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May 21, 2019The Emergency Assistance Foundation provides insight into their Immediate Response Program. A unique solution designed for quick response to employees immediate needs in times of disaster.
Preplanning. You hear this term often in life but preplanning for your company and its employees is a key element to avoiding chaos. Many disasters, such as hurricanes, can be identified before they strike. Others, such as tornadoes, earthquakes, or man-made disasters cannot. For those that can’t be anticipated, implementing an Immediate Response Program will help your fund efficiently respond to critical needs in times of disaster, as opposed to scrambling to meet employee needs once disaster strikes. It is important to know that the IRP is designed to meet regulations for a regulatory defined “Qualified Disaster” only..
According to the IRS a Qualified Disaster is:
- A disaster which results from a terrorist or military action.
- A presidentially declared disaster.
- A disaster which results from an accident involving a common carrier.
- Any event, which is determined to be catastrophic by the Secretary of the Treasury or his or her delegate.
How does the IRP process work?
- The IRP is part of an ongoing Disaster or Hardship Fund and cannot be a targeted approach to a single disaster. The IRP cannot be used as an initial grant for a disaster and hardship relief program.
- A disaster strikes and impacts employees in the area. Please note that this program is only available for employees that need aid in the immediate aftermath of the disaster. This includes employees who need shelter, food, transportation, or other immediate needs due to disaster conditions depriving them of such needs. Essentially, only employees whose needs arise from the emergency situation qualify.
The IRP must be part of an ongoing Employee Relief Fund, then receiving the immediate assistance does not disqualify the employee from applying for a grant when they are ready (nor does it guarantee they will receive a grant). However, it does reduce the grant amount they are qualified to receive. For example, if the maximum grant is $5,000 and they received a $500 debit card or payment, then the maximum additional grant they may receive is $4,500.
Each disaster event has unique nuances which impact the Immediate Response Program.
Click here to see original blog post on the Emergency Assistance Foundation website.
Author:
Doug Stockham
President, Emergency Assistance Foundation
doug@emergencyassistancefdn.org
Emergency Assistance Foundation, Inc.
The Emergency Assistance Foundation, Inc. is a 501c(3) charity created to design and operate multiple employer-sponsored disaster relief and employee hardship funds. These funds allow domestic and international employers and employees to help their coworkers in times of crises.
EAF is a 501c(3) tax-exempt, public, non-profit organization with IRS approval specifically for Employee Hardship and Disaster Relief Funds which can be administered in the United States, Canada and internationally.
