/HealthierU
Employee Assistance Program

Frequently Asked Questions

The Hardship Fund is a program available to assist eligible faculty and staff who are experiencing a personal financial emergency and who have exhausted all other avenues for obtaining assistance.

Please see the "Eligibility" section here.

Your application information is kept private through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and the Stony Brook Foundation. The review committee does not have access to your identifying information.

Through presidential, employee and community donations to the Hardship Fund.

Visit How to Donate.

Contact the EAP at 631-632-6085 and request an appointment.

Visit How to Apply.

You will need to speak with an EAP coordinator either in person or by phone prior to filling out the form. After your meeting, the EAP Coordinator will provide you will the application materials and next steps. 

No, applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis.

The maximum amount approved is up to $599.

The check(s) will be made out to a third party vendor for a bill or bills that you owe. This might be your mortgage company, landlord, electricity bill, etc.

If you are approved, you will receive a phone call from the EAP notifying you of approval.

Next you will receive a call from Stony Brook Foundation Office indicating that the check is ready to be picked up. The University disburses checks on Wednesday and Friday. You will need to show your ID at the Stony Brook Foundation office and sign for the check. You will then submit the check to the company to be paid.

The EAP Office will offer guidance with additional resources.