On February 27, Army Emergency Relief announced the COVID-19 Childcare Assistance Program and Homeschool and Remote Education Assistance would become a needs-based, 100% grant assistance program for Soldiers who demonstrate a confirmed valid need caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Previously, requests for childcare and homeschool and remote learning assistance were met with grants, zero-interest loans, or a combination of both, depending on the needs of the Soldier.
Childcare Assistance Guidelines
- Assistance for before/after school care, childcare facility, nursery school, private licensed sitter, or private licensed caregiver for an Exceptional Family Member
- Recipient of childcare must be age 12 or younger
- Spouse must be employed or pursuing a college degree or professional certification, reentering workforce following unemployment due to COVID-19, or pursuing employment while Soldier is geographically unavailable
- Proof of reduced capacity or childcare center closure required
Homeschool and Remote Education Assistance Guidelines
- Assistance for traditional full-time homeschool families and remote education due to COVID-19
- Assistance available for dependent children in Pre-K through 12th grade or pursuing an undergraduate degree, including tutoring support
- Maximum $2k per academic year for dependent children in Pre-K through 12th grade, $3k for dependent children pursuing undergraduate degrees
- Instructor must provide a letter of support for tutoring
(Additional guidelines and requirements may apply. Speak with your local AER officer to learn more.)
Eligibility
- Active Duty Soldiers
- Retired Soldiers (medically & longevity, including Army Reserve and National Guard receiving retired pay)
- Surviving Spouses
- Army Reserve (USAR) and National Guard (ARNG) Soldiers activated on Title 10 orders for 31 or more consecutive days
- USAR and ARNG Soldiers activated on Title 10 or Title 32 orders in support of COVID-19 (regardless of length of activation)
How to apply with AER
Assistance requests are processed by your local AER officer. Use our Office Locator tool to find your nearest AER Office.
Partnership with National Military Families Association
In addition to AER assistance for Childcare and Remote Education Expenses, AER has teamed up with the National Military Families Association to provide over $1 million in grants for Army Families dealing with financial hardship caused by childcare needs during COVID-19. To learn more about our partnership and apply for assistance through NMFA, visit militaryfamily.org.
Guidance for AER Officers
Childcare Assistance Program (Bulletin 04-2020-2)
Homeschool and Remote Education Assistance (Bulletin 07-2020-2-7)