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CoVID-19 Related QUESTION 

Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA) (P.L. 116-260), HEERF Act

 

About CARES

A: The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act passed the House of Representatives, and was then signed into law by the president. The act provides federal government support in the wake of the coronavirus public health crisis and associated economic fallout. One section of the CARES Act established the Higher Education Emergency Relief fund and is providing the nation’s colleges and universities funding to then provide grants to students. This funding also covers a portion of unbudgeted costs and lost revenue due to the disruption of campus activities due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
A: The CSU Cares Program offers emergency grants for CSU students experiencing financial hardships directly due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The funding is made possible through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) authorized by the recent CARES Act, as well as existing CSU campus-based resources. Each CSU campus will distribute grants based on three shared CSU principles: Student Success, Equity, and also Timeliness and Administrative Simplicity.
A: SDSU applied for funding from the federal CARES Act. The university received that funding from the U.S. Department of Education. SDSU then began to quickly distribute grants to students based on their documented financial need. Recipients were notified via their campus email addresses, text and phone calls.

 

HEERF II Disbursement

A: No, unfortunately you are not eligible to receive emergency funds, as outlined in the federal funding guidelines. However, SDSU is committed to the success of all our students. To that end, SDSU has made additional support funds available through the Economic Crisis Response Team (ECRT) to expand available financial support. These funds, and other funding available to ECRT, will provide additional emergency grants to students experiencing extreme financial hardship due to the ongoing pandemic. These grants can be used to help any student with food, housing, course materials, tuition, technology, health care, child care, or other financial expenses. Students are encouraged to reach out to ECRT for more information.
A: No, unfortunately, international students and international exchange participants are not eligible to receive emergency funds, as outlined in the federal funding guidelines. However, SDSU is committed to the success of all our students. To that end, SDSU has made additional support funds available through the Economic Crisis Response Team (ECRT) to expand available financial support to students.  These funds, and other funding available to ECRT, will provide additional emergency grants to students experiencing extreme financial hardship due to the ongoing pandemic. These grants can be used to help any student with food, housing, course materials, tuition, technology, health care, child care, or other financial expenses. Students are encouraged to reach out to ECRT for more information.
A: The campus was directed to implement an awarding methodology to get HEERF II assistance to students with the greatest need, while also complying with funding eligibility requirements specified by the federal government. Students who received a federal Pell Grant, State University Grant or a Cal Grant A or B during the spring 2021 semester were eligible for the higher HEERF II award of $750.
A: No. Emergency grants under the HEERF Act are reserved for unexpected expenses, unmet financial need, or expenses related to the disruption of campus operations on account of the COVID-19 pandemic, such as unexpected expenses for food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, or childcare, are qualified disaster relief payments under section 139 of the Internal Revenue Code. This grant is not to be included in your gross income.
A: In an effort to expand financial assistance, SDSU’s Economic Crisis Response Team (ECRT) was allocated a limited amount of HEERF II funds. These funds, and other funding available to ECRT, will provide additional emergency grants to students experiencing extreme financial hardship due to the ongoing pandemic. These grants can be used to help students with food, housing, course materials, tuition, technology, health care, and child care expenses. Students are asked to reach out to ECRT for more information, and can fill out the online form to request assistance.
A: No. because the emergency grant is not includible in your gross income, you cannot claim any deduction or credit for expenses paid with the grant, including the tuition and fees deduction, the American Opportunity Credit, or the Lifetime Learning Credit. See section 139(h) of the Internal Revenue Code.. 

 

Change in Financial Circumstances

A: Yes. You will be able to fill out a "Request for Review" available via the "Forms" section of the Financial Aid website. This cannot be turned in however until July. If you are an incoming student, you will need to make a decision regarding attending SDSU prior to hearing back. Please keep in mind that if you are not a CA resident, you can only qualify for grant aid from the federal government. With a 0 Expected Family Contribution (EFC) the grant aid would likely not exceed approximately $6,000. The remaining cost of attendance would have to be paid from your personal resources or by activating loans.

 

Document Delivery to the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships

A: Please do not send documents via fax or email. Your personal information is at risk. Instead, upload documents using the secure document upload feature on AidLink. Please upload PDF documents if possible. You can use free apps such as CamScanner or Scannable to scan documents using your smartphone. Alternatively, you may also send documents by mail (or to our office drop box) Be sure to provide the student's Red ID on all documents.

San Diego State University

Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships

5500 Campanile Drive 

San Diego, CA 92182-7436

 

Loans

A:  According to the U.S. Department of Education, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) became law, providing relief on ED-owned federal student loans: suspension of loan payments, stopped collections on defaulted loans, and a 0% interest rate as temporary relief. As of January 20, 2021, 0% student loan interest rate and suspension of payments on federal student loans through the Department of Education have been extended through at least September 30, 2021. Students can still make payments (with their loan servicer) if they choose.

Please refer to StudentAid.gov/coronavirus for the latest updates.

A: To provide relief to student loan borrowers during the COVID-19 emergency, federal student loan borrowers were automatically placed in an administrative forbearance, which allows you to temporarily stop making your monthly loan payments. This was active for loans as of March 13, 2020 through at least September 30, 2021 (latest extension). This may not be applicable for federal loans that were delinquent or in default prior to March 13, 2020. For information on the status of a delinquent or defaulted federal loan, please contact your loan servicer.

If you do not know who your servicer is or how to contact them, visit the  Student Aid website or call at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243; TTY for the deaf or hearing-impaired 1-800-730-8913) for assistance.

 

Work Study Employment

A: As long as you were working before the closure and have not reached your FWS maximum award limit and as long as your department still has funding.  Check with the supervisor in your area.

A: Yes, if your department has work that you can do from home.  Check in with the supervisor in your area.

A: Yes, students will need to log their hours in PeopleSoft and supervisors will continue to approve the hours in PeopleSoft on the same timeline.

A: If you are a student, supervisor or a FWS Coordinator, please send your question(s) by email to [email protected]

  

Verification Documents

A: You may obtain your Tax Return Transcript online at www.irs.gov If you are unable to obtain them using the on-line tool, then you must download Form 4506-T from the IRS website. This is a form you mail in to the IRS to request your Tax Return Transcript or Verification of Nonfiling Letter to be mailed to you.

 

Additional Questions

A: Visit the SDSU Student Financial Center.  We can help you with questions related to financial aid, scholarships and student accounts.  The center is open M-F 9:00 to 5:00 PST.  The link is available at SDSU.edu/financial aid.

FINANCIAL AID

SCHOLARSHIPS

OTHER INFO

Chip Pierce,
Director of the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships

Rose Pasenelli,
Assistant Vice President of the Student Financial Management Center