COVID-19 financial assistance for veterans now available

Veterans and their spouses who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic are now able to access a pair of state government programs that were created to provide them with financial assistance.
“During troubled times in our country’s history, our veterans put their lives on hold to do what was best for our state and our country,” said State Representative Greg Davids (R-Preston). “With some of them now struggling due to COVID-19, the least our state can do is to ease the burden of our veterans during this time of crisis.”
On March 26, the Minnesota Legislature voted to fund a special appropriation to assist veterans who may be financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 Specific Programs have been activated specifically in response to mitigate the economic effects COVID-19 is having on our veterans and their families.
According to the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs, these programs can close at any time without notice due to the exhaustion of approved funding. Status updates will be posted here regarding the status of these programs. All of the grants are awarded on a first come, first serve basis, and the amount of grants awarded is limited to the length of existing funding.
The Legislature also approved COVID-19 Disaster relief grants, which are designed to mitigate the negative effects and economic impact COVID-19 has had on veterans and their families by providing a one-time financial relief grant in the amount of $1,000.
Applications for the disaster relief grant must be dated no earlier than March 13, 2020. A closing date for the disaster relief grant has yet to be determined and will depend on the length of the peacetime emergency declared by the Governor of the State of Minnesota and the availability of funding.
To qualify for the COVID-19 Special Needs Grant, applicants must be:
1. A veteran or the surviving spouse (who has not remarried) of a deceased veteran as defined by MN Statute 197.447, and
2. A Minnesota Resident, and
3. Have been negatively financial impacted by COVID-19.
* Note: Two veterans married to each other are both authorized to apply for and receive the disaster relief grant.