Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Emergency Aid
CARES Act Emergency Aid refers to funding provided to colleges and universities in spring 2020 by the U.S. Department of Education to provide emergency grant aid to federal aid eligible students for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the coronavirus.
The deadline to apply for CARES Act funding was 5 pm on September 11, 2020.
Eligibility Criteria
- Currently enrolled at UT Dallas in a degree seeking or Title IV eligible program
- Meet Title IV federal student aid eligibility criteria, including but not limited to:
- Be a citizen of the United States of America or be an eligible non-citizen*
- Be meeting Standards of Academic Progress
- Not be in default of or owe an overpayment on a federal loan or grant
- Be in compliance with Selective Service requirements
- Incurred expenses due to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus
- Approved CARES Act Emergency Aid Application
- Submitted Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
- FAFSA submitted must be complete. Please see below for details.
Eligible Expenses
The following is a list of expenses that can be considered for CARES Act Emergency Aid if they were incurred due to the disruption of campus operations due to the coronavirus:
| Food | Computer | Course Supplies (including books, software, and hardware) |
| Rent | Internet | Healthcare |
| Utilities | Moving | Childcare |
Please Note: Not all funds requested can be approved due to limited funding.
Restrictions
CARES Act Emergency Aid:
- cannot be awarded for current or future tuition charges.
- cannot be applied toward any outstanding university charges. The entire amount awarded will be refunded directly to the recipient.
- cannot be awarded for loss of income or expenses that are not directly related to the disruption of campus operations due to the coronavirus pandemic.
- cannot be awarded to students admitted to specifically online programs.
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cannot be awarded to students who have graduated and are no longer degree seeking.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
- One CARES Act emergency aid application is allowable per eligible term. Please do not submit 2nd or multiple applications for a term. Once your application has been submitted, you should anticipate a response via your UT Dallas email address within 10 business days.
- Make sure your application is final, complete, and accurate at point of submission. You will receive an email acknowledgement after submission. Please read the email carefully for important details and guidance.
- CARES Act emergency aid is a very limited fund. The funds currently available are significantly less than the funding that was available in prior terms. Priority consideration will be given to those with the highest calculated need. CARES Act emergency aid is a onetime, non-renewable fund.
- Emergency aid requests for the funding of a computer purchase are considered a “onetime” cost for the purposes of awarding CARES Act emergency aid. If you previously received CARES Act emergency aid funding for the cost of a computer, we will not be able to approve a second request.
Fall 2020 CARES Act Emergency Aid
The Deadline to apply for Fall 2020 CARES Act emergency Aid was 5 p.m. September 11, 2020
Students who enrolled and maintained enrollment in fall 2020 could apply for CARES Act emergency aid if they met the following criteria:
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- Enrolled fall 2020 at UT Dallas in a Title IV federal aid eligible program
- Currently meeting Title IV federal aid eligibility requirements
- Submitted a 2020/2021 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by July 15, 2020
- FAFSA submitted must be complete and in non-rejected status
- FAFSA must have been received by UT Dallas no later than September 1, 2020
- Have costs directly related to campus disruptions due to the coronavirus
- Submit fall 2020 CARES Act application by 5 pm, September 11, 2020
Timing
Once your application has been submitted, you should anticipate a response via your UT Dallas email address within 10 business days. If additional information is needed, we will contact you via your UT Dallas email. Please be advised – duplicate submissions will increase the time it takes to review your application. Please make sure your application is complete and final before submitting it.
Amount
The maximum amount awarded will depend on your individual application submitted as well as the number of eligible applications received. Please note that we cannot fund all costs requested due to limited funds. CARES Act emergency aid is a non-renewable fund and awarding is limited by funding.
Documentation
If additional documentation is required to support your application, the Office of Financial Aid will contact you via your UTD email address.
Refunds
Refunds for recipients of CARES Act Emergency Aid will be issued by the Bursar Office. It is highly recommended that you be enrolled in direct deposit to expedite your refund.
CARES Act Emergency Aid FAQ
Who is not eligible for CARES Act Emergency Aid?
CARES Act Emergency Aid cannot be awarded to international students, TASFA applicants, DACA students, or students enrolled in fully online programs prior to March 13, 2020. Students who do not meet the basic eligibility criteria are also not eligible.
How will I know if I’m approved for CARES Act Emergency Aid?
You will receive an email response to your application within 10 business days of submission. Requests for additional information, status updates, and award notices will be sent from the Office of Financial Aid to your UTD email address.
How much funding will I get from CARES Act Emergency Aid?
Emergency aid grants vary by student and are unique to each student’s expenses incurred. We cannot fund all costs requested as funding is limited.
I was enrolled spring or summer 2020. Can I still apply for CARES Act emergency aid?
What if my emergency aid funding is not enough? Can I appeal or request additional funding?
We are not able to accept appeals for additional funding.
How will I receive my funds if I am offered CARES Act Emergency Aid?
Refunds for recipients of CARES Act Emergency Aid will be issued by the Bursar Office. It is strongly recommended that you be enrolled in direct deposit to expedite your refund.
Will CARES Act Emergency Aid affect my other financial aid?
CARES Act Emergency Aid will not affect other financial aid awarded to you.
Are undergraduate and graduate students eligible for CARES Act Emergency Aid?
Yes, as long as they met the criteria outlined above.
How many times can I apply for CARES Act Emergency Aid?
Students were able to apply once per eligible term of enrollment (see eligibility requirements per term above). Please do not submit multiple applications for a term as this will slow down the process for you and for others. Note: The deadline to apply for CARES Act emergency aid has passed.
I completed my FAFSA but was selected for verification. Do I need to submit the documents before I can receive CARES Act Emergency Aid?
There are some verification requirements related to CARES Act Emergency Aid. If we need additional information from you, we will contact you via your UTD email address. To be considered for other federal, state, and institutional financial aid, verification must be completed.
I completed a FAFSA and received unsubsidized loans only. Am I still eligible for CARES Act Emergency Aid?
You may qualify for CARES Act Emergency Aid even if you received only unsubsidized loans as long as you meet the eligibility requirements and have unanticipated expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus.
Do I need to report CARES Act Emergency Aid on my federal tax return?
CARES Act Emergency Aid is considered a qualified disaster relief payment under section 139 of the Internal Revenue code, and thus is excluded from income. For more information, see the Frequently Asked Questions section of the IRS Coronavirus and Economic impact Payments: Resources and Guidance webpage.