DISASTER ASSISTANCE INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS AND FEDERAL STUDENT LOAN BORROWERS

The Federal Student Aid office of the U.S. Department of Education is committed to assisting students enrolled in postsecondary education who have been impacted by hurricanes and other federally declared natural disasters. We are also committed to assisting former students who, because of a disaster, need assistance with their federal student loan repayment obligations. While the first stop for a student should be the financial aid office at the school where the student was attending or plans to attend and the lender for borrowers, the following are some answers to frequently asked questions.

• What if I need to transfer to a different school?
  
  Students who wish to transfer to a different school should contact the financial aid office at the new school as soon as possible so that the new school can request the student’s federal financial aid records from the Department of Education. This early contact will also allow the new school to provide the student with information needed to support a request for financial aid.
  
  
• What are my options if my aid eligibility was impacted by a natural disaster but my application does not reflect this change?
  
  Financial aid administrators at colleges are authorized to use their professional judgment in order to reflect more accurately the financial need of students and families affected by a disaster. If a student feels that their eligibility for aid was impacted by the disaster, they should contact the financial aid office at their school to ask for a re-assessment of eligibility.
  
  
• Do I need to claim on my FAFSA any disaster-related support I received from either the state or the Department of Education?
  
  No special aid received by victims of a disaster from the federal government or from a state, for the purpose of providing financial relief, can be counted as income, other resources, or other financial assistance for the purpose of determining a student’s eligibility for federal student aid.
  
  
• What if documentation I need to apply for financial aid has been damaged or lost by a natural disaster?
  
  In some instances students and parents may be asked to provide documentation for verification of their financial aid application information. If the documentation being requested has been lost or destroyed by the disaster, the student should immediately inform the school that asked for the records. That school may make a determination not to require those documents.
  
  
• I have a federal student loan and I was not able to complete my school year due to a natural disaster. What are my options?
  
  Federal student loan borrowers who, as a result of the disaster, were not able to complete their school year, will be provided with an extended “in-school” status until the borrower officially withdraws or re-enrolls in the next regular enrollment period, whichever is earlier. This action will prevent the borrower from entering repayment status on his or her loans. Students should contact their school to request this action.
  
  
• I was displaced from my home in a recent natural disaster. As a result, I am having trouble making payments on my federal student loan. What are my options?
  
  Borrowers who are in repayment but who were adversely affected by a disaster qualify for administrative forbearance of loan repayment for a period of up to three months. During forbearance, payments are temporarily postponed or reduced. However, interest is still charged during the forbearance period. Borrowers should contact their lender to request this forbearance.
  
  

Contact Information

Federal Student Aid has a number of call centers equipped to assist students and borrowers as they recover from a disaster.

• Students with general questions about federal student aid should call 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243).
• Borrowers who have questions about their Federal Direct Loans should call the Direct Loan Servicing Center at 1-800-848-0979 or visit the Direct Loan Servicing Online Web site at www.dl.ed.gov.
• Borrowers who have questions about their Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) loans should contact their lender directly. If unsure of the lender, borrowers can call 1-800-4FEDAID (1-800-433-3243) or contact the Federal Student Aid Ombudsman at 1-877-557-2575 or 202-377-3800.

Other Related Web Sites

Disaster Information for Schools

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

DisasterAssistance.gov

American Red Cross

The National Hurricane Center