Hardship Fund Expands to Former Soviet Union

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The Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (Claims Conference) is very glad to announce the expansion of the Hardship Fund to all areas of the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. This has been a long-sought goal of the Claims Conference in ongoing negotiations with the government of Germany, as it has sought a measure of justice for Jewish victims of Nazism who have not yet received payment. Those eligible will be entitled to a one-time payment of €2,556.

IMPORTANT:
THIS FUND WILL OPEN ON NOVEMBER 1, 2012. THERE ARE NO APPLICATION FORMS AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME. APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED ONLY FROM NOVEMBER 1, 2012. NONE OF THE CURRENT HARDSHIP FUND FORMS ARE ACCEPTABLE FOR THE NEW FUND. THE ONLY ACCEPTABLE FORM WILL BE POSTED IN THE FALL. THERE IS NO FEE TO APPLY OR TO OBTAIN A FORM. YOU DO NOT NEED TO PAY TO GET A MOSCOW RED CROSS VERIFICATION PRIOR TO APPLYING AND SUCH VERIFICATION WILL NOT ASSIST YOUR CLAIM.

Jewish victims of Nazism residing in the countries of the former Soviet bloc that do not belong to the European Union (EU) are eligible if they:

  • suffered deprivation of liberty; or
  • fled from the Nazi regime [from territory subsequently occupied by the Nazis]; or
  • suffered “restriction of liberty” as defined by the German government; and/or
  • suffered restriction of movement like curfew, compulsory registration with limitation of residence, wearing the Star of David, etc.; or
  • stayed in Leningrad at some time between September 1941 and January 1944 or if they fled from there during this period; or
  • fled between June 22, 1941 and January 27, 1944 from areas of the Soviet Union that were generally up to 100 kilometers from the most easterly advance of the German army (Wehrmacht) but were not later occupied by the Nazis. Those eligible will include Jews who fled from Moscow and Stalingrad during the relevant dates. Eligible victims will also include those who fled from Leningrad after June 22, 1941 but before the siege of that city commenced in September 1941; or
  • were a fetus at the time that their mother suffered [any above described] persecution.

Those currently receiving a pension from the Claims Conference are not eligible.

THERE ARE NO APPLICATION FORMS AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME. APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED ONLY FROM NOVEMBER 1, 2012. We will post an update to the Claims Conference website in September 2012.

Starting in January 2013, we will have help centers in the major cities of the former Soviet Union to help you apply. YOU DO NOT NEED A LAWYER. YOU DO NOT NEED TO PAY TO APPLY.

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