Office of Student Financial Services

Brandeis is receiving $1,599,232.50 to be shared directly with students.

If you are eligible to file a FAFSA but have not yet filed one, you must complete either the 2019-20 or 2020-21 applications online at fafsa.ed.gov as well as a HEERF Grant Application, which you can request by emailing SFS. Although the original deadline for this application was June 24, 2020, funds are currently still available. Undergraduate and graduate students who would not ordinarily file a FAFSA are encouraged to do so to receive this funding. The Office of Student Financial Services will review your application and approve your eligibility for Title IV federal aid.

Students who met the eligibility criteria by June 24, 2020, received notification of approval for funding July 1 and received reminders up until the July 16th deadline to request distribution of the grant via Sage. Applicants for the grant after July 16 will be notified of their approval for funding via email.

The amount of funds distributed to each individual is based on their financial need as determined by the FAFSA. Eligible students with a FAFSA EFC of $10,000 or below will be eligible for $1,300 and those with a FAFSA EFC above this amount will be eligible for $650. Funding began on July 1 and will continue until funds are exhausted.

Once you are notified that you have been approved for the grant, you will need to log into Sage and request the grant using the refund link in your Student Center no later than July 16, 2020. After July 16, students will need to submit the FAFSA online and request a HEERF Grant Application from SFS. Once the applications are approved by SFS, payment will be issued to eligible students via Accounts Payable.

As part of the process, you will need to certify that you have expenses equal to, or exceeding, the amount of the grant plus any emergency funds already received for COVID-related expenses from the university since March 13. You may request that the funds be sent to you via direct deposit or check. Checks cannot be picked up on campus.

Eligible expenses are those expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to COVID-19 (including eligible expenses under a student's cost of attendance, such as housing, technology, health care and child care expenses). Applicants are required to confirm that they incurred eligible expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to COVID-19. Normal expenses are not eligible. Documentation of these expenses is not required.

To apply for the grant before June 24, 2020, you only need to submit the FAFSA application. If you are eligible to receive the grant, it will be posted to your student account on or after July 1, 2020. After June 24, you must complete the FAFSA application and a HEERF Grant Application, which is available from SFS.

When you request the funds, you will be required to confirm that you incurred eligible expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to COVID-19. Normal expenses are not eligible. Documentation of these expenses is not required.

You are not required to be a financial aid recipient to receive a HEERF grant. However, Brandeis will direct more funding to students with demonstrated financial need as determined by the FAFSA.

These funds are available regardless of whether you have applied for or received a grant from the Student Emergency Fund. However, you can only accept the grant if your eligible expenses equal, or exceed, the amount of the grant plus any emergency funds already received from the university for COVID-related expenses.

No, this fund does not negate nor replace financial aid, and it is a one-time grant.

Yes, Brandeis is also receiving $1,599,000 for university purposes. This funding will likely be spent on PPE and other needs to make the campus safer in the COVID-19 environment. Brandeis could have elected to use the CARES Act money it will disburse directly to students to replenish money the university has previously contributed to students through the Student Emergency Fund, but instead leaders felt it was important to make additional funds available directly to students.

Unfortunately, federal funds are only available to currently enrolled students. You would only be eligible through Brandeis if you are subsequently enrolled through a degree program in the fall through the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Heller School for Social Policy and Management or Brandeis International Business School.

Unfortunately, yes. The federal legislation that established the grants exclude international students, DACA students, undocumented students and students in online-only programs.

The IRS has issued the following guidance FAQs on the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund and Emergency Financial Aid Grants under the CARES Act that clarifies that CARES Act.

No, federal regulations prohibit the application of this grant to any charges owed to the university.