Alastair Nelson, Staff writer<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u2019t go into the specifics of the bill, as there is a lot <\/em>to unpack there, but you probably remember getting a check last year for $1,200, yes? That was the CARES Act too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Still with me?<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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<\/a>. Once you do this, they\u2019re looking for an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of less than $6,000. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Almost there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Your bank account has taken a hit, due to the pandemic. You\u2019ve filled out your FAFSA<\/a> and your EFC is less than $6,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, you\u2019re going to want to fill out the Emergency Financial Aid Grant Funds Request.<\/a> It\u2019s very short. It will ask you how you are being affected by Covid-19, how much you\u2019re asking for (up to $2000), and what it\u2019s going to be used for. It may ask you for varying types of documentation like receipts, pay stubs, bills, or a lease. <\/p>\n\n\n\n That\u2019s it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n I spoke with Financial Aid Services Director, Heidi Pinney, and asked her what students should apply for. She said, \u201cThese 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The key word there is hardship. \u201cHardship\u201d can mean a lot of things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I also asked her what students tried to get funded for last time around that failed. \u201cStudents tried to receive funding for all sorts of items,\u201d she said. \u201cHowever, the biggest one we saw was trying to purchase items for their children\u2019s schooling. Unfortunately, the money has to be used towards the student\u2019s schooling and not children, roommates, or siblings.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, money for \u201cchildcare expenses\u201d is ok but NOT money for school supplies. Got it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Finally, I asked her if there was anything else she would like students to know about this whole business: \u201cSome 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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\u2019s almost over.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Alastair Nelson, Staff writer That\u2019s 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 Continue reading Free Money, Well, Sort of<\/span>