Posted on April 27, 2021
Alastair Nelson, Staff writer
That’s right, financial help is available to any DSC student who has been financially affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, regardless of whether or not you receive traditional financial aid.
I received an additional $2,000 last semester through the CARES Act. The CARES Act was a sprawling $ 2.2 trillion economic stimulus bill. I won’t go into the specifics of the bill, as there is a lot to unpack there, but you probably remember getting a check last year for $1,200, yes? That was the CARES Act too.
As a hospitality industry employee (waiter), I found myself unemployed last year. Then my dad died. Then my computer died. On top of all that, it was more than halfway through the semester, and my financial aid hadn’t shown up. I went to the aid office to find out why. While I was there, they told me about extra funding the school had received and that I could apply for up to $2,000 in additional aid.
The rest is history. I applied, provided proof of my hardships, and a receipt for my new computer. Easy-peasy. Within a week or two, $2000 was deposited into my account.
Still with me?
Congress recently passed another bill (with a far less catchy anagram: CRRSAA), to the tune of another two trillion dollars. Once again, some of that money (almost four million dollars) is set to go directly to DSC students. Again, you do not have to be a financial aid recipient to get it. You do, however, have to fill out your 2020-2021 Federal Application for Student Aid, or FAFSA. Once you do this, they’re looking for an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of less than $6,000.
Almost there.
Your bank account has taken a hit, due to the pandemic. You’ve filled out your FAFSA and your EFC is less than $6,000.
Now, you’re going to want to fill out the Emergency Financial Aid Grant Funds Request. It’s very short. It will ask you how you are being affected by Covid-19, how much you’re asking for (up to $2000), and what it’s going to be used for. It may ask you for varying types of documentation like receipts, pay stubs, bills, or a lease.
That’s it!
I spoke with Financial Aid Services Director, Heidi Pinney, and asked her what students should apply for. She said, “These funds can only be used towards the items in the cost of attendance, including room and board, books and supplies, childcare expenses, food assistance, tuition and fees, or a hardship.”
The key word there is hardship. “Hardship” can mean a lot of things.
I also asked her what students tried to get funded for last time around that failed. “Students tried to receive funding for all sorts of items,” she said. “However, the biggest one we saw was trying to purchase items for their children’s schooling. Unfortunately, the money has to be used towards the student’s schooling and not children, roommates, or siblings.”
So, money for “childcare expenses” is ok but NOT money for school supplies. Got it?
Finally, I asked her if there was anything else she would like students to know about this whole business: “Some students have been concerned they will need to pay taxes on these funds. As of right now, they do not need to pay taxes on it.”
There you have it. Email any questions you may have to the Financial Aid Coronavirus Response & Relief Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSAA) Act and hang in there, it’s almost over.
