Image by The Board of Pensions of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Financial assistance is available from the Board of Pensions to help its active and retired members, plus their families, with various needs. Each year, the assistance program distributes more than 1,200 grants worth more than $7.6 million.
Eligibility requirements vary by the type of assistance. Generally, the assistance is available to employees, spouses and surviving spouses participating in the Benefits Plan of the PC(USA). An overview of the assistance opportunities is available below.
Assistance opportunities available for all active members include:
* Adoption assistance of $3,000 per child provided at completion of the process to help with a portion of related expenses like agency and attorney fees.
* Emergency Assistance as a one-time grant for emergency or unexpected need facing a member. Groups of members affected by natural disasters also may qualify. Assistance is initiated by a mid council, employer or multiple bodies of the church, which typically share in the cost.
* Tuition-to-College Assistance helps eligible members with children entering college. Students can receive up to $1,000 for transitional expenses like buying a computer.
Assistance programs available for retirees include:
* Housing Supplements to help retirees and surviving spouses with the cost of remaining in their homes or moving to retirement facilities. Supplements are ongoing unless financial circumstances change.
* Income Supplements to help eligible retirees and surviving spouses in need by raising to certain levels the monthly income for those who had earned modest wages. Supplements are ongoing unless financial circumstances change.
* Retiree Medical Grants of up to $2,500 that reimburse retirees, spouses and surviving spouses who are 65 or old for dental services and/or hearing aids once every three years.
Assistance programs available for ministers in active service include:
* Minister Educational Debt Assistance helps eligible ministers repay education debt through student loan debt coaching and grants of up to $25,000 across five years.
* Sabbath Sabbatical Support that provides eligible ministers up to $3,000 to engage in planned activities for personal and professional renewal.
Learn more about how the assistance program has helped active and retired members and their families by clicking here. The page includes a story and video recording about the Rev. Woong-Sik (Timothy) Chon who received a Sabbath Sabbatical Support grant while on leave from North Westminster Presbyterian Church in East Lansing.
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