Wells Fargo Emergency Grants for Veterans

As a military veteran, life can come at you in unexpected ways. On active duty, you might be prepared for the twists and turns you face, but what prepares you for when it is time to come home and rejoin the competitive workforce? Wells Fargo prides itself on supporting our troops and can provide emergency grants and scholarships to veterans who qualify. The Wells Fargo Veterans Scholarship Program can help you get financial aid to further your education when you need it. 

What is the Wells Fargo Veterans Scholarship Program?

The Well Fargo Veterans Scholarship Program is a program for military veterans who wish to further their education, but their military benefits are not enough. Administered by Scholar America, this program provides the rest of the funds not provided by the IG Bill, other military benefits, or grants and scholarships the attended school provides.

This program allows veterans to focus on their education and job preparation without the hassle and reliance on student loans. Scholarship America is the nation’s largest manager of scholarships, tuition assistance, and education support programs in the United States. 

How Can the Wells Fargo Veterans Emergency Grant Program Help?

The Wells Fargo Veterans Emergency Grant Program helps veterans enrolled full-time in a postsecondary education program who have encountered an unexpected financial emergency that could cause them to leave school. The available grants have a maximum payout of $1000 and can only be given once. 

The emergency grant can be used for the following expenses: 

• Utilities
• Childcare
• Housing or Rent
• Personal Car Repair
• Public Transportation/Bus Passes
• Medical/Dental Expenses

Funds for the program are awarded continuously until the funds run out. Please note that requests for housing, such as rent or mortgage, will be given first priority.

Who Is Eligible for the Wells Fargo Veterans Emergency Grant Program?

In order to be eligible for the Wells Fargo Veterans Emergency Grant Program, you must adhere to the following criteria:

• You must not have been a previous recipient.
• You must have served in the U.S. military (The Reserves and National Guard are also included in this).
• You must have graduated from high school, have your GED, or be currently enrolled in full-time undergraduate (first Associate or Bachelor’s) or graduate (first master’s degree) study at an accredited two-year or four-year college, university, or vocational-technical school for the whole upcoming academic year. Note: No Doctorate studies are eligible. 
• You must be honorably discharged (no longer drilling or serving). 
• You must have received a Certificate of Eligibility from the Department of Veterans Affairs, a DD214, or another document of your service stating that you were honorably discharged by the program application deadline date. Note: Spouses or widowed persons of disabled veterans who meet the same criteria may also apply for the program.
• You must have completed the FAFSA to make sure that you have exhausted all other financial avenues first. 
• You must have no less than a 2.0 on a 4.0 cumulative grade point average scale or the equivalent. 
• You must use any military education benefits they you are eligible for in the upcoming academic year.

How To Apply for the Wells Fargo Veterans Emergency Grant Program

If you want to apply for the Wells Fargo Veterans Emergency Grant Program, you can apply on the Scholarship America Hub. During your application, you will need to upload the following documents:

• Your complete transcript with your name, the school’s name, your grades, and credit hours for each course, as well as which term each course was taken. Note: For high school transcripts, SAT and ACT test scores must be uploaded separately if not provided.
• All documentation of your monthly expenses (i.e., bills or invoices) with the applicant’s name, company name, and date of the expenses. 
• Your 2022-23 (or the current academic school year) college financial aid award letter (preferred) or current Student Aid Report (SAR).
• A copy of your DD214 (preferred) or Certificate of Eligibility from the Department of Veterans Affairs (Or another document of service) that includes a “Special Additional Information” section. 
• If the applicant is the spouse or widowed person of a disabled veteran, you must provide a VA disability letter and a copy of the marriage license.

Please note that the application is not considered complete unless all of the documents required for this application have been electronically submitted and accepted. 

Final Thoughts

If you are a military veteran enrolled full-time in a college, university, or vocational-technical school, the Wells Fargo Veterans Emergency Grant Program is there for you if you are in need of emergency cash. Even spouses or widowed persons of disabled veterans can find help with this program. This is a one-time-only program, so if you have received help before, you may not meet the eligibility criteria again. However, if this is your first time, don’t hesitate to gather your required materials and apply today! 

Jessica Saunders

A wife and mother of two, Jessica graduated with a Creative Writing degree from UNC - Wilmington. She edits, writes, and teaches fitness classes during the week, and she loves practicing Japanese after spending two and a half years in Japan during and after college.