CARES Act — HEERF I
Questions and Answers
In March 2020, the federal government enacted the CARES Act, which allocates emergency grant funds to colleges, including Suffolk County Community College, to support students and institutions with expenses and financial needs related to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Suffolk County Community College has received, reviewed and returned the Certification and Agreement, which mandates, among other things, that at least 50% of the funds received will be awarded as emergency grants to eligible students who have incurred expenses as a result of the College’s move to remote instruction and the closing of the College’s campuses. These funds, totaling $6,589,770, will be distributed by the College in the form of emergency student grants.
It is extremely important that students check their College email and this website regularly, even after the end of the Spring 2020 semester, so that you can request and receive your emergency grant funds as soon as possible.
Who is eligible to apply to receive CARES Act emergency grants?
In accordance with current guidelines issued by the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE), only students who are or could be eligible to participate in Title IV federal financial aid programs may receive CARES Act emergency grants. In the simplest terms, Title IV eligibility means that a student has filed or is eligible to file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Title IV eligibility means students must meet the following criteria:
- Enrolled at the College for the Spring 2020 semester and pursuing a degree or certificate program (i.e. matriculated students)
- U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen (including a U.S. national or permanent resident)
- Valid social security number
- Male students must be registered with Selective Service
- Have a high school diploma, high school equivalency diploma (previously referred to as a GED), or completion of high school in an approved homeschool setting
Due to current USDOE guidance and restrictions, students are not eligible to receive CARES Act emergency grants if they are:
- Enrolled in distance-only degree programs as of March 13, 2020
- Not current in repaying a debt on payments owed through a federal student assistance program or are in default on such payments
- Are not or would not be eligible to participate in federal Title IV programs, based on current guidelines from the U.S. Department of Education. At this time, this category includes international students, undocumented students, and non-matriculated students. If you are a student from one of these groups, please refer to the information below for assistance available to students who are not eligible for a CARES Act emergency grant.
In order to receive CARES Act emergency grants, students must also have expenses related to the disruption of campus operations as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, including eligible expenses under a student’s cost of attendance, such as:
- Food
- Housing
- Course materials (books and supplies)
- Technology needs (such as having to purchase a computer or Internet access when courses moved to remote instruction)
- Healthcare
- Childcare
- Transportation
- Other eligible expenses
Can I still apply for a CARES Act emergency grant if I did not file a FAFSA?
Students who are Title IV eligible (i.e. eligible to file a FAFSA) but who did not file a FAFSA are still eligible to apply for a CARES Act emergency grant by submitting an application through the student portal. Title IV eligibility is assessed in accordance with current guidelines from the U.S. Department of Education.
How will the College prioritize applications from students for CARES Act emergency grants, with a limited pool of funds available?
In accordance with SUNY guidelines, the College will allocate and disburse a portion of CARES Act emergency grant funds on a priority basis to students with the greatest financial need—that is, federal Pell Grant Recipients.
In addition, the College is providing all Title IV eligible students who have been impacted by COVID-19 with an opportunity to apply for CARES Act emergency grant funds by submitting a simple application through the student portal.
If I was a Pell Grant Recipient during the Spring 2020 semester, how do I request a CARES Act emergency grant? How do I know if I was a Pell Grant Recipient?
The College contacted all Spring 2020 Pell Grant Recipients by email on or about June 3, 2020 to notify them of their eligibility to request priority CARES Act emergency grants and to provide them with instructions on how to request their priority emergency grant through the student portal. If you did not receive this email and believe you were a Pell Grant Recipient for the Spring 2020 semester, please contact your Campus Financial Aid Office.
Suffolk County Community College students who have received a Pell Grant disbursement for the Spring 2020 semester were reviewed for eligibility for a CARES Act emergency grant. By requesting and accepting CARES Act emergency grant funding, the student acknowledges that he/she has or will have incurred allowable expenses of food, housing, technology, course materials, health care, childcare, and/or transportation as a result of the disruption of campus operations due to COVID-19. By requesting and accepting CARES Act emergency grant funding, the student further understands that it is his/her responsibility to immediately notify the Financial Aid office immediately if he/she will not incur expenses during the Spring 2020 semester that meet or exceed the amount of any award. Any CARES Act emergency grant funding students receive are required to be used toward the expenses for which they were approved.
I am a Spring 2020 Pell Grant Recipient, but my expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to COVID-19 exceed the amount of the priority CARES Act emergency grant I received. Am I eligible to apply for additional CARES Act emergency grant funds?
Yes, you will also be able to submit an application for a CARES Act emergency grant as part of the general application process that will be available to all Title IV eligible students. Please refer to the information outlined below, the information in the student portal, and any email communications you receive from the College about the application process and requirements. As funding is limited, it is important that all interested students submit a complete and accurate application as soon as possible.
If I was not a Spring 2020 Pell Grant Recipient but I am Title IV eligible, how do I apply to receive a CARES Act emergency grant?
Students who are not Pell Grant Recipients, but who have unexpected expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to COVID-19 as outlined above will be eligible to submit an application for a CARES Act emergency grant. This application will be available in the student portal and will ask students to explain how their expenses, including food, housing, course materials, technology, healthcare, childcare, and/or transportation have unexpectedly increased as a result of the disruption of campus operations due to COVID-19.
Applications received will be reviewed by a committee of College personnel, and students will be notified if they are eligible and the amount of the award they will receive. As funding is limited, it is important that all interested students submit a complete and accurate application as soon as possible.
What information will a student need to complete an application for a CARES Act emergency grant?
As part of the online application, students will be asked to provide supporting information on the eligible expenses they report they have incurred related to the disruption of campus operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. These applications will be reviewed by a committee. Title IV eligibility will be verified where necessary, and supporting documentation may be requested from a student in order for a decision to be made on the student’s application.
How will I be notified that I have been awarded a CARES Act emergency grant, and how will I receive the funds?
All students who apply will be notified of their eligibility, the amount of their CARES Act emergency grant award, and any instructions for obtaining the funds, including payment may be made by the College via check mailed to the permanent address on file for the student, or electronic transfer to a student’s personal bank account or Suffolk County Community College/BankMobile checking account.
If I have an unpaid balance on my student account, will my CARES Act emergency grant be applied to my balance, rather than distributed to me?
No. Even if you have an unpaid balance on your student account, any CARES Act emergency grant you are awarded will be distributed to you. Please refer to the information above and in any communication to you regarding the award you receive for how to obtain the funds.
If I apply for a CARES Act emergency grant and my application is denied, will I be notified?
Yes, you will receive a communication from the College indicating your application was denied.
If I am awarded a CARES Act emergency grant, what can I use it for?
Please note that the CARES Act stipulates that the emergency funds cannot be used to replace a loss of income or to pay for student expenses that are not directly related to the disruption of campus operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. You must use the funds for the purpose for which they awarded—that is, to pay allowable expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic (including eligible expenses under a student’s cost of attendance, such as food, housing, course materials, technology, healthcare, childcare, and/or transportation).
Do I need to repay the CARES Act emergency grant?
No, these are grant funds, not loans, which do not have to be repaid.
However, if your circumstances change and you have not or will no longer incur the expenses you identified related to the disruption of campus operations due to COVID-19, you must immediately notify the Financial Aid office.
If I am not Title IV eligible and cannot apply for a CARES Act emergency grant, are there other forms of emergency financial assistance I can request?
Yes! Through generous donor support, the Suffolk Community College Foundation (Foundation) has established a COVID-19 Emergency Fund to provide financial assistance to students with financial need as a result of COVID-19. In addition, the Foundation may be able to refer students in need to other existing Foundation hardship funds. Students can access hardship funds when they need to quickly address pressing healthcare issues, homelessness, food insecurity, utility termination, or other critical financial crises. Students may complete the Foundation’s COVID-19 Fund Application to request assistance.
How will a CARES Act emergency grant impact my financial aid award?
A CARES Act emergency grant is not considered part of your financial aid. It does not reduce or replace your financial aid. These awards are not counted as income for the calculation of the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) or towards Estimated Financial Assistance (EFA).
Where can I find more information about the CARES Act, as it pertains to federal financial aid, including student loans?
For more information about the CARES Act’s provisions impacting federal financial aid, including student loans, please visit the U.S. Department of Education’s Federal Student Aid website. You can also contact your campus Financial Aid office with questions about your financial aid.
Will a CARES Act emergency grant impact my federal income taxes?
Please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions issued by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) on the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund and Emergency Financial Aid Grants under the CARES Act.
