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Free courses, tools and help in a hard moment

Start with what you need today. Courses and tools are free for everyone. Hardship assistance has requirements, listed below.

Open to everyone

Free courses and tools

Four short online courses on budgeting, debt and credit, benefits and work, and planning ahead, plus budget and debt calculators. Earn a certificate when you finish.

Start a free course

Eligibility required

Emergency hardship assistance

Short-term help with a documented emergency, such as a utility shutoff, eviction risk or a vehicle repair you need to get to work. Funds are limited, and not every applicant receives an award.

See program details

How to apply

Applying for hardship assistance

Review the eligibility requirements. Assistance is for veterans, military family members, first responders, healthcare workers, educators, government employees and essential workers who have a documented hardship and meet FAS income guidelines.
Verify program eligibility. FAS verifies that you meet the requirements of the assistance program, such as your employment or service status, financial need, qualifying hardship and supporting documents.
Complete the four free courses. Finish the Afford Today Certificate Program and save your certificate. You will upload it with your application. This is required to apply. It does not guarantee assistance.
Submit your application. Complete the online application and upload your certificate and supporting documents. If you have trouble uploading, contact our team.
FAS reviews your application. The FAS team verifies eligibility and documents. Reviews take at least 15 business days, and we email you at each stage. Complete, accurate documents help us move faster.

Start your application Start the courses

How assistance decisions are made

FAS reviews every application under the same written criteria. Decisions consider:

Eligible population (employment or service category)
A qualifying, documented hardship
Financial need and household circumstances
Whether the hardship threatens basic needs or employment
Supporting documentation
Completion of the program’s education requirement
Availability of charitable funds
Final review by the FAS team

Meeting preliminary eligibility requirements does not guarantee financial assistance. Awards are subject to documentation, program criteria, available charitable funds and final FAS review. FAS sets its own program criteria and is responsible for applicant eligibility, funding decisions, financial controls and program outcomes. Partner organizations may help with outreach, referral or education, but you do not need to join or buy anything from any organization to apply.

About veterans’ benefits. FAS is not part of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or any state veterans department. FAS is not VA-accredited and does not prepare or file VA claims. For help with a claim, contact your County Veterans Service Officer or a VA-accredited representative.

Questions about the courses or your application? Contact our team or call or text 715-503-0025.