The Restaurant Employee Relief Fund is a program of the Illinois Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (IRAEF). We offer emergency assistance to Illinois food and beverage workers facing an unanticipated hardship within the past 90 days such as: accident, illness, injury, death of an immediate family member or natural disaster. If you are in need of assistance, please complete the application form. All grant requests will be reviewed. The IRAEF Restaurant Employee Relief Fund grants are awarded to eligible individuals based on available funds and limited to one per individual. Grants cover costs of living expenses for life-altering events and range from $250-$3,000.

Eligibility Requirements

We will review all applicants currently employed in an Illinois foodservice establishment who have experienced a life-altering event over the last 90 days.

Submit copies of all that apply as proof of hardship (some are required):

• Rent or mortgage bill or statement
• Bills; electric, gas, water/sewer, homeowners association or property tax statements
• Documentation of illness or injury
• Receipts for medical supplies or transportation for medical care
• Verification documentation for funeral expenses, natural disaster, or housing emergency
• Doctor verification or death certificate

Steps

• Fill out the application in its entirety
• Be prepared with your documents to upload that align with the reason why you are applying for this IRAEF Restaurant Employee Relief Fund grant:
  • Document One: Proof of Illinois residency (Valid Illinois License or State ID)
  • Document Two: Pay Stub from the current foodservice establishment where you are employed for a minimum of 90 days
  • Document Three: Proof of hardship
  • Document Four: Additional documentation if applicable (not required)
• All applications that meet our established criteria will be evaluated
• Depending on funding, eligible applicants will be given a grant and notified via email and when to expect the grant check via mail
• Once received, the check is yours to spend in the impact area highlighted within your application. You are not taxed on this grant, nor will you owe it back.

Please Note

We are dedicated to managing all the requests for financial support, and it is our goal to help as many in the restaurant community as possible. All qualified grant requests will be reviewed. Restaurant Employee Relief grants are awarded to eligible individuals based on available funds and limited to one per individual.

It is our goal to support as many in our restaurant community as possible. All qualified grant requests will be reviewed. Restaurant Employee Relief grants are awarded to eligible individuals based on available funds and limited to one per individual.

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