All NJEA Members
Available Hardship Grants
An HRP Participant can only receive one Hardship Relief Grant per Unforeseen Event.
An Unforeseen Event includes the following: a natural disaster, such as a fire, flood, hurricane, tornado or earthquake; mold infestation in the classroom causing loss of classroom supplies/materials, an epidemic or pandemic; an emergency as declared by a local, state, or federal government authority; or any other large-scale unforeseen event as determined by the Plan Administrator in its sole discretion.
There are four different HARP grants each with unique eligibility criteria available to NJEA members.
All NJEA Members
Grant Eligibility
To apply for any HARP grant, an applicant must:
NJEA Membership
Must be a current NJEA, NJREA or NJEA Preservice member.
Apply Once per Unforeseen Event.
An HRP Participant can only receive one Hardship Relief Grant per Unforeseen Event. An Unforeseen Event includes the following: a natural disaster, such as a fire, flood, hurricane, tornado or earthquake; mold infestation in the classroom causing loss of classroom supplies/materials; an epidemic or pandemic; an emergency as declared by a local, state, or federal government authority; or any other large-scale unforeseen event as determined by the Plan Administrator in its sole discretion.
Application Deadline
Must apply within 12 months of the date of the incident.
Required Documentation
To apply for the Hardship Relief Grant, an individual must complete the required application and provide a statement from their local association president to attest to the unforeseen event. All documents must include an original signature.
Additional Guidelines and Reservation of Rights
The Trustees are granted the right to establish whatever additional guidelines and rules are necessary for the sound and efficient administration of the HARP, including the right to discontinue making additional Hardship Relief Grants at any time and for any reason and without prior notice to Participants, at their discretion. NJEA reserves the right to change or eliminate the benefit and eligibility rules described above at any time and for any reason.
The full terms and conditions of the NJEA Hardship Relief Program, (“NJEA-HARP”), is governed by the Appendix A, Section A- 7 of the New Jersey Education Association Member Benefit Plan.
* This online portal is for events occurring after Jan. 1, 2024. Contact the NJEA Executive Office for a paper application for disaster events taking place prior to January 1.
How to apply for the NJEA Hardship Relief Fund
A Step by Step Guide
Gather & scan your documents
You will need a letter from your local association president attesting to the unforeseen event with an original signature. Once you have that, scan it either on your printer or on your phone.
You will need a copy of public officials' order to vacate the home OR a letter or statement from the utility company documenting the event and showing the dates you have been displaced. Once you have that, scan it either on your printer or on your phone.
Download, print out, complete, sign and upload a W-9 form
The W-9 form can be downloaded from the Hardship Relief website. Print out the form and fill it out OR fill it out online, print it, and sign it. Once you have that, scan it either on your printer or on your phone.
Fill out the online application
Follow the prompts to complete the online application.
The start date is when the unforeseen event occurred. The end date is when you are expected to return to your home. You can provide an estimate if you are still displaced.
If this is a permanent displacement, loss of classroom supplies, or loss of wage resulting in food insecurity you will only be asked for the date of the unforeseen event.
Upload your documents
In the spaces provided, upload the letter from the local association president, the completed and signed W-9. and the copy of public officials' order to vacate the home OR a letter or statement from the utility company documenting the event and showing the dates you have been displaced.
Complete the address information
This is where you would like your check to be sent. Please note that it can take up to four weeks for the check to be delivered after final approval from NJEA. The check will come from Principal Custody Solutions and will not have NJEA's name on the envelope.
Click "Submit."
For additional questions, contact NJEA
Member Benefits at 609-599-4561 ext. 2222.