Who is eligible?

International Missionaries with Reliant who have been released to assignment and are either leaving for their international location or have just arrived at their international location are eligible to request a settling-in bonus.  On occasion, if the missionary did not request enough funding in the initial settling-in bonus, they can request a second settling-in bonus for additional expenses with Reliant approval.

What expenses can I include in this bonus?

Include any expenses that the missionary will incur as they are settling in to their new international assignment like furniture, initial deposits for apartments or utilities, apartment finder fees, furniture, and household goods, housewares, appliances, bicycle, initial deposit for schooling if applicable, etc.  Some expenses like shipping costs, special equipment, etc. can be covered by reimbursements instead of by the settling-in bonus.

What happens if my expenses on the field are more or less than the bonus amount I received?

We encourage missionaries to work with their receiving organizations/churches to estimate their initial settling-in expenses to the best of their ability.  However, if the expenses incurred are less than the bonus amount you received, we encourage missionaries to keep the extra bonus funding and use it for future expenses that they may need or may have reimbursed without needing to submit a future reimbursement.  If the expenses exceed the bonus amount received, you may submit one additional settling-in bonus offset to make up the difference.

How often can I request this bonus?

You will only request this bonus once when initially settling into the host country, unless the initial bonus did not cover the full amount needed for settling in.  In that case, you could request a second settling-in bonus to cover the difference of your actual expenses minus what you already received.

Do I need receipts for my purchases with this bonus?

No, you do not need to submit receipts to document this bonus.  Instead, make your best estimate using the information provided from your host country contacts and based on your previous experience in country.  The amounts do not have to be exact.  However, we will want itemization in general categories ($200 for linens and bath goods; $350 for kitchen utensils/appliances, $850 for living room furniture, etc.) 

Who is eligible?

The moving bonus would cover expenses that are not reimbursable when related to a move.  Generally, a flight to a new destination is reimbursable but other costs must be covered by a moving bonus.  Contact reimbursements@reliant.org to ask what expenses may be reimbursable before submitting for this bonus.  

Be sure to itemize the moving expenses, such as including moving company fees, expenses for boxes, expenses for apartment deposits, etc. 

Does this bonus require supervisor approval?

Yes, you must share this bonus request with your supervisor and international@reliant.org and ask your supervisor to add their approval.

Who is eligible?

International Missionaries who have been Released to Assignment and are serving overseas are eligible to request a vehicle bonus provided they have supervisor approval for the ministry purpose and safety/security instruction for owning a vehicle in the country where he or she is serving.

Does this bonus require supervisor approval?

Yes, you must share this bonus request with your supervisor and international@reliant.org and ask your supervisor to add their approval.

Do I need to change or update my Support Goal Worksheet (SGW) if I buy a vehicle while overseas?

Yes, you will want to think about vehicle maintenance such as oil changes, car repairs, and gas and add these into your monthly SGW.  Send your updated SGW to international@reliant.org for processing by the 16th of the month for your salary to be reflected on the next paycheck.

Vehicle Insurance

        If you own a vehicle registered in the country you are residing in, you need to have the local mandated minimum amount of coverage or more. You have affirmed that you will do this on the International waiver that you have signed.

Who is eligible?

International Missionaries that have been Released to Assignment are eligible to request Financial Hardship bonuses, since they are paid a needs-based salary to cover their financial needs on the field. Examples of financial hardship bonus requests include paying for flights back to the US that are not reimbursable for personal reasons, property emergencies such as theft or loss, evacuations, visa/immigration issues out of the ordinary, etc.

Reliant encourages international missionaries to plan for needs in their monthly salary wherever possible.  Reliant missionaries need to be saving for the future from their salaries. Each international missionary's Support Goal Worksheet (SGW) sets the limits (or maximums) for the amount of salary they can request for discretionary categories like Food, Medical, Discretionary spending, etc. When the missionary has an unexpected hardship that fits one of the categories on the SGW, Reliant will work with the missionary to increase their monthly salary, seeking to avoid future hardships.  

Does this bonus require supervisor approval?

You will need your supervisor's approval on Hardship bonuses over $500.00.

What if I'm not sure if my financial need is eligible for a Hardship Bonus?

If the international missionary has a financial need that they are not sure is eligible for a Financial Hardship bonus, Reliant encourages the missionary to email international@reliant.org with an explanation of the financial need and the circumstances surrounding it. At times, Reliant may approve a Financial Hardship bonus for a need that the missionary could have planned for in their SGW, with the condition that a new SGW is submitted including proactive changes to their budget in the category of need.

What is this Bonus?

The International Support Goal Worksheet does not include Federal Income Tax for the reason that most International Missionaries qualify for Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (Form 2555).  In most cases, US citizens living in foreign lands qualify for this exclusion once they have lived outside of the US for 330 days (out of one year).  

This bonus exists so that first-year missionaries and those who may not qualify can increase their income to meet potential tax obligations. 

Who is eligible?

First-year missionaries and those who don't qualify for the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion.  Individual missionaries need to consult qualified tax advisers to understand this. 

Who is eligible?

International Missionaries who have been serving on the field and are either exiting staff and returning to the US or are returning to the US and staying on staff domestically with Reliant are eligible to request a Re-entry Bonus.  International Missionaries that are exiting staff with Reliant but are staying in the country where they are serving overseas are not eligible for a re-entry bonus, as the heart of the bonus is to offer financial assistance to international missionaries that may incur many expenses when entering back into life in the US.

How much may I request for the Re-entry Bonus?

You may request up a month of your current Reliant salary for every year you have served on the field overseas, with a maximum bonus request of up to 6 months of your current Reliant salary.  If you are an exiting One Year Missionary, you may request up to $2,000 for having served overseas for one year, or up to $1,000 for having served overseas for 6 months.

How do I request this bonus?

The International Department approves counseling bonuses on a case-by-case basis. The first step is to inform international@reliant.org of your counseling need.