Effective for natural disasters occurring on or after September 2023

Relief grants are only considered for property damage sustained to a “primary residence” due to a natural disaster, such as but not limited to, a hurricane, flood, tornado, wildfire, earthquake or severe storm; or as the result of a house fire (applicant must include copy of the official fire report).

All relief grants are considered based on one of two categories:

• Primary residence is totally destroyed (never able to return) or,
• Primary residence is significantly damaged (left temporarily uninhabitable for an extended period, with an expectation that the applicant will be able to eventually return home; anticipated displacement must be at least 90 days).

1. Applicant must provide documentation that they are (1) a current employee of the United States Postal Service or (2) a retired USPS employee, at the time of the disaster or house fire.
   
2. Only one request for relief will be considered per family residing in the same principal place of residence, regardless of the number of eligible persons residing in the household. Applicants and qualifying spouses/partners are limited to receiving a maximum of two grants per lifetime.
   
3. For verification of eligibility all homeowner applicants must submit copies of a report or estimate from first responders, city/government officials, other relief agencies or insurance adjusters that substantiate the degree of damages and the extent of displacement from primary residence. The document must list the applicant or spouse/partner’s name and address as declaration of ownership.
   
   All renter applicants must submit copies of a report from first responders, city/government officials, other relief agencies or insurance adjusters, or provide a signed letter from the landlord that substantiates the degree of damages and expected duration of the applicant’s displacement from their primary residence. The document or copy of the lease agreement must list the applicant or spouse/partner’s name and address as declaration of occupancy.
   
   Applicants do NOT have to wait for emergency relief or insurance claims to be settled for documents to be considered proper in order to apply.
   
4. All applicants must have their application signed by their union officer or management official prior to submission to PERF as confirmation.
   
5. All applicants having been temporarily displaced from their primary residence under “uninhabitable” MUST submit a signed, personal narrative detailing the specific reasons for the anticipated duration of the displacement.
   
6. Applications for grants from PERF must be received no later than 6 months from the date that the natural disaster or house fire occurred, unless the applicant can provide sufficient reason(s) why they were unable to complete and submit their application prior to this deadline. Requests for exceptions will be ruled on by the PERF Executive Committee on a case-by-case basis.