The Federal Emergency Aid Grant for spring 2020
The University of Florida has been allocated funds from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (https://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/secretary-devos-rapidly-delivers-more-6-billion-emergency-cash-grants-college-students-impacted-coronavirus-outbreakCARES Act). The CARES Act established and funded the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) to provide emergency financial aid grants.These critical funds will help eligible UF students cover expenses related to unanticipated travel, additional technology requirements, or other needs related to an emergency situation.
Federal Emergency Aid Grant Reporting:
The University of Florida signed and returned to the U.S. Department of Education the Certification of Agreement on April 13,2020 certifying no less than 50% of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act will be provided to students for Federal Emergency Financial Aid Grants. The University of Florida received $15,523,206.00 on May 1, 2020 for students to fund the Federal Emergency Financial Aid Grants. The total amount of Federal Emergency Financial Aid Grants awarded to students under section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as of May 21, 2020, is $13,920,131.00. The estimated total number of students potentially eligible to participate in programs under section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and thus eligible to be considered to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants under section 18004(a)(1) of the Cares Act is 41,100. The total number of students who have received a Federal Emergency Financial Aid Grant under section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act is 14,719 as of May 21, 2020.
Federal Emergency Aid Grant criteria and eligibility:
1) UF will initially make federal CARES Act funds available to undergraduate, graduate and professional students that have submitted a FAFSA with an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of $7,500 a year or less, and meet all other Title IV eligibility requirements.
For these students, grant awards will be tiered based on the student’s EFC. Students will receive an email with the link to the Federal Emergency Grant Certification Form that must be completed.
2) Federal CARES Grant funds will then be made available through an online https://uf.tfaforms.net/401?tfa_2229=tfa_2251https://uf.tfaforms.net/401?tfa_2229=tfa_2251Federal Emergency Aid Grant Application to the following groups of students:
- UF enrolled students who have submitted a FAFSA and have an EFC greater than $7,500 a year, or
- For UF enrolled students without a FAFSA to be considered, you must meet all of the qualifications below:
- U.S. citizen or national, permanent resident, or an https://studentaid.gov/2021/help/citizeneligible noncitizen (you may be asked to provide documentation);
- Have a valid Social Security Number;
- Have a high school diploma or a General Education Development (GED) certificate, or have completed homeschooling;
- Do not owe an overpayment (refund) on Title IV grants;
- Not be in default on a Title IV loan;
- Registered with https://www.sss.gov/register/who-needs-to-register/Selective Service (if male, you may be asked to provide documentation);
- Have not been convicted for the possession or sale of illegal drugs;
- Not in an online degree program;
- And meet all other Title IV eligibility requirements.
Undergraduate, graduate and professional students who meet eligibility requirements must complete an online https://uf.tfaforms.net/401?tfa_2229=tfa_2251https://uf.tfaforms.net/401?tfa_2229=tfa_2251Federal Emergency Aid Grant Application to be considered for an award. Award amounts will be based on documented expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the coronavirus up to a maximum of $1,000.
3) To meet the need of students not eligible for Federal CARES Act funds, UF will continue to use the https://www.sfa.ufl.edu/aidagator/https://www.sfa.ufl.edu/aidagator/Aid-a-Gator program for emergency fund requests. While the CARES Act does not allow funding to UF Online, International, and DACA students, they can apply for emergency funding through the https://uf.tfaforms.net/401?tfa_2229=tfa_2230Aid-A-Gator application.
UF Online, International, and DACA students are not eligible to receive CARES Act funding, but emergency funding for these students may be available through the UF https://www.sfa.ufl.edu/aidagator/https://www.sfa.ufl.edu/aidagator/Aid-a-Gator program
Award amounts will be based on documented expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the coronavirus up to a maximum of $1,000.
Graduate assistants (this includes medical and veterinary residents), post-doctoral fellows and associates must apply as employees via the http://hr.ufl.edu/aidagatorFaculty and Staff Aid-a-Gator program.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
For additional information, visit the
https://www.sfa.ufl.edu/cares-act-faqs/Federal Emergency Aid Grant Frequently Asked Questions.
SFA is available to help students!
SFA can be reached by email at mailto:sfa-help@mail.ufl.edusfa-help@mail.ufl.edu or by telephone at (352) 392-1275 from 8:00am to 5:00pm Monday-Friday (excluding holidays and university closings). If students are experiencing any financial-aid related issues or concerns, please contact the Office for Student Financial Affairs to discuss financial aid options that might be available.
