PURPOSE
The
Benevolence Team has been established to provide limited financial
assistance to PLWP members when such assistance is likely to be
effective in helping the applicant find a long-term solution to his or
her difficulty
SPECIFIC/SHORT TERM HELP
It is
important that applicants understand that the funds available to the
Team are limited. Therefore, the Team cannot provide financial
assistance of an indefinite or substantial nature. Consequently,
applications for assistance of a long-term or substantial nature
generally will not be eligible for consideration. The Team encourages
members with such needs to contact government or private organizations
that may be better able to provide such assistance. Absent extraordinary
circumstances, benevolence grants will be made for the purposes of
providing services or other needs essential to a basic quality of life.
Examples include but are not limited to heat, light, medications, and
assistive devices needed for daily living.
PROCEDURE
Each person
seeking assistance from the Benevolence Team will be required to
complete an application so that the Team can properly evaluate
the eligibility of the request. In some cases, an interview of the
applicant may be required to determine eligibility. Also, the applicant
has the right, if the application is denied, in whole or in part, to an
interview to further discuss his or her application and eligibility.
However, the decision of the Team as to each request for assistance will
be final and at the sole discretion of the Team. Also, the Team may
grant a portion of the member’s request.
PRIVACY
One of the
Team’s primary responsibilities is to treat each applicant with dignity
and respect. In order that the Benevolence Team can properly evaluate a
request under the Benevolence Program, the applicant may be required to
provide financial information that is generally considered to be of a
personal or private nature. Any information provided by the applicant,
including his or her identity, will be kept strictly confidential. Those
Team members not assigned to evaluate an application will not have
access to the information provided or the identity of the applicant. If
it becomes necessary to consult with persons outside the Team, such as
accountants, lawyers, etc., the identity of the applicant will under no
circumstances be revealed without the express permission of the
applicant.
AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS
While the
approval of an application and the disbursement of funds is subject
solely to the Team’s discretion, the Team may only disburse those funds
available at the time of an application’s review. This may result in the
inability of the Team to respond to worthy and timely applications with
the needed financial assistance.
APPROVAL/DISBURSEMENT
Upon approval
of a request for assistance, disbursement of the approved amount will
be made directly by check payable in the specific amount applicable to
the vendor(s) or creditor(s) rather than the applicant, unless, in the
team’s sole discretion, it is more appropriate to disburse the funds
directly to the applicant.
TIMEFRAME
Although
the Team will attempt to review and make a decision on applications in
the order they have been received, the urgency of a request will be
factored into every application, and there may be instances in which the
Team will review an application on an expedited basis.
However, the
applicant is expected to apply within a reasonable time after he or she
becomes aware of the need for assistance, and the relative timeliness of
the application to the need for assistance will be considered in any
request to expedite the review process. The Team understands and
appreciates that the applicant may first attempt to resolve his or her
problem without assistance, but the Team’s policy is an attempt to
discourage the submission of applications the approval of which would
require an expedited review.
The Team
takes its responsibilities very seriously, with the utmost awareness
that applications often require a quick decision and, if approved,
disbursement of funds. The Team will make every attempt to ensure that
its decision and disbursement of funds is timely and will be of maximum
assistance to the applicant.
REIMBURSEMENT
If an
application is approved and funds are disbursed on behalf of the
applicant, the applicant is under no obligation to repay any portion of
the amount disbursed. Voluntary reimbursement due to a change in the
economic circumstances of the applicant will of course be gratefully
accepted, but will not be expected.