COVID-19 Caregiving Relief Fund can help with virtual learning expenses

The JHU COVID-19 Caregiving Relief Fund offers financial assistance to eligible employees and students incurring new caregiving, remote learning, and technology expenses as a direct result of COVID-19.

To participate in the CCRF, an employee must be a full-time, benefits-eligible faculty, staff, or bargaining unit member. Also qualifying are full-time JHU doctoral students and postdoctoral fellows, including medical students, house staff, residents, interns, and trainees.

Eligible expenses for caregiving (child care and elder care) and educational and remote learning support (tutoring, e-learning coaches, learning pods, drop-off learning centers, speech therapy, occupational therapy, incremental increases to Wi-Fi service) must be incurred on or after Sept. 1, 2020. In a two-parent household, both parents must be working or studying in order to be eligible for caregiving reimbursement.

Technology equipment expenses (tablet, computer, laptop, printer, webcam, speaker, microphone, headphones, blue light glasses, screen protector, and Wi-Fi extenders) directly related to remote learning for dependent children must be incurred on or after July 1, 2020. For technology equipment, the maximum CCRF benefit available per JHU affiliate is $1,000.

There are two types of awards available: a monthly benefit for recurring caregiving expenses and a nonrecurring benefit for technology expenses ($1,000 max).

The maximum monthly award for caregiving expenses is based on an individual's salary level:

• A person with a salary of up to $50,000 can receive up to $800.
• A person with a salary of $50,001 to $100,000 can receive up to $600.
• A person with a salary of $100,001 to $175,000 can receive up to $400.

All funds are distributed in the form of a reimbursement, with valid documentation of the expense required and validated by Discovery Benefits, the university's third-party vendor. Reimbursements under CCRF are provided tax-free under Section 139 of the Internal Revenue Code. This is a temporary and limited benefit, tied to the national state of emergency due to COVID-19.

For more information and a list of eligible expenses, and to apply for the CCRF, visit the Family & Caregiving Programs page of the Benefits & Worklife website.

For questions about this program, contact the Office of Benefits & Worklife at 410-516-2000 or worklife@jhu.edu.