Emergency Assistance Fund Policy...Emergency Assistance Fund Policy Natural disaster or personal...
Transcript of Emergency Assistance Fund Policy...Emergency Assistance Fund Policy Natural disaster or personal...
EmergencyAssistanceFundPolicy
Naturaldisasterorpersonaltragedycanhappenunexpectedlytoanyone.However,intheinstanceithappenstooneofourassociates,wewanttoofferahelpinghand.Tosupportourpeopleinatimeofneed,BigLotshasestablishedtheBigLotsFoundationEmergencyAssistanceFund.ProgramOverviewThisfundwillassistactiveBigLotsassociates,theirspouses/domesticpartners,dependents,andotherhouseholdmembers(asdefinedbelow)whoareexperiencingfinancialhardshipresultingfromanunexpectedemergencyhardshiporqualifieddisaster.Intheseinstances,thisfundwillprovidegrantsataminimumof$250andnomorethan$2500forfood,shelterandotherbasicneedstoassociateswhoqualifyforsuchgrantsandtotheextentthatfundsareavailable.BigLotsispartneringwithTheColumbusFoundationtohelpensureallfundsaredistributedefficientlyandequitably.TheColumbusFoundationstaffwillhandletheday-to-dayadministrationandgrant-makingdecisionsasitrelatestothisfund.BigLotswillnotbeinvolvedwiththosedecisions.Allapplicationsarekeptinstrictconfidenceandareconsideredonthebasisofneedandeligibility.AssociateEligibilityBigLotsassociatesareeligibletoapplyiftheyareanactiveteammemberwithBigLots(includingonleave,short-termdisabilityandpaidtimeoff.)Requestedexpensesmustbetheresultofaneventthathasoccurredaftertheteammember’shiredate.Contract,temporary/seasonalassociates,interns,retireesorthoseonlong-termdisabilityarenoteligibletoapplyortoreceiveassistance.BigLotsassociatesareeligibletoapplyandreceivesupporttwiceayearandreceivenomorethan$2,500inonecalendaryear.However,multipleapplicationscannotbeforthesamedisasterorhardshipinoneyear.EligibleAssistanceTheBigLotsFoundationEmergencyAssistanceFundwillsupportassociateswhoexperiencefinancialhardshipresultingfromanunexpectedemergencyhardshiporqualifieddisaster.
• EmergencyHardshipssuchasillness,deathinthefamily,orothersudden,severe,overwhelmingandunexpectedeventthatisbeyondtheindividualassociate’scontrolandwhichresultsintheirinabilitytoprovidebasiclifenecessitiesforthatindividualandtheirimmediatefamily/closerelative
• QualifiedDisastersincludenaturaldisasterssuchasadisasterresultingfromanactofGodasinthecaseofahurricane,tornado,earthquakeorfloodorapersonaldisastersuchasahousefire;oraqualifieddisastersuchasadisastercausedbyterroristormilitaryactionorotherwisedeemedtobequalifieddisasterbythefederalgovernmentsuchasadevastatinghurricane.
Belowaresomeexamplesofeligiblequalifieddisastersandemergencyhardships.Thislistisnotallencompassing.QualifiedDisaster
• ActsofNature/Governmentdeclareddisasterthataffectanassociate’sprimaryresidence(e.g.floods,lightningstrikes,hurricane,tornado,icestorm,wildfires,earthquakes)
• Government-declarednaturaldisaster• Fire• Terroristormilitaryactiondisaster• AnyeventdeterminedbytheSecretaryoftheTreasurytobeofacatastrophicnature
EmergencyHardship
• Domesticabuse• Physicalabuse• Violentcrime• Non-violentcrime• Short-termillnessorothershort-termmedical,dental,visionorhearingcondition.• Accident(unlesscausedbytheassociate’sorapplicablefamilymember’snegligence,
recklessnessorintent)• Deathofanassociate,spouse/partneroradependent• Spouse/partnerlossofjob/income(temporary)• Lossofchildsupport• Militarydeployment(assistwithunexpectedcostsassociatedwithdeploymentor
deploymentofimmediatefamilymember)
IneligibleAssistanceTheBigLotsFoundationEmergencyAssistanceFundwillNOTsupportthefollowingrequestsforfinancialassistance:
• Non-essentialhouseholdutilities(e.g.internet,cable/satellitetelevision,telephone,etc)• Routinecarmaintenance• Medicalexpensescoveredandnotcoveredbymedicalinsurance.• Legalfees• Wagegarnishments,disconnectionnoticesorevictionnotices.• Accumulatedfinancialdistressthatresultsinyournothavingenoughincometocover
yourregularmonthlybills.EAFgrantsaren’tavailabletoresolveongoinggeneralfinancialproblems.
• Creditcarddebt,vehiclepurchases,homeforeclosuresorpaydayloans• Expensesincurredduetolackofhomeownersormedicalinsurance.• Privateschoolorhighereducationtuition• Employeebenefitsduringwaitingperiodsorcoverage.• Expensesassociatedwithdivorceorchildcustodysettlements• Funeral,travelorburialexpensesupondeathofassociate’srelativeoutsideofspouse,
partnerordependents.DefinitionofaBigLotsFamilyMemberImmediatefamily/closerelative(includingin-law/step)thatisfinanciallydependentontheassociateandresidesintheirhousehold.• Parent• Spouse• RegisteredDomesticPartner(asdefinedandrequiredbycityordinanceandstatelaw)• Brother• Sister• Childofassociateorofassociate'sregistereddomesticpartner(asdefinedandrequiredbycityordinanceandstatelaw)• Grandparent• Grandchild• Aunt/Uncle• Niece/Nephew/Cousin• Guardian