A Social Relief of Distress grant is given as a one-time payment to a person who is in extreme need. People who are unable to meet their own or their families basic needs leave with the prize. The grant can come with money, gift cards, or food.

You must meet one of the criteria below in order to be eligible for Social Relief of Distress:

• While the grants for your children are being processed, you need assistance.
• A catastrophe or calamity has occurred (for example, your house has burned down). Despite being in a dire situation, you are ineligible for a grant.
• You are unable to work for less than six months as a result of a medical condition.
• You cannot ask your child or the child’s other parent to pay child support.
• The family’s primary provider has died.
• The primary provider of income has recently been detained.
• Although a disaster has affected your neighborhood or community, it has not yet been declared a disaster area.

• If you lack identification and birth certificates, an affidavit from your local police station, chief, counselor, or religious leader may suffice.
• Show proof that you:
  • have applied for a grant
  • have had an emergency (e.g. provide a police report that your house burnt down)
  • have tried to get maintenance
  • have no other support
  • are married, divorced, or single
  • have no income
  • have a short-term medical disability.

How long does it take

• Your application will be reviewed right away.
• After you submit your application, it will be reviewed for credibility and a real need for the service.
• Even if you lack all of the required documents, you will receive your first month’s food box, voucher, or cash.
• Remember to give the officer all of the documents before the second month’s payment is due. If you don’t, you can miss out on your food box, voucher, or cash for the second and third months.
• If your circumstances do not alter after three months, you may seek to have the award extended for another three months.