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Every request is unique and considered on an individual basis. There is no upper limit for AER support, however, the most common assistance we provide is $1,500 for a 15-month loan.

Some categories of assistance have dollar limits and other categories have requirements related to grants versus loans.

Assistance is provided as zero-interest loans, grants or a combination of the two.

Assistance may be provided same day. Assistance is always provided within 48 hours.

Apply online

• Request financial assistance online and, if approved, receive the funds via direct deposit, Zelle or PayPal from anywhere in the world.

Talk to your chain of command

• The fastest and most effective way to request AER assistance is to talk to your chain of command. Your chain of command has the power to approve immediate financial assistance up to $2,000. Your chain of command can also refer you to the on-post AER officer. Your chain of command is empowered to help. Just ask!

Visit your local AER officer

• Any Soldier (active or retired) can visit their nearest AER officer. Officers are conveniently located at installations around the world. No Army post nearby? No problem! Soldiers can visit any military installation and request AER assistance from any military aid society. Click here to find your nearest military aid society.

Contact the American Red Cross

• Not located within 50 miles of a military installation? No problem. Apply online.

No. All eligible requests will be considered regardless of prior contributions.

• Active duty Soldiers and their eligible family members
• Soldiers retired from active duty because of longevity and their eligible family members
• Retired Army Reserve and National Guard Soldiers receiving retired pay and their eligible family members
• Medically retired Soldiers and their eligible family members, including those placed on the Permanent Disability Retired List or Temporary Disability Retirement List
• Surviving spouses and children of Soldiers who died while on active duty (including those on Title 10 Orders) or in an eligible retired status
• Members of the Army Reserve Component (National Guard and Army Reserve under Title 10 U.S.C) on Active Guard Reserve tours and their eligible family members
• Members of the Army Reserve Component (National Guard and Army Reserve under Title 10 U.S.C) on continuous Active Duty for more than 30 consecutive days and their eligible family members

Any Soldier, regardless of rank, and their eligible military identification card-holding dependents in the categories listed above can seek assistance from AER.

Additional resources:

• Many states have programs that provide financial assistance to National Guard members on state orders.

To receive Direct Access, Soldiers must have completed Initial Entry Training, one year of service and not exhibit high-risk behavior. (Limit two Direct Access assists per 12 months.)

Required documents are determined according to your financial request.

Click here to view the full list of required documents.

Yes, a spouse or other eligible dependent may seek AER assistance without their sponsor being present when the Soldier is unavailable.

Unavailable is defined as:

• When the Soldier is outside the same geographic area as the dependent due to temporary duty travel, field exercise or deployment
• When the Soldier is inside the same geographic area and (determined by the chain of command) they will be unavailable to visit the local AER office in a timely manner to meet a valid emergency need
• When the retired Soldier is working outside the local or primary area where the family resides or is hospitalized, incarcerated or otherwise unavailable for a legitimate reason that would prevent them from requesting assistance

Options for requesting assistance when the Soldier is unavailable:

• Special Power of Attorney
  • Spouses or other authorized dependent must have a valid SPOA from their sponsor granting them authority to act as the sponsor’s attorney-in-fact to “establish, change, or stop allotments” as required by Financial Management Regulation DoD 7000.14-R, para 400803.
  • Note: “A general power of attorney is not acceptable to establish, change or stop and allotment.” (FMR 7000.14-R, para 400803)
• Account Allotment and Authorization Form (AER Form 55)
  • Allows active duty or retired Soldiers to provide one-time authority for a spouse or other eligible dependent to obtain financial assistance in the name of the Soldier when they are unavailable. Upon request, the AER Form 55 will can be initiated by the local AER officer. The AER officer will email the form directly to the active duty or retired Soldier for signature on behalf of the eligible family member.
• Email from the active duty Soldier’s .mil account stating they concur with the assistance, dollar amount and repayment
  • Under no circumstance can a personal email account be used to provide concurrence.