify requests for assistance.
For a vehicle repair claim, that may include documentation showing:
- Your insurance settlement or policy and deductible
- Repair costs
- Documentation showing a total loss, if applicable
For home repairs, CGMA may require documentation of repair costs along with insurance settlement and deductible information.
CGMA’s disaster assistance isn’t intended to replace insurance. If insurance or another source later reimburses a loss CGMA covered, you may be required to reimburse CGMA for that amount.
How Do I Apply?
You can apply online through the CGMA application portal.
CGMA also provides an Online Application User Guide to help applicants through the process.
Another option is to contact a local CGMA Representative.
CGMA has more than 600 representatives who can help Coast Guard families understand available assistance and the application process.
If you need help finding the right person or have questions, you can also call CGMA Customer Service at:
800-881-2462
How Long Do I Have to Apply?
This part is especially important because your deadline depends on your loss.
CGMA’s disaster grant application instructions state that applications involving only food loss must generally be submitted within 21 days after landfall.
For disaster applications involving other damage or losses, including cases that may also include food loss, the deadline is generally 90 days after landfall.
Because these deadlines are tied to your particular disaster and type of loss, don’t assume you have unlimited time to apply.
If you’ve recently experienced a qualifying disaster, contact CGMA as soon as possible to confirm the deadline that applies to your situation.
Is CGMA Disaster Assistance Still Available?
Yes.
CGMA continues to offer Disaster & Emergency Assistance to eligible members of the Coast Guard community.
The organization provides grants and interest-free loans for disaster-related needs ranging from evacuation and replacement of essentials to beginning necessary repairs.
If you’ve recently experienced a hurricane, flood, fire or another qualifying disaster, check CGMA’s current requirements or contact a representative to find out which types of assistance may apply to your situation.
Relief Recap
Recovering from a disaster can get expensive quickly. Lost groceries may be only the beginning when you’re also dealing with damaged belongings, insurance deductibles, home repairs or a vehicle that needs work.
If you’re part of the Coast Guard community, CGMA may be able to help through several different programs, including a food grant of up to $500, personal property assistance of up to $2,500, a home or vehicle repair grant of up to $6,000, and an interest-free immediate disaster loan of up to $7,500.
The amounts aren’t automatic, and you shouldn’t simply add all of the maximums together and assume that’s what you’ll receive.
Most importantly, don’t wait too long to check your eligibility. Disaster assistance has time limits, including a shorter deadline for certain food-only claims.
Start with the CGMA application portal or call 800-881-2462 for help.
