EmergencyAssistanceFundPolicy

Naturaldisasterorpersonaltragedycanhappenunexpectedlytoanyone.However,intheinstanceithappenstooneofourassociates,wewanttoofferahelpinghand.Tosupportourpeopleinatimeofneed,BigLotshasestablishedtheBigLotsFoundationEmergencyAssistanceFund.ProgramOverviewThisfundwillassistactiveBigLotsassociates,theirspouses/domesticpartners,dependents,andotherhouseholdmembers(asdefinedbelow)whoareexperiencingfinancialhardshipresultingfromanunexpectedemergencyhardshiporqualifieddisaster.Intheseinstances,thisfundwillprovidegrantsataminimumof$250andnomorethan$2500forfood,shelterandotherbasicneedstoassociateswhoqualifyforsuchgrantsandtotheextentthatfundsareavailable.BigLotsispartneringwithTheColumbusFoundationtohelpensureallfundsaredistributedefficientlyandequitably.TheColumbusFoundationstaffwillhandletheday-to-dayadministrationandgrant-makingdecisionsasitrelatestothisfund.BigLotswillnotbeinvolvedwiththosedecisions.Allapplicationsarekeptinstrictconfidenceandareconsideredonthebasisofneedandeligibility.AssociateEligibilityBigLotsassociatesareeligibletoapplyiftheyareanactiveteammemberwithBigLots(includingonleave,short-termdisabilityandpaidtimeoff.)Requestedexpensesmustbetheresultofaneventthathasoccurredaftertheteammember’shiredate.Contract,temporary/seasonalassociates,interns,retireesorthoseonlong-termdisabilityarenoteligibletoapplyortoreceiveassistance.BigLotsassociatesareeligibletoapplyandreceivesupporttwiceayearandreceivenomorethan$2,500inonecalendaryear.However,multipleapplicationscannotbeforthesamedisasterorhardshipinoneyear.EligibleAssistanceTheBigLotsFoundationEmergencyAssistanceFundwillsupportassociateswhoexperiencefinancialhardshipresultingfromanunexpectedemergencyhardshiporqualifieddisaster.

• EmergencyHardshipssuchasillness,deathinthefamily,orothersudden,severe,overwhelmingandunexpectedeventthatisbeyondtheindividualassociate’scontrolandwhichresultsintheirinabilitytoprovidebasiclifenecessitiesforthatindividualandtheirimmediatefamily/closerelative

• QualifiedDisastersincludenaturaldisasterssuchasadisasterresultingfromanactofGodasinthecaseofahurricane,tornado,earthquakeorfloodorapersonaldisastersuchasahousefire;oraqualifieddisastersuchasadisastercausedbyterroristormilitaryactionorotherwisedeemedtobequalifieddisasterbythefederalgovernmentsuchasadevastatinghurricane.

Belowaresomeexamplesofeligiblequalifieddisastersandemergencyhardships.Thislistisnotallencompassing.QualifiedDisaster

• ActsofNature/Governmentdeclareddisasterthataffectanassociate’sprimaryresidence(e.g.floods,lightningstrikes,hurricane,tornado,icestorm,wildfires,earthquakes)

• Government-declarednaturaldisaster• Fire• Terroristormilitaryactiondisaster• AnyeventdeterminedbytheSecretaryoftheTreasurytobeofacatastrophicnature

EmergencyHardship

• Domesticabuse• Physicalabuse• Violentcrime• Non-violentcrime• Short-termillnessorothershort-termmedical,dental,visionorhearingcondition.• Accident(unlesscausedbytheassociate’sorapplicablefamilymember’snegligence,

recklessnessorintent)• Deathofanassociate,spouse/partneroradependent• Spouse/partnerlossofjob/income(temporary)• Lossofchildsupport• Militarydeployment(assistwithunexpectedcostsassociatedwithdeploymentor

deploymentofimmediatefamilymember)

IneligibleAssistanceTheBigLotsFoundationEmergencyAssistanceFundwillNOTsupportthefollowingrequestsforfinancialassistance:

• Non-essentialhouseholdutilities(e.g.internet,cable/satellitetelevision,telephone,etc)• Routinecarmaintenance• Medicalexpensescoveredandnotcoveredbymedicalinsurance.• Legalfees• Wagegarnishments,disconnectionnoticesorevictionnotices.• Accumulatedfinancialdistressthatresultsinyournothavingenoughincometocover

yourregularmonthlybills.EAFgrantsaren’tavailabletoresolveongoinggeneralfinancialproblems.

• Creditcarddebt,vehiclepurchases,homeforeclosuresorpaydayloans• Expensesincurredduetolackofhomeownersormedicalinsurance.• Privateschoolorhighereducationtuition• Employeebenefitsduringwaitingperiodsorcoverage.• Expensesassociatedwithdivorceorchildcustodysettlements• Funeral,travelorburialexpensesupondeathofassociate’srelativeoutsideofspouse,

partnerordependents.DefinitionofaBigLotsFamilyMemberImmediatefamily/closerelative(includingin-law/step)thatisfinanciallydependentontheassociateandresidesintheirhousehold.• Parent• Spouse• RegisteredDomesticPartner(asdefinedandrequiredbycityordinanceandstatelaw)• Brother• Sister• Childofassociateorofassociate'sregistereddomesticpartner(asdefinedandrequiredbycityordinanceandstatelaw)• Grandparent• Grandchild• Aunt/Uncle• Niece/Nephew/Cousin• Guardian