Fiscal Year 2026-2027
The Member Hardship Fund originated in 2021 to provide financial assistance to members facing challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The fund is a non-contractual benefit offered at the discretion of the Executive Board and is therefore available exclusively to members.
The Executive Board continues to include the fund in the UCPEA annual budget and has allocated $25,000 for FY 2026-2027 to provide hardship fund grants to eligible members. To ensure the fund remains a source of meaningful assistance, the following changes have been made and are effective this fiscal year:
Changes to the structure of the Member Hardship Fund
- Eligible applicants may receive a maximum grant amount of $500. Annual salary will no longer be a factor impacting grant amounts.
The annual funding will be split evenly across three application periods, with one-third available during each period. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and efforts will be made to issue grant payments as promptly as possible.
| Period | Dates | Allocation |
| 1 | July 1 through October 31 | $8,333.33 |
| 2 | November 1 through February 28 (February 29 in leap years) | $8,333.33 |
| 3 | March 1 through June 30 | $8,333.33 |
- Unused funds at the end of an application period will roll over to the next application period in the same fiscal year.
- If funding is exhausted during an application period and a grant cannot be funded, the member may reapply during the next application period. Unfunded applications will not automatically roll over.
Changes to eligibility criteria
- Members may not receive grants in consecutive fiscal years. Members who received a distribution from the Member Hardship Fund during FY 2025-2026 will be eligible again in FY 2027-2028.
The November through February application period this fiscal year will have $16,666.66 available for distribution to account for the missed July-October application period.
To be considered for a grant, members must complete the Member Hardship Fund Grant Application.