2015 New and Expanded Programs

Education Programs

CGMA increased existing education programs to accommodate the financial endeavors of the Coast Guard family. The interest free education loan increased from $2000 to $3000, allowing clients to borrow more money for themselves or dependents without worries of paying interest. CGMA put out 20% more funds for education loans in 2015, assisting cli‐ents with over $220,000 for education expenses including tuition. For clients that paid the loan origination fee for federal student loans (up to 4%), CGMA offered direct reimburse‐ment on these charges, supplying $22,000 to clients in 2015.

As of January 2015, CGMA’s most popular program, the Supplemental Education Grant (SEG), increased from $250 to $350 per calendar year and was opened to all degree levels. With a competitive job market requiring further degrees and education, the SEG serves to help our clients achieve a higher education by covering costs of books and supplies. Com‐pared with 2014, CGMA increased spending on this program by 55% in 2015, providing $575,000 to Coast Guard clients.

Special Needs Grant

In March 2015, CGMA approved a new grant to provide financial assistance to Active Duty clients who are faced with extra costs in relation to their dependents with special needs. To be eligible for the grant, clients must be active duty, with dependents registered in the Coast Guard special needs program. This grant, up to $3000 per client, helps with costs such as fees for specialized activities (camps, clubs, sporting leagues), the cost of adaptive equipment such as heavy duty strollers, wheelchairs, and shoes, the cost of other re‐sources designed to meet special needs, like Assistive Technology Devices (communication devices, hearing aids, etc.) or specialized computer software, and mem‐bership fees to organizations that provide special needs services. Coast Guard Mutual As‐sistance was able to help 12 families this year and provide over $17,000 in financial to alle‐viate some of the financial impact unique to these clients.

Service Animals Loan

CGMA now offers a loan up to $6000 for the purchase or training of a service animal to assist a client who is disabled or a member of the client’s immediate family who is dis‐abled. Service animals may be dogs or other animals trained to the requirements of the individual with a disability, including, but not limited to, mobility issues, visual impair‐ment, hearing impairment, seizures, diabetes, PTSD, autism, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and other physical or mental disabilities.

Emergency Pet Expenses

CGMA has recently expanded assistance for costs related to emergency pet expenses. These circumstances include pet quarantine fees during PCS transfer, veterinary bills for emergency treatment when a pet has become injured or seriously ill, and pet lodging ex‐penses during a move, emergency evacuation or during other emergencies when a pet cannot accommodate the client during travel. Over the course of 2015, CGMA helped 12 clients with pet expenses, totaling $13,993.