Get Help

Coast Guard senior leadership believes that using resources like CGMA is a positive sign of your financial resiliency. CGMA wants commands to know when members are in financial trouble, not to criticize them, but to ensure that they are getting the help they need.

Check your application form to see if the program requires a command endorsement. No endorsement is needed for disaster assistance, education programs, special needs grants, and others.

Active Duty, reserve, and civilian employees can use the Quick Loan process for loans of $1,500 or less.

• There must be a documented need that falls under an existing program.
• The member can’t have a loan balance or be in administrative hold status with CGMA.
• A member can only get two Quick Loans in any 12-month period.
• No command endorsement or budget form is necessary.

Gather these documents:

• Your Coast Guard ID
• CGMA-01 Quick Loan Application
• Documentation of need, such as bills or estimates

Contact your CGMA Representative to process the loan.

CGMA assistance is not normally authorized for:

• Long-term, continuing, or frequent assistance
• Legal fees
• Personal credit card balances
• Taxes
• Gambling debts
• Business ventures
• Marriage or divorce costs
• Vacations
• Non-emergency furnishings or cars
• Disciplinary costs
• Any costs related to a second home or rental property
• Personal, unspecified loans

Family members get their eligibility from the member (Active Duty, auxiliary, civilian employee, reserve, or retired). PHS officers, chaplains, and surviving spouses are also considered members. Eligibility is usually limited to dependents.

Usually, the member must sign the CGMA assistance application. When the member is not available, the spouse may apply if they have a power-of-attorney or CGMA pre-authorization form.

You will sign a promissory note agreeing to the loan terms. Loans are usually set for repayment within 12-36 months. Repayment should not go past expiration of enlistment (EOE).

Active Duty personnel, retired members, and civilian employees repay by allotment from their Coast Guard pay. Reservists, auxiliary members, and clients who have left the Coast Guard may pay monthly via Zelle, their bank’s bill pay, or a check.

To find out your account balance or pay off your loan early, please call 703-595-5930 or email accounts@cgmahq.org.

CGMA has agreements with the American Red Cross, the Air Force Aid Society, the Army Emergency Relief, and the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society.

Coast Guard military members may receive emergency assistance from these organizations when CGMA is not available, and CGMA will provide assistance to their members when their aid society is not available.

In all cases, the aid society for the member’s branch must approve the assistance.

If you believe you have been wrongfully denied CGMA assistance, you have the right to appeal. Appeals must be in writing and should include an explanation of the request and any supporting documentation. Email appeal@mycgma.org to start the process.