Coast Guard Mutual Assistance (CGMA): Grants, Financial Assistance & Education Benefits
Coast Guard families have access to an incredible resource that you may not know about: Coast Guard Mutual Assistance (CGMA).
From PCS child care grants and free baby layettes to emergency financial assistance, special-needs grants, adoption assistance and education funding, CGMA offers a wide range of programs designed to help Coast Guard members and their families through the financial challenges of military life.
Here’s what Coast Guard families should know about Coast Guard Mutual Assistance and its programs in 2026.
What Is Coast Guard Mutual Assistance?
Coast Guard Mutual Assistance (CGMA) is the Coast Guard’s official relief society, providing financial assistance and other support to members of the Coast Guard community.
Assistance is available through a combination of grants, interest-free loans and family support resources, depending on the program and individual circumstances.
CGMA serves a broad portion of the Coast Guard community, with eligibility for various programs extending to active-duty members, Reservists, retirees, civilian employees, Coast Guard Auxiliary members, surviving spouses and eligible family members.
In 2025, CGMA provided more than $12.1 million in financial assistance to more than 4,000 Coast Guard members and families, including more than $3 million in grants.
CGMA PCS Childcare Grant — Up to $450 Per Family
PCSing with children can add another layer of expense and stress to an already busy move.
The CGMA PCS Childcare Grant helps eligible Coast Guard families pay for child care while completing activities associated with a Permanent Change of Station.
Eligible families can receive $150 per child for up to three children, for a maximum of $450 per family per calendar year.
Child care can be provided within 60 days before departing the old duty station and/or within 60 days after reporting to the new permanent duty station.
Another great feature is that the care does not necessarily have to come from a commercial child care center. A neighbor or friend may provide the care as long as the expense is properly documented. However, payments to family members such as parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles or cousins do not qualify.
Eligible families must submit their application within six months of receiving the child care services.
Welcome Baby Layette — A Free Gift for New Coast Guard Babies
Expecting a baby or recently welcomed a new child into your family?
CGMA offers a Welcome Baby Layette to help celebrate new additions to Coast Guard families.
The free welcome package includes a backpack filled with baby essentials such as onesies, burp cloths and a CGMA sippy cup.
The program isn’t limited to biological births. Eligible CGMA members expecting a new baby, adopted child or stepchild, as well as those with a baby under six months old, may qualify.
It’s a simple benefit, but definitely one expecting Coast Guard families should know about.
Special Needs Grant — Up to $3,000
Coast Guard families enrolled in the Coast Guard Special Needs Program may also qualify for financial assistance through the CGMA Special Needs Grant.
Eligible families can receive reimbursement of up to $3,000 every 60 months for qualifying services and resources related to a dependent’s special needs.
Covered expenses may include:
- Adaptive equipment
- Heavy-duty strollers
- Wheelchairs
- Specialized shoes
- Cranial helmets
- Assistive technology and communication devices
- Hearing aids
- Specialized computer software
- Specialized camps, clubs and sports programs
- Membership fees for organizations providing special-needs services
The grant is available to qualifying active-duty Coast Guard members and certain Coast Guard Reserve members on extended active-duty orders who have dependents registered in the Coast Guard Special Needs Program.
PCS Financial Assistance
The PCS Childcare Grant is only one of several CGMA programs designed to help Coast Guard families during a military move.
Depending on eligibility and financial circumstances, PCS-related assistance may also be available for:
- Rental deposits and move-in costs
- Unexpected PCS expenses
- Vehicle shipment
- OCONUS rental cars while waiting for a POV
- Vehicle repairs
- Long-term child care setup costs
- Breast milk shipment during PCS travel
- Pet transportation and quarantine expenses
- Education assistance
- Spouse professional licensing or accreditation costs
If you’re preparing for a PCS, it’s worth reviewing CGMA programs before putting unexpected moving expenses on a credit card.
Emergency Financial Assistance
CGMA provides interest-free loans and grants for a variety of financial emergencies and everyday needs.
Assistance may be available for expenses such as housing, food, utilities, transportation, medical needs and other necessary living expenses.
The exact type and amount of assistance depends on the program, eligibility and the family’s individual financial circumstances.
Emergency Travel Assistance
A serious illness or death in the family can result in expensive last-minute travel.
CGMA’s Emergency Travel Loan can help eligible Coast Guard families cover qualifying expenses associated with emergency travel, including transportation, food and lodging.
Because this assistance is provided as an interest-free loan, families can address an urgent situation without adding high-interest debt.
Disaster & Emergency Assistance
Coast Guard members are often among the first to respond when natural disasters strike, but Coast Guard families can also be directly affected by hurricanes, floods, fires and other emergencies.
CGMA provides both grants and interest-free loans for disaster recovery.
For 2026, CGMA expanded several disaster benefits.
Eligible families may receive:
Food Loss Grant: Up to $500 for members with dependents or $250 for members without dependents following qualifying food loss.
Personal Property Grant: Up to $2,500 to replace qualifying essential household items.
Home & Vehicle Repair Grant: Up to $6,000 for qualifying home or vehicle repairs.
CGMA also offers immediate interest-free disaster loans of up to $7,500 for urgent recovery needs.
Adoption Assistance — Up to $7,500
Families growing through adoption should also know about CGMA’s adoption assistance programs.
The CGMA Adoption Loan provides an interest-free loan of up to $7,500 for reasonable expenses associated with legally adopting a child.
Qualifying expenses can include:
- Adoption fees
- Attorney fees
- Court costs
- Required home inspections
- Travel
- Meals and lodging while away from home
- Certain re-adoption expenses for international adoptions
CGMA also offers an Adoption Home Study Grant that can help reimburse eligible families for the cost of a required adoption home study.
Family-Building & Fertility Support
CGMA also provides resources for Coast Guard members building their families.
The organization offers an Assisted Reproductive Services Loan to help eligible members with qualifying fertility-related expenses.
CGMA has also partnered with WIN to provide a Family Building Benefit Program, offering Coast Guard members access to family-building resources and guidance from Nurse Care Advocates.
Families considering fertility treatment, adoption or other paths to parenthood should review current CGMA family-building programs to see what assistance may be available.
CGMA Education Grants & Interest-Free Loans
CGMA also provides several education benefits for Coast Guard members and their families.
Supplemental Education Grant — Up to $750
The CGMA Supplemental Education Grant (SEG) helps eligible Coast Guard members, spouses and dependent children pay for education expenses that aren’t always covered by traditional financial aid.
For 2026, the maximum grant is $750 per household. Dual-military families may receive up to $1,500, with no more than $750 per student.
Qualifying expenses can include:
- Textbooks
- Registration and enrollment fees
- Testing fees
- Lab fees
- Graduation fees
- Study guides and workbooks
- Art and lab supplies
- Graphing and scientific calculators
- Specialized software
- Computers, laptops and tablets
One important 2026 change: CGMA removed its previous three-year restriction on computers, laptops and tablets, meaning eligible students who need a computer may apply for assistance.
The SEG does not cover tuition.
For 2026, applications are being accepted from June 1 through September 30, 2026, with applicants scheduled to receive decisions by October 31.
CGMA Education Loan — Up to $7,500
Families who need additional help paying for higher education should also look at the CGMA Education Loan.
Eligible CGMA members can receive an interest-free education loan of up to $7,500 for themselves, their spouse or dependent children under age 23.
Eligible students can include those pursuing:
- Undergraduate degrees
- Graduate degrees
- Approved vocational or technical programs
- GED programs
- Qualifying correspondence programs
Unlike the Supplemental Education Grant, the Education Loan can help with tuition and other qualifying education costs.
Additional Education Assistance
CGMA offers several other programs that may help with education and career-related expenses.
These include an Education Advocate Grant for qualifying families who need help navigating special-education services and federally required education paperwork.
CGMA also offers a Stafford/PLUS Loan Fee Grant that can help reimburse mandatory fees associated with qualifying federal education loans.
For eligible Coast Guard members pursuing professional credentials, the CG COOL Loan can provide an interest-free loan of up to $4,500 toward qualifying credentialing expenses such as training and exam fees.
Because programs and eligibility requirements vary, check current CGMA guidelines before applying.
Spouse Professional Requirements Assistance
Military spouses frequently have to transfer professional licenses or credentials when moving to another state.
CGMA offers a Spouse Professional Requirements Loan that may help with costs associated with transferring professional accreditation from one state to another following a PCS.
For Coast Guard spouses working in licensed professions, this is an important benefit to remember when preparing for a move.
Who Is Eligible for CGMA Assistance?
Eligibility varies significantly by program.
Depending on the specific benefit, assistance may be available to:
- Active-duty Coast Guard members
- Coast Guard Reservists
- Retired Coast Guard members
- Coast Guard civilian employees
- Coast Guard Auxiliary members
- Public Health Service officers and chaplains serving with the Coast Guard
- Surviving spouses
- Eligible spouses and dependent children
Not every eligibility category qualifies for every program, so families should check the requirements for the individual benefit they’re interested in.
How to Apply for Coast Guard Mutual Assistance
CGMA has more than 600 Coast Guard Mutual Assistance Representatives available to help members understand programs and apply for assistance.
Many programs also allow eligible members to submit an application online.
Documentation requirements vary depending on the benefit and may include items such as military identification, PCS orders, receipts, proof of enrollment, estimates or other documentation supporting the request.
The best place to start is with your local CGMA Representative or the Coast Guard Mutual Assistance website.
Don’t Miss These Coast Guard Family Benefits
Coast Guard Mutual Assistance offers much more than emergency financial assistance.
Whether you’re PCSing with children, welcoming a new baby, raising a child with special needs, pursuing a degree, transferring a professional license, recovering from a natural disaster or growing your family through adoption, CGMA may have a program that can help.
Some benefits Coast Guard families should remember include:
$150 Per Child PCS Childcare Grant • Free Welcome Baby Layette • Special Needs Grant Up to $3,000 • Supplemental Education Grant Up to $750 • Interest-Free Education Loan Up to $7,500 • Adoption Loan Up to $7,500 • Disaster Grants & Loans • PCS Assistance • Spouse Professional Requirements Assistance
Eligibility, program limits and availability vary, so always check current CGMA guidelines before applying.
Learn More & Apply: Visit Coast Guard Mutual Assistance at MyCGMA.org.
