Chapter 5902-8 | Military Injury Relief Fund (MIRF) Grant Program

Rule 5902-8-01 | Military injury relief fund (MIRF) grant program: definitions.

• Effective: February 28, 2023
• Promulgated Under: 119.03

(A) "Military injury relief fund" means a fund created in the state treasury consisting of money contributed to it under section 4503.535 of the Revised Code, section 5747.113 of the Revised Code, and contributions made directly to it by any person.

(B) "Eligible individual" means any individual who, at the time of application:

(1) Is an Ohio resident;

(2) Suffered a combat-related injury, and can show that:

(a) The injury resulted in an award of the "Purple Heart": or

(b) The injury is connected to an incident that resulted in the award of a "Combat Infantryman Badge, " "Combat Action Badge," "Combat Ribbon Badge" or its equivalent; or

(c) Sho through other documentation that the injury was directly related to a combat action.

(3) Can document either that they;

(a) Were injured while on active duty with the armed forces of the United States ("U.S. Military") after October 7, 2001; or

(b) Have a medical diagnosis of post-tramatic stress disorder ("PTSD") as a result of his/her service while on active duty with the U.S. military after October 7, 2001.

(C) Individuals who may apply on behalf of and in lieu of eligible individuals are:

(1) Executors and administrators of the estates of eligible individuals;

(2) Attorneys for and agents of eligible individuals. Such persons include anyone named an agent by a valid and applicable power of attorney;

(3) Spouses or children (if they have reached eighteen years of age) of eligible individuals.

(D) "Acceptable documentation of injury" may include the following:

(1) Proof of a valid "Purple Heart";

(2) U.S. military medical records;

(3) An enlisted or officer record brief, or their equivalent;

(4) Medical discharge paperwork issued by the U.S. military;

(5) Any other authenticated documentation that proves that an individual meets the requirements of paragraph of this rule.

(E) "Director" means director of the department of veterans services.

(F) "State fiscal year" means the period of July first of the current year and ending June thirtieth of the next year.

Last updated February 28, 2023 at 8:54 AM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 5902.05
Amplifies: 5902.05
Five Year Review Date: 2/1/2028

Rule 5902-8-02 | Military injury relief fund grant program: application and appeal process.

• Effective: February 28, 2023
• Promulgated Under: 119.03

(A) The Ohio department of veterans services (DVS) shall issue a military injury relief fund (MIRF) grant to an eligible individual if an applicant submits a complete application and there are sufficient MIRF monies available to issue the grant.

(B) Eligible individuals shall be entitled to one MIRF grant per Ohio fiscal year; for no more than three fiscal years .

(C) An applicant for a MIRF grant must complete the application provided by DVS. The application may be collected from the DVS office in Columbus or from any Ohio veterans home. It may also be downloaded from the department of veteran services website. No partial applications shall be accepted. If a grant is to be awarded, it shall be awarded per the state fiscal year in which it is received. Applications shall contain completion instructions, including how to submit a completed application.

(D) Proof of eligibility rests with an applicant. If DVS determines that an applicant submitted false or misleading information, DVS may deny the application. If a grant was issued based on false or misleading information, DVS may take action to collect the grant funds from the applicant and additional penalties may be imposed.

(E) If DVS denies an applicant, the applicant may appeal to the DVS director or his or her designee in writing, within sixty days. The appear must The appeal must be submitted to DVS at "77 South High Street, 7th Floor, Columbus, Ohio 43215." The appeal must state why the appellant disagrees with DVS's decision and provide any documentation the appellant feels is relevant. The director or designee will timely review the appeal and issue a decision to the appellant in writing.

(F) MIRF grant award amounts will be five hundred dollars and will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis as funds are available based on the amount of MIRF contributions received.

(G) MIRF applications and supporting documentation containing personally identifiable information are confidential.

Last updated February 28, 2023 at 8:55 AM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 5902.05
Amplifies: 5902.05
Five Year Review Date: 2/1/2028