Financial assistance still available through JHU COVID-19 Caregiving Relief Fund

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.

There are two types of awards available—a monthly, recurring benefit for caregiving expenses (based on an individual's salary level) and a nonrecurring fund for technology expenses ($1,000 max).

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.

Applications for the CCRF are submitted through the Benefits enrollment portal. Once your application has been approved, you will then file a claim (including all required documents) for reimbursement through Discovery Benefits, the university's third-party vendor.

For more information, a list of eligible expenses, and instructions on how to apply for CCRF and submit a claim for reimbursement, 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.

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 caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.