FCC DOL AND HHS MAY USE FAFSA DATA UNDER NEW FLEXIBILITIES

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) has designated the Federal Communication Commission (FCC), the Department of Labor (DOL), and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as entities that may use FAFSA data to aid in the administration of pandemic related benefits administered through each respective agency.

• The FCC designation will allow Pell eligible students to access Emergency Broadband Benefits. For background information and guidance on the EBB Program, see the FCC’s EBB Program Website: https://www.fcc.gov/broadbandbenefit
• The DOL designation will allow students who are unable to work due to the pandemic to access Pandemic Unemployment Assistance.
• The HHS designation allows ED to communicate with students about the availability of Health Insurance on the Federal Marketplace and a Special Enrollment Period that runs through August 15, 2021.

For more information about these designations and the relief programs available to students, please read this electronic announcement from Federal Student Aid.