The Fund for Special Assistance
Established in 2012, the Fund for Special Assistance (FSA) was created to relieve the specific, extraordinary financial needs of eligible retired clergy in good standing in The Episcopal Church and their surviving spouses and dependents who are receiving benefits from certain plans administered by The Church Pension Fund* (CPF).
Key Guidelines and Updates
Effective January 1, 2025, CPF’s Board of Trustees approved revisions to the FSA’s guidelines intended to address certain administrative hurdles, increase the total lifetime limit for grants, and expand the use of the FSA.
- Each eligible applicant may be approved for up to a total lifetime limit of $50,000. Individuals who may have reached the prior lifetime limit of $20,000 are now eligible for up to the new limit.
- Applicants can apply for multiple grants in their lifetime, subject to the total lifetime limit, and there is no waiting period between grant requests.
- Applicants can apply for an unlimited number of grants, subject to the lifetime limit, and can request up to $50,000 in a single grant.
- Applicants no longer need to submit a grant request through their canonical bishop; however, they will be notified of the grant request. Applicants apply directly to the Church Pension Group using this application (or through the button below).
- The minimum grant amount is $1,000.
Essential Documentation for Applications
Grants are not intended to pay for education expenses or long-term care expenses addressed by Medicaid or Medicare.
Applicants are required to document why they are requesting special assistance and complete a personal financial disclosure statement with explanatory notes and professional estimates or invoices. They will also need to certify that the financial need cannot be addressed with any cash on hand, cash on bank deposit, or other liquid assets.
Application Review and Grant Allocation Process
We will aim to review applications in a timely manner and will determine whether to grant the full request, a partial amount, or deny it completely. All decisions are final.
We will provide up to $500,000 in FSA grants annually, and if we receive requests that exceed this annual amount, they will be reviewed in the next calendar year.
Applicants are encouraged to consult with a financial advisor regarding the tax implications of receiving a grant.
* The applicant must be receiving payments under The Church Pension Fund Clergy Pension Plan, The Church Pension Fund Clergy Child Benefit Plan, The Church Pension Fund Clergy Long-Term Disability Plan, or any pension plan sponsored and administered by CPF for the benefit of Episcopal clergy in Episcopal dioceses outside the United States.
Effective January 1, 2025
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