PFIC Financial Assistance Program

Program Overview

The PFIC Financial Assistance Program helps offset costs that may occur due to the burden of illness that PFIC can place on a family’s daily life. The cost of being a patient with a chronic illness can be consuming, even more so for a rare chronic illness. The need for financial assistance is essential to allow families to overcome these burdens.

Grants awarded through our Financial Assistance Program do not exceed $1,000 USD.

Application Process

Step 1: Submit Application

Please submit a completed Financial Assistance Program Application, including:

• An explanation of your specific financial need and how PFIC expenses affect your family.
• A detailed description of the bills or expenses you would like assistance paying
  • Examples of eligible expenses:
    • Medical: Medical expenses not covered by insurance (including genetic testing, vitamin supplementation and travel expenses related to doctor’s appointments)
    • Health Insurance: Insurance premiums or copays
    • Home: Rent, mortgage or Utilities 
    • Education: Tuition payment, books, tutor payments, etc.
    • Vehicle: Car payments or car insurance
• Copies of bills or invoices for the expenses you’re requesting assistance with
  • Note for international applicants: You may also submit receipts for medical bills already paid in the current calendar year

Please be detailed and specific in your application to help us assess the level of need among applicants.

Step 2: Board Review

The PFIC Network Board of Directors reviews all applications and makes provisional approval decisions on a case-by-case basis based on level of need and remaining funds available.

Step 3: Final Documentation

If provisionally approved, PFIC Network will contact you to collect:

• Official documentation of confirmed PFIC or BRIC diagnosis from a physician
  • Examples of accepted documentation: Letter from healthcare professional on clinic letterhead, genetic test report, etc
• Signed Program Terms and Conditions
• Payment information needed to disburse the grant such as third-party billing details

Step 4: Grant Disbursement

Once all documentation is received and verified, your grant will be processed and disbursed.

Application Timeline & Priority

The PFIC Network accepts applications throughout the year on a rolling basis. To ensure equitable access to funds for all PFIC families, applications are processed according to the following guidelines:

First priority will be given to:

• First-time applicants
• Applicants who last received a grant more than 2 years ago
• Previous recipients whose application is for a different family member who has received a new PFIC diagnosis since last receiving a grant from PFIC Network

These applications will be reviewed immediately and applicants will be notified of a decision within 60 days.

Repeat Applicants

Families who have received a grant within the last two years may still apply, but applications will be held until October 30 and evaluated based on remaining budget availability. Applicants will be notified of their status by November 15.

Important Program Details

• PFIC Network makes payments directly to third-party service providers, not to families directly (example: for assistance with an electric bill, we pay the electric company directly)
• We cannot provide assistance for emergency time-sensitive services, including utility shut-off notices

Notes For International Applicants

PFIC Network welcomes applications from families around the world. However, due to tax compliance and legal requirements, we may not be able to disburse aid to all countries.

Whenever possible, we work with partner organizations in your country to help disburse funds. Please note that disbursement of grants to international applicants may take additional time as we navigate logistics and partnership arrangements. We do our best to honor all international requests and will communicate with you throughout the process about what is possible in your specific situation. For international applicants who have already paid medical expenses out of pocket, you may submit receipts for reimbursement consideration rather than unpaid bills or invoices.