Army families have access to an incredible resource that you may not know about: Army Emergency Relief (AER).

From help with child car seats, child care and PCS expenses to emergency financial assistance, spouse professional licensing costs, career-transition grants and college scholarships, AER offers a wide range of programs designed to support Soldiers and Army families when they need it most.

Here’s what Army families should know about Army Emergency Relief and the assistance available in 2026.

What Is Army Emergency Relief?

Founded in 1942, Army Emergency Relief (AER) is the official nonprofit organization of the U.S. Army.

Its mission is to provide financial assistance, educational scholarships and ongoing support to Soldiers, retired Soldiers and their families, helping them overcome financial challenges and build greater financial stability.

AER provides assistance primarily through zero-interest loans and grants.

Every situation is considered individually, and assistance may be available for many expenses military families encounter throughout Army life.

What Can Army Emergency Relief Help Pay For?

One of the most important things to know about AER is just how many different expenses may qualify for assistance.

Depending on your circumstances, AER assistance may be available for:

• Emergency travel
• Rent, mortgage payments and initial deposits
• Temporary lodging
• Food
• Utilities
• Vehicle expenses and repairs
• Medical co-pays not covered by TRICARE
• Dental care for dependents
• Funeral expenses
• Basic furniture and appliances
• Home repairs
• PCS travel
• Child car seats
• Child care
• Cranial helmets
• Special-needs medical equipment
• Clothing
• Immigration and passport fees for dependents
• Spouse relicensing and recertification
• Natural disaster preparation and evacuation
• Non-medical attendant travel

Assistance may be provided as a zero-interest loan, grant or combination of the two, depending on the situation and program.

LEARN MORE

AER Assistance for Child Car Seats

Army families with young children should know that child car seats are an approved category of AER financial assistance.

If an eligible Army family is experiencing financial need and needs a car seat for a dependent child, AER may be able to provide assistance.

Unlike some military aid programs that advertise a set car-seat grant amount, AER considers assistance requests individually. Families should contact AER or submit an online assistance request to determine what help may be available for their specific situation.

AER Child Care Assistance — Up to $1,500

Child care can become especially expensive during a PCS, particularly when a family moves to a high-cost area.

Through the Army Fee Assistance Program, the Army provides up to $1,700 per child per month toward qualifying child care expenses.

For eligible families whose child care costs exceed that amount, Army Emergency Relief may provide an additional $500 per family per month for three consecutive months after arriving at a new duty station in a qualifying high-cost area.

That means eligible Army families may receive up to $1,500 in additional child care assistance from AER.

Families must be enrolled in the Army Fee Assistance Program and demonstrate financial need through completion of a budget.

AER assistance may be provided as a zero-interest loan, grant or combination of the two, depending on the family’s circumstances.

PCS Financial Assistance

PCS moves can bring plenty of unexpected out-of-pocket expenses.

AER lists PCS travel as an eligible category of financial assistance and may also be able to help with other qualifying costs associated with a move, including temporary lodging, deposits, child care and certain other necessary expenses.

If you’re preparing for a PCS and struggling with unexpected costs, it’s worth contacting AER before putting those expenses on a credit card or taking out a high-interest loan.

Spouse Relicensing & Recertification Assistance

Military spouse careers can be disrupted every time a family receives PCS orders.

AER may provide financial assistance for qualifying spouse relicensing and recertification expenses.

This can be particularly valuable for spouses working in careers that require state-specific professional licenses or certifications.

If a PCS requires you to obtain a new professional license or certification to continue working, check with AER to see whether your expenses qualify for assistance.

Emergency Travel Assistance

A serious illness, death or other family emergency can result in expensive last-minute travel.

AER provides financial assistance for qualifying emergency travel expenses.

Depending on the circumstances, assistance may help with transportation and other necessary costs associated with emergency travel.

Vehicle Repair & Transportation Expenses

Reliable transportation can be essential for military families, especially when commuting to work, transporting children or living somewhere with limited public transportation.

AER may provide assistance for qualifying vehicle costs and repairs when financial hardship threatens a Soldier or family’s ability to meet essential transportation needs.

AER generally does not provide assistance to purchase or lease a new or used vehicle, but qualifying repair and vehicle-related expenses may be considered.

Natural Disaster & Evacuation Assistance

Military families affected by hurricanes, wildfires, floods or other natural disasters may also be able to turn to AER.

Natural disaster preparation and evacuation are included among AER’s approved assistance categories.

Depending on the circumstances, assistance may also be available for expenses such as temporary lodging, food and other essential needs.

Wounded Warrior Comfort Grants — $1,000

AER provides additional assistance to qualifying wounded Soldiers through its Wounded Warrior Comfort Grant program.

Soldiers medically evacuated from a hostile-fire or imminent-danger area, peacekeeping operation or qualifying training exercise within the continental United States may receive an immediate $1,000 grant at the time of hospitalization.

Because this assistance is provided as a grant, it does not need to be repaid.

Survivor Assistance

AER support can continue even after the loss of a Soldier.

Eligible surviving spouses and children of active-duty and retired Soldiers may receive financial assistance through AER’s Survivor Assistance Program.

Assistance is provided as grants, and monthly stipends may be available in cases of significant financial hardship.

AER Scholarships for Army Spouses & Children

Army Emergency Relief also provides substantial education assistance to Army families.

AER says it provides more than $13 million in educational scholarships each year through programs for eligible Army spouses and dependent children.

Mrs. Patty Shinseki Spouse Scholarship Program

The Mrs. Patty Shinseki Spouse Scholarship Program is a need-based scholarship designed to help eligible Army spouses earn their first undergraduate degree or first professional or technical certification.

One of the best features of this scholarship is that Army spouses can apply year-round — there is no annual application deadline.

Eligible recipients may receive assistance for up to:

4 academic years of full-time study
or
8 academic years of part-time study

Applicants must reapply each year.

Scholarship amounts vary based on factors including financial need, the number of applicants, available scholarship funding and the average cost of attendance.

Maj. Gen. James Ursano Scholarship for Dependent Children

The Maj. Gen. James Ursano Scholarship Program provides need-based education assistance to eligible dependent children of Soldiers.

The scholarship can help students pursuing their first undergraduate degree or first technical certification.

Eligible students can receive assistance for up to four academic years of full-time study and must reapply each year.

For the 2026–2027 academic year, applications were accepted from January 1 through April 1, 2026.

Award amounts vary and are based on factors including financial need, the student’s FAFSA Student Aid Index, the number of applicants, available scholarship funding and average college costs.

Applicants for the dependent-child scholarship must generally be under age 24.

Who Can Apply for AER Scholarships?

AER scholarship eligibility includes qualifying spouses and children of Soldiers in several categories, including:

• Active-duty Soldiers
• Retired Soldiers
• Medically retired Soldiers
• Deceased active-duty Soldiers
• Deceased retired Soldiers
• Grey Area Retirees
• Qualifying Active Guard Reserve members
• Qualifying Army Reserve members serving on Title 10 orders for the entire academic year

Applicants must meet the requirements of the individual scholarship program and generally must be listed as dependents of their Soldier sponsor in DEERS.

Career Skills Support Program — Grants Up to $1,000

Soldiers transitioning from military service should also know about AER’s Retired Lt. Gen. Nathaniel R. Thompson Jr. Career Skills Support Program.

Eligible retiring and separating Soldiers participating in the Army’s Career Skills Program may receive an AER grant to help reduce some of the costs associated with transitioning from military to civilian employment.

Grants range from $250 to $1,000 depending on location.

This assistance can help remove financial barriers while Soldiers participate in training designed to prepare them for their next career.

Who Is Eligible for Army Emergency Relief Assistance?

Eligibility varies by program, but AER financial assistance generally includes:

• Active-duty Soldiers and eligible family members
• Soldiers retired for longevity and eligible family members
• Medically retired Soldiers and eligible family members
• Retired Army Reserve and National Guard Soldiers receiving retired pay and eligible family members
• Army Reserve and National Guard Soldiers activated on qualifying Title 10 orders for more than 30 days and eligible family members
• Eligible surviving spouses who have not remarried
• Eligible children of Soldiers who died on active duty or after reaching retirement eligibility

Individual programs may have additional requirements, so always check the eligibility rules for the specific type of assistance you’re seeking.

How to Apply for Army Emergency Relief

AER makes it possible to apply for financial assistance online from anywhere in the world.

Eligible Soldiers, retirees and Army families can create an account through AER’s online assistance portal and submit a request.

Once submitted, the application is routed to AER headquarters or the nearest AER office based on the ZIP code provided.

Families can also contact or visit their nearest AER office for assistance.

According to AER, financial assistance may be provided the same day and is provided within 48 hours.

Don’t Miss These Army Family Benefits

Army Emergency Relief offers much more than emergency financial help.

Whether you’re PCSing, paying for child care, replacing a child’s car seat, dealing with an unexpected vehicle repair, transferring a spouse’s professional license, transitioning out of the Army or trying to pay for college, it’s worth checking with AER before taking on additional debt or paying an unexpected expense entirely out of pocket.

Some AER programs and benefits Army families should remember include:

Zero-Interest Loans & Grants • Child Car Seat Assistance • Up to $1,500 in Child Care Assistance • PCS Assistance • Spouse Relicensing & Recertification • Emergency Travel • Vehicle Repair Assistance • $1,000 Wounded Warrior Comfort Grants • Career Skills Grants Up to $1,000 • Spouse Scholarships • Dependent Child Scholarships

Eligibility and the amount or type of assistance available vary by program and individual circumstances.

Learn More & Apply: Visit Army Emergency Relief at ArmyEmergencyRelief.org. 

OTHER BRANCHES WITH MILITARY RELIEF SOCIETIES

• Navy: Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society
• Air Force & Space Force: Air & Space Forces Aid Society (AFAS)
• Coast Guard: Coast Guard Mutual Assistance (CGMA)