Questions and answers on the new (9 Sept. 2015) Army Emergency Relief policy change.

1. Army Emergency Relief
Direct Access Policy Change
Questions & Answers
Q - What is the policy change?
A - The policy change allows all Soldiers, regardless of rank, direct access to AER
without having to obtain approval from their Chain of Command.
Q - Why did AER make the change?
A - The number of active duty Soldiers requesting assistance has declined 35 percent
over the past six years. Assessments reveal that Soldiers are reluctant to seek AER
assistance because the process can be intimidating, and there is a perceived negative
stigma associated with asking for financial help.
Q - Who approved the change?
A - The AER Board of Managers unanimously approved the policy change in an email
vote in July.
Q - When will the new policy be implemented?
A - The new policy became effective Sept. 9, 2015.
Q - Does AER expect to see an increase in requests for assistance?
A - Yes, we expect an initial increase in assistance requests when this policy is
implemented.
Q - Does AER have the financial resources for this change if there is a large increase in
requests?
A - AER has the resources to support the anticipated increase in assistance requests.
Q - Are there any exceptions or caveats to this policy?
 Soldiers in the grades of E-1 through E-4 in Initial Entry Training (IET) will not
be authorized direct access. They will continue to submit AER requests through
the unit chain of command.
 All Soldiers in the grade of E-1 through E-4 must have a minimum of 12 months’
Time in Service (TIS) and have completed IET, whichever is greater, in order to
be eligible for direct access.
 Regardless of rank, financial assistance will be limited to two assistance requests
(loan or grant) within a 12-month period without the commander/first sergeant
review.
 All Soldiers, regardless of rank, who exhibit high risk financial behavior IAW AR
600-85 and SecArmy Directive 2013-11(Change to the Army Risk Reduction
Program), will require company commander/first sergeant review before AER
assistance will be considered.
Q - Will there still be a Commander’s Referral Program?
A - Yes. The Commander’s Referral Program will stay, as is, and remains the quickest
way to get assistance.