- Applicant is in active treatment.
- Applicant is a South Puget Sound resident or is receiving treatment at a facility located in South Puget Sound.
- Applicant is financially eligible, as defined below, OR the request is for a service and/or product that is medically necessary, as defined below.
– An applicant is financially eligible if he or she receives an annual income, after taxes, of 250% or less of the current federally established poverty level. Annual income includes both earned income and unearned income (public assistance, investment etc.). Please see chart below.
– A service or product is “medically necessary” if it directly contributes to cancer-related diagnosis, treatment or recovery. - Applicant has exhausted all other resources.
- Applicant has not exceeded the limits, as defined below, for emergency assistance.
– An applicant is limited to receiving Emergency Assistance once every 12 months. The amount received may not exceed $350 in any 12-month period.
– The Application Committee may, in its discretion, approve a request that exceeds the $350 limit if the applicant is financially eligible AND the request is for a service and/or product that is either medically necessary OR a life necessity.
– A service or product is a life necessity if it is something a person needs in order to survive. Life necessities include, but are not limited to, shelter, food, and utilities.
Survivorship: An emergency application will survive the death of an applicant if:
- The application is pending at the time of death;
- The application would meet the Emergency Application Criteria if the applicant was alive; and
- A surviving spouse, partner, child, or next of kin has confirmed that the need for emergency assistance still exists at the time the application is considered.
Applications that meet this criteria will be considered by the Application Committee on a case-by-case basis.
Federal Poverty Guidelines 2024

*For family units with more than 8 members, add $13,450 annually ($1,121/ month) for each additional member to meet the 250% of federal poverty guidelines.
Updated 4/5/2024