Is RERF.us a Scam - Restaurant Employee Relief Fund (NRAEF)

Is RERF.us a Scam - Restaurant Employee Relief Fund (NRAEF)

The RERF(Restaurant Employee Relief Fund) website located at rerf.us is not a scam. It the legit website where American restaurant employees should go to collect your relief grant. A lot of people are claiming the website is a scam because it loads sometimes and they get kicked out when they have reached a certain point. But, these problems are due to the millions of American restaurant employees trying to register at the same time to receive the $500 relief fund or grant, which started today (April 2, 2020).

Due to the millions of people trying to reach the website at the same time, the servers hosting the website cannot handle the load, and this is why some visitors are getting errors like "server cannot be reach," "Server is too busy," "The service is unavailable," or is loading slowly or it just does not load. But, keep trying, it is a technical problem or issue they are working on and it will be fixed soon. Also, there are people who are trying to donate.

About RERF(Restaurant Employee Relief Fund)

The Restaurant Employee Relief Fund (“Fund”) was created to help restaurant industry employees experiencing extraordinary hardship in the wake of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak. Through this Fund, a $500 grant will be made to restaurant industry employees who have been impacted by COVID-19, including a decrease in wages or loss of employment.

The $500 grant should be used towards housing, transportation, utilities, child care, groceries, medical bills and/or student loans. Applicants must have worked in the industry for 90 days or more during the last year, be able to demonstrate that the industry was their primary income source, and have lost pay or their job on March 10 or later.

Who should apply for aid?

In order to receive a one-time grant from the Fund, you must meet all of the following requirements:

  • You have worked on a part- or full-time basis in the restaurant industry for at least 90 days in the past year; and
  • Have had a primary source of income in the restaurant industry for the last year; and
  • Have experienced a decrease in needed wages or loss of job on or after March 10, 2020 which these grant funds will help offset; and
  • Live in the United States, an overseas U.S. military base, or any U.S. territory*; and
  • Are over the age of legal majority in their in their U.S. state or territory

Individuals related to employees or board members of the National Restaurant Association or National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation ARE NOT eligible for grants.

* Depending upon the terms of certain contributions to the Fund, certain amounts may only be available for distribution in limited geographic areas.

When should I expect to receive a payment?

If awarded, a check will be disbursed to the applicant within 2-3 weeks of receiving notification of award, pending availability of funding. Because this program is funded through donations, there may be times when applicants will be put on a waitlist for available funding and we will send the grant payment as soon as we receive more funding.

How will funds be sent?

Fund checks will be mailed to the address provided in your application and made out directly to the applicant. If it has been more than 3 weeks since you were notified you would be receiving a grant award, and need an update on the status of your check, please contact us at rerf@nraef.org.

When will I know if I am awarded a payment?

You should receive notification within 2-4 weeks.

Check the comment section below for additional information, share what you know, or ask a question about this article by leaving a comment below. And, to quickly find answers to your questions, use our search Search engine.

Note: Some of the information in samples on this website may have been impersonated or spoofed.

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Comments (Total: 27)

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  • June 6, 2020 at 1:15 PM by an anonymous user from: Austin, Texas, United States

    Has anyone heard or seen anything? I got an email on May 8 saying that I had a check coming soon! It’’s now June 6. Still no check. And now the email has disappeared! Kinda has me thinking this isn’t a thing.

  • May 26, 2020 at 6:45 PM by an anonymous user from: San Jose, California, United States

    Finally got the check, but bank rejected it.

    Because incomplete MICR info at the bottom of the check.

    Call them, nobody answered. Email them, no replying yet.

    Is it a fraud?

    Anyone knows?

    • June 11, 2020 at 11:36 AM by an anonymous user from: Milton, Pennsylvania, United States

      The same thing happened to me. I received my check today and went to deposit it and my bank rejected it. I asked about it and they said the NRAEF blocked it from being deposited due to already being cashed. How is that even possible when I just received the check? I have emailed them and now just waiting.

      • June 12, 2020 at 11:13 AM by an anonymous user from: Lexington, South Carolina, United States

        Same thing just happened to my husband! We got the check yesterday, he signed it last night, I tried to Mobile Deposit it this morning and my bank blocked it saying it was already cashed! Don't see how as we just got it! I tried calling, all I got was an automated saying to send an email; I sent the email...automated message saying the program was closed. And round and round we go!

    • June 7, 2020 at 1:33 PM by an anonymous user from: Austin, Texas, United States

      I still haven’t heard anything after three emails. I never received a check. It’s been over 4 weeks now.

  • May 21, 2020 at 8:22 PM by an anonymous user from: Woodside, New York, United States

    I received a notification on May 8, 2020 saying I will receive a check but nothing yet...

    • May 30, 2020 at 2:09 AM by an anonymous user from: Austin, Texas, United States

      Same here. Got the same email on May 8. Still nothing.

  • May 8, 2020 at 3:59 AM by an anonymous user from: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

    It has been 4 weeks. I received no email or anything, like to know if I was accepted

  • April 15, 2020 at 10:47 PM by an anonymous user from: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States

    ok I was able to register but never received an application as instructed in the email its been a week so if someone got further than me please fell free to let us know. I know I spent less time working to make the 500 offered.

  • April 9, 2020 at 2:08 PM by an anonymous user from: OFallon, Missouri, United States

    Considering the impact that the corona virus has had, why did this site not expect a very large turnout and upgrade the system to a lot for the outpouring of applicants?

  • April 7, 2020 at 9:07 PM by an anonymous user from: Lodi, Wisconsin, United States

    Please tell us... has anyone been able to get through and totally complete the application? I have tried hundreds and hundreds of times to no avail.

  • April 7, 2020 at 8:45 PM by an anonymous user from: Lodi, Wisconsin, United States

    My name is April D. and I have been trying to apply since the 2nd of April. I cannot even get to a place that will let fill out an application. I really need the help. Please let me know how to do this please.

  • April 3, 2020 at 3:41 PM by an anonymous user from: Hammond, Indiana, United States

    I get server is busy message. I lost all my three jobs as a server all at once. I would appreciate this. It would be a major thank you and help with my bills. I am single and i only support myself. I pray that this virus crisis is over real soon. We cannot go on living this way. Amen...

  • April 3, 2020 at 2:59 PM by an anonymous user from: Virginia, United States

    I have been trying since yesterday when the applications first became available and although I had to refresh my pages too many times to count and got so many different errors I don't remember what all of them said.

    I was able to get thru to where you have to create your account and then after hundreds of tries was able to log in with my user id (email address) and password and I got to the part of the application where it starts asking for contact info and I saw there were, I think, 4 more sections after the contact info, but after each section, you have to click save and I tried to save my contact info section multiple times and then since the last time it kicked me out.

    I haven't been able to get back in that far and that was about an hour ago. So just going to keep on trying and hope they get the site issues resolved and able to handle all the traffic their site is getting for the thousands of people trying to apply for this grant.

    • April 3, 2020 at 4:32 PM by an anonymous user from: Marrero, Louisiana, United States

      This my second day. And I mean all day. I have been trying to log in. Different problems. We are working on our website. Due the volume of people trying to get on. I have such a migraine for 1000 attempts I have made to get this form done. I do realize that everyone is out of work. Please Help

    • April 3, 2020 at 4:07 PM by an anonymous user from: Virginia, United States

      Now a message is popping up on the rerf site saying they are going to work on problems over the weekend and the applications won't be available now until Monday April 6th.

  • April 3, 2020 at 1:27 PM by an anonymous user from: Boynton Beach, Florida, United States

    Has anyone gotten through?

  • April 3, 2020 at 1:16 PM by an anonymous user from: Boynton Beach, Florida, United States

    Has even one person gotten through?

  • April 3, 2020 at 10:51 AM by an anonymous user from: Pompano Beach, Florida, United States

    It is a totally inept enterprise and has been a huge waste of my time. Better off cutting lawns at $20 a pop.

  • April 3, 2020 at 9:17 AM by an anonymous user from: Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

    The website is always down. It says server not available?

  • April 2, 2020 at 10:20 PM by an anonymous user from: Ontario, New York, United States

    could you please let me know when is a good time to apply for aid... thank you

    • April 2, 2020 at 10:35 PM by info

      Keep checking the website daily. The NRAEF is currently experiencing technical problems with their website because of the high volume of traffic, so no one knows exactly when is the best time to apply.

  • April 2, 2020 at 9:37 PM by an anonymous user from: Talent, Oregon, United States

    Is there an estimated time the application will be up? I have been checking all day. I was really hoping I could get this grant. Both my wife and I are out of work and this would help so much!

    • April 2, 2020 at 10:31 PM by info

      The NRAEF is aware of the website's technical problem and said they will ensure everyone gets a chance to complete their application. So, there is no need to worry. Just keep checking the website daily.

  • April 2, 2020 at 8:24 PM by info

    The NRAEF has posted the following notice:

    "Due to extremely high volume last night and today, the Restaurant Employee Relief Fund website (http://RERF.us) is experiencing technical issues. We are working quickly to solve the problem. We appreciate your patience; please keep following us here for further updates."

  • April 2, 2020 at 7:03 PM by an anonymous user from: Cincinnati, Ohio, United States

    Keeps asking for a password

    • April 2, 2020 at 8:35 PM by info

      I think this due to the technical problems they are experiencing. Once the website has been restored, let us know if you are still experiencing the same problem.

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Is RERF.us a Scam - Restaurant Employee Relief Fund (NRAEF)