CSUN Cares for Students Grant FAQs - Fall 2021 Combined

1)     What is the CSUN Cares for Students (CCS) Grant?
The CSUN Cares for Students Grant, first awarded in Spring 2020, was made available through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF I), which was established in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The purpose of the grant is to provide emergency financial relief to students incurring costs associated with COVID-19. Since then, the Education Emergency Relief Funds II (HEERF II) and the American Rescue Plan (HEERF III) also included additional COVID-19 relief for institutions of higher education. The new COVID stimulus bill for higher education institutions and students, use the same Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) model established in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. At CSUN, student emergency grants provided through HEERF I, II and III are called CSUN Cares for Students (CCS) Grants.  During Fall 2021, CSUN plans to award over $37 million dollars in CCS Grants.

2)     What can the funds be used for?
Eligible students may use the grants toward:

• Any component of their cost of attendance
• Emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus, such as:
  • tuition
  • food
  • housing
  • health care (including mental)
  • child care

3)     When will CSUN open another CCS Grant awarding period?
The new awarding period for Fall 2021 begins October 7, 2021.

4)     How will I be notified if I am eligible?
The university will identify students who have filed a valid 2021-22 FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) or 2021-22 CADAA (California Dream Act Application).  Students with a valid 2021-22 FAFSA or CADAA will receive a communication through their CSUN email. In addition, these same students will receive a text message. There is no application to apply. Once identified as eligible, the grant funds will be sent electronically via eRefund (direct deposit) or through regular mail via a paper check. It may take up to 10 days to receive the funds.

5)     What if I cannot or have not filed a 2021-22 FAFSA or CADAA?
Students who cannot or have not filed a 2021-22 FAFSA or 2021-22 CADAA will receive an email communication to their CSUN email with a link to an application. The application must be 1) completed, 2) electronically signed and 3) submitted. Grant funds will be disbursed on a weekly basis through December 2, 2021. After submitting the completed application, it may take up to 2 weeks before funds are disbursed to your student account. The deadline to submit the application is November 30, 2021. Once you submit your application it cannot be revised or changed even if you make a mistake.

6)     I have to fill out the application because I cannot or have not filed a 2021-22 FAFSA or CADAA. I am being asked for my family’s Total Family Income (TFI). What does that mean?
Total Family Income, is the amount of income that you and your family received in 2019.

Note: Once you submit your application it cannot be revised or changed even if you make a mistake.

7)     I have to fill out the application because I cannot or have not filed a 2021-22 FAFSA or CADAA. Who should I include in my family?
Review the questions below to determine who to include in the TFI.

If you answer No to ALL of the questions, your Total Family Incomeis the amount that you and your parent(s) earned in 2019.

If you answer Yes to ANY of the questions, your family includes you and your spouse (if applicable). Report your total income for 2019.

1. Were you born before Jan. 1, 1998?
2. As of today, are you married? (Also answer “Yes” if you are separated but not divorced.)
3. At the beginning of the 2021–22 school year, will you be working on a master’s degree or doctorate degree (such as an M.A., MBA, M.D., J.D., Ph.D., Ed.D., graduate certificate, etc.)?
4. Do you now have—or will you have—children who will receive more than half of their support from you between July 1, 2021, and June 30, 2022?
5. Do you have dependents—other than your children or spouse—who live with you and who receive more than half of their support from you, now and through June 30, 2022?
6. Are you currently serving on active duty in the U.S. armed forces for purposes other than training?
7. Are you a veteran of the U.S. armed forces?
8. As determined by a court in your state of legal residence, are you or were you an emancipated minor?
9. Does someone other than your parent or stepparent have legal guardianship of you, as determined by a court in your state of legal residence?
10. At any time on or after July 1, 2020, did you receive a determination that you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless, or were self-supporting and at risk of being homeless?

Note: Once you submit your application it cannot be revised or changed even if you make a    mistake.

8)     I made a mistake on my application. Can I fix it?
No. Once you submit your application it cannot be revised or changed even if you made a mistake.

9)     Do I need to submit/attach any documents?
No. You do not have to submit any supporting documents.

10)  Who is eligible for a CCS Grant?
To be eligible, a student must meet the following criteria:

• Be enrolled in Fall 2021 as full or part time undergraduate or graduate student in an eligible program
• Be matriculated for Fall 2021

Exceptions:
Employees using a fee waiver are not eligible
Open U/non-matriculated students are not eligible

11)  Do I have to be enrolled full-time to receive a CCS Grant?
No. Students must be enrolled at least part-time in Fall 2021. Enrollment is based on census data and cannot be updated. CCS Grant awards will be prorated according to the chart below:     

12)  I filed a FAFSA or CADAA, how did you determine the amount of my CCS Grant for Fall 2021?
Awards are determined based on your computed EFC (Expected Family Contribution) from your 2021-22 FAFSA or 2021-22 CADAA and your enrollment status (see #10).

Undergraduate students with an EFC less than 5847	Award Amount
Full-time	$1,100
Part-time	$800
Undergraduate students with an EFC greater than 5846	Award Amount
Full-time	$750
Part-time	$400
All Graduate students (any EFC)	$750
Full-time	$400
Part-time

13)  I filed a 2021-22 FAFSA or CADAA. How do I know what my EFC is?

        There are two ways to see your EFC.

1. If you have received federal or state aid for the current academic year, you can find your EFC by following the steps below.
   a. Go to the CSUN home page and log into the myNorthridge Portal.
   b. Once you are logged in, select the Financial Matters tab.
   c. Locate the box called Financial Aid Essentials and select Check Your Award.
   d. Select the 2021-2022 award year, which is the same as the 2021-2022 academic year.
   e. You will see your financial aid award for the entire academic year. Scroll down to the bottom and click on “Financial Aid Summary” to view your EFC.
2. You may also log into fafsa.gov “Returning User” link and select the “View or Print” your Student Aid Report (SAR)" option located near the middle of the “My FAFSA" page. Your EFC will be located in the upper right-hand corner of your SAR.

Note: Your award amount is established at the time we identify you as eligible. It cannot be updated or changed.

14)  I cannot or have not filed a 2021-22 FAFSA or 2021-22 CADAA. How did you determine my award amount?
Awards were determined based on your Total Family Income (TFI) as entered on your submitted application. Once you submit your application it cannot be revised or changed even if you make a mistake.

Undergraduate students with a TFI less than $30,001	Award Amount
Full-time	$1,100
Part-time	$800
Undergraduate students with a TFI greater than $30,000	Award Amount
Full-time	$750
Part-time	$400
All Graduate students (any TFI)
Full-time	$750
Part-time	$400

Note: Your award amount is established when you submit your application. It cannot be updated or changed.

15)  When will I receive the funds?
Awards will be processed through the University Cash Services (UCS) Department beginning October 7, 2021 and weekly thereafter. Students will receive their awards by eRefund (direct deposit) or by paper check mailed by USPS to the current mailing address on file with Admissions & Records. It may take up to 10-14 business days for you to receive the funds.

16)  How do I know if I am signed up for eRefund?
To check your eRefund status, go to the ‘My Financial Matters’ tab on your myNorthridge Portal and select eRefund.  If the status is ‘active’, you will receive your CCS grant via direct deposit; if ‘inactive’, please enroll by entering your bank information on this page.

17)  Where can I update my address on file with the university?
If you need to update your address on file with the university, you must go to https://www.csun.edu/admissions-records/update-personal-information and follow the instructions.

18)  Is it too late to file a 2021-22 FAFSA or 2021-22 CADAA?
Although it is not too late to file a 2021-22 FAFSA or 2021-22 CADAA, your Fall 2021 grant is based on your submitted application. The university will offer a CCS Grant for Spring 2022. If you have filed your 2021-22 FAFSA or CADAA by December 2021, we will use it to determine your eligibility for the CCS grant for spring 2022.

19)  Does the CCS Grant have to be paid back?
The CCSGrant does not have to be paid back.

20)  Will the CCS Grant affect my financial aid?
The CCSGrant will not affect your eligibility for financial aid.

21)  If I owe a balance to the university, does that get taken out of my CCS Grant?
Any balances owed will not be taken out of your grant funds. These funds will be disbursed to your student account and refunded by direct deposit (eRefund) or by paper check mailed by USPS to your current mailing address on file with Admissions & Records. Once you receive the funds, you can then use them for emergency costs due to coronavirus, such as:

• tuition
• food
• housing
• health care (including mental)
• child care

22)  If I’m currently receiving aid from EDD for unemployment. Can I still apply for the CCS Grant?
That is not a question we are qualified to answer. You may wish to ask the applicable agency.  Just a note that the grant does not have to be paid back and the grant will not affect your eligibility for   financial aid.

23)  Will the grant affect my VA benefits in future semesters?
That is not a question we are qualified to answer. You may wish to ask the applicable agency. Just a note that the grant does not have to be paid back and the grant will not affect your eligibility for financial aid.

24)  I’m an Open University student.  Am I eligible for a CCS Grant?
No. These funds do not allow awards to non-matriculated students.

25)  I’m a staff member taking classes at CSUN. Am I eligible to receive a CCS Grant?
No. Staff members taking classes are not eligible for the CCS Grants, as staff already receive an education benefit as part of the State Employee Fee Waiver Program.

26)  Who can I contact if I have questions?
You may send an email to CSUNCARES2@csun.edu. It may take several days to get a response due to the volume of emails.