How NLDAC Helps

En Español

NLDAC helps people who are considering being a living organ donor with the non-medical expenses associated with the process. There are three things NLDAC covers for eligible donors:

  1. Travel expenses
  2. Lost wages
  3. Dependent care expenses

We can help with evaluation, surgery, and follow-up trips, but donors need to apply and be approved before the trip they would like help with. Applications must be approved and funded before the donation surgery.

The most NLDAC can provide for a donor’s travel, lost wages, and dependent care expenses is $6,000.

Travel Expenses

Donors who are approved for help with travel expenses receive a controlled value card, which is like a credit card with restrictions, to pay for their transportation (airfare, gas, rental cars, taxis, etc.), hotel, and meals on trips to the transplant center. Donors can also use this card for the travel expenses of a support person who accompanies them. NLDAC can only cover travel within the U.S. and its territories.

Lost Wages

NLDAC reimburses lost wages by direct deposit or check. After a confirmed appointment, we deposit the reimbursement in the donor's bank account or mail a check. Donors can request reimbursement of the wages they lose during:

  1. Evaluation trips, up to 3 days
  2. Recovery from donation surgery, up to 4 weeks
  3. Follow-up trips or rehospitalization, up to 2 weeks

To receive reimbursement of lost wages, donors must be working for pay at the time of their donation surgery or other trip, and submit clear documentation of their current wages. NLDAC cannot pay wages to donors who are unemployed, furloughed, or retired.

Dependent care expenses

Some people who are considering living organ donation have caregiving responsibilities for a child, disabled adult, or elderly person. Donors who are approved for help with dependent care expenses can receive up to $420 per week for child-care expenses and up to $504 per week for adult-care expenses caused by their donation. Donors attest to the dependent care expenses they will incur, and then receive funding for that expense by direct deposit or check. Donors can request reimbursement of these expenses on the same trips described in the lost wages section, above.

Questions?

Read our FAQs, call us at 888-870-5002, or email us. Callers can request service in a language other than English at no cost through our phone interpreter service. Just call and say which language you would like to use.


Learn what you need to know before applying for NLDAC assistance by reading our Program Snapshot.


Organ Donor
University of Kansas
ASTS
Arbor Research Collaborative for Health