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Emergency Relief Fund

The Emergency Relief Fund provides financial assistance to eligible staff who experience a temporary, unexpected financial hardship caused by a defined, catastrophic, time-limited, specific event or a series of related events. The fund is intended to help address immediate, short-term emergency expenses that arise directly from such events and support employees in regaining financial stability.

A temporary financial hardship means that the staff member was able to manage their finances prior to the event that created the hardship and with assistance from the fund, is expected to regain financial stability within several months. Longer-standing financial challenges would likely not meet the temporary nature of the eligibility requirement.

Qualifying Events

Qualifying emergency events are temporary, unexpected situations that create immediate financial hardship. Examples include, but are not limited to:

  • Death of a family member
  • Serious illness or sudden injury
  • Fire

What the Fund Covers

The fund provides financial assistance for expenses related to qualifying emergency events. Assistance may include essential living expenses that are directly connected to a qualifying emergency event and intended to stabilize the situation.

To ensure the fund remains available for short‑term emergency support, it is generally not intended to cover:

  • Ongoing financial hardship not caused by a specific, time‑limited emergency event or series of related events
  • General income support (i.e., salary replacement for lost wages)
  • Seasonal layoffs or routine interruptions in employment
  • Chronic or long‑term debt, including bankruptcy
  • Widespread natural disasters (e.g., floods, tornadoes) or acts of terrorism
  • Legal fees, fines, or major purchases (e.g., vehicles, appliances)

Eligibility

  • Individuals must be employed by 海角论坛 in a benefit-eligible administrative, service, or support staff position
  • Individuals must have completed their probationary period at the time of application.
  • Indiviudals must provide documentation that they have investigated other means of assistance.

Award Information

  • The amount of the awarded funds should be no less than $200 and no greater than $1,500.
  • An individual staff member cannot receive more than one (1) award in the most recent 1-year look-back period and cannot receive more than $1,500 in the most recent 3-year look-back period.

Application Process

  • Submit your application to 海角论坛 Human Resources at umkchr@umkc.edu or in person at Administrative Center, Room 226.
  • Applications will be reviewed by a committee to determine distributions from the funds.
  • Due to the highly personal nature that may drive a staff member to request emergency relief funds, personal identifying information such as the employee's name will not be shared with the committee.

Fund Distribution Process

  • Approved funds are issued via direct deposit through the University's payroll system and are subject to applicable taxes and deductions.

Staff members may be eligible for other resources. 海角论坛 Human Resources can assist staff in identifying additional support options, such as the Employee Assistance Program.

Staff Emergency Relief Fund Application (PDF)