Aid may also be given when a temporary financial hardship jeopardizes a student's school attendance or when there has been a loss due to fire, flood, tornado or other disaster. The applicant must be unable to meet basic costs of subsistence while incapacitated and is required to use all available resources including income from family members living with the applicant and all liquid assets. The grant is only for essentials such as food, rent or mortgage payments, utilities and basic transportation expenses. However, in some cases health insurance premiums, child support payments, homeowners insurance, prescribed medications and other items will be covered. The grant does not normally cover credit card, vehicle or other debt payments.
Assistance is provided on a temporary basis only.
The first grant normally covers basic expenses for 30 days. By law, assistance stops after 90 days. In some cases, at the department's discretion, a check for food and transportation will be made payable to the applicant. The Retraining Grant is for a recently unemployed or underemployed veteran who demonstrates a financial need while being retrained for employment. The applicant must have become unemployed or underemployed within the year prior to the date the application is received at WDVA or have received a notice of termination of employment.