Louisiana Attorney General's Office Accepting Applications for Military Family Assistance Fund

Article continues below...

November 5, 2007: (Baton Rouge, LA) — Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr. is pleased to announce that his office is now accepting applications for assistance from the Louisiana Military Family Assistance (MFA) Fund.

Created during the 2005 Legislative session, the MFA fund is supported solely by donations from citizens and corporations. Its purpose is to help families defray the costs of such necessities as food, housing and medical services that become difficult to afford when a wage-earner has temporarily left civilian employment to be placed on active military duty. All other resources, such as insurance, must be exhausted before the MFA fund can be accessed. The MFA fund is housed within the Department of Social Services. The Attorney General’s Office has been appointed as the third-party administrator of the fund.

Any Louisiana resident who is a member of a reserve component of the U.S. Armed Forces or the National Guard and who has served a minimum of thirty consecutive days of active duty or active state service since September 11, 2001 may apply for assistance from the MFA fund. Immediate family members of eligible solders may apply on behalf of the soldier.

Soldiers may apply for up to $10,000 for one claim per active duty order in a twelve month period. In addition, in extenuating circumstances the MFA fund will pay a lump sum award, not to exceed $700, for a service-related death or injury resulting in a substantial residual disability.

To apply for assistance, please submit a completed application to the fund administrator at the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office. Applications are available at all Veterans Affairs parish service offices and can be found online at the following web sites:

Louisiana Attorney General’s Office: www.ag.state.la.us
Louisiana Department of Social Services: www.dss.state.la.us
Department of Veterans Affairs: www.vetaffairs.com
Louisiana National Guard: www.la.ngb.army.mil

Once you have completed the form, please mail it and the requested documentation to the fund administrator at the address below. You may fax your application, but you must follow up by mailing the application with the original signature.

Military Family Assistance Fund Administrator
Louisiana Attorney General’s Office
P.O. Box 94005
Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9005
Phone: 225-326-6400
Fax: 225-326-6497

Donations can be mailed directly to the MFA fund or by checking the appropriate box on your individual or corporate state tax return. Donations to the MFA fund are state income tax deductible. To donate directly to the fund, please make your check or money order payable to LA Military Family Assistance Fund and mail to:

Louisiana Military Family Assistance Fund
c/o Department of Social Services
P.O. Box 2784
Baton Rouge, LA 70821-2784

Source: Louisiana Attorney General