Student Emergency Fund

Student Emergency Fund

The Student Emergency Fund (SEF), overseen by Student Assistance and Support Services (SASS), assists UNC Charlotte students by providing financial support for unexpected life emergencies that cause unforeseen expenses during the semester in which the request is made. SEF is designed to provide necessary financial relief for situations such as accidents, illness, the death of a family member, fire damage, the need for temporary housing, or natural disasters. Documentation must be provided of the emergency and the financial need. SEF is not intended to provide reimbursement for expenses already paid. Awarded funds through SEF do not have to be repaid.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must:

• Be an enrolled undergraduate or graduate student, and taking at least one credit hour in the current semester. The Student Emergency Fund (SEF) application process is closed when classes are not in session.
• Have an immediate or time-sensitive financial hardship resulting from an emergency, accident, or other critical incidents. The expense must be unexpected, unforeseen, of an urgent nature, and occur within the semester of the SEF request.
• Have explored financial options with Niner Central prior to submitting a SEF application. All other resources, including short-term loans through Financial Aid, must have been considered and are either insufficient, unavailable, or not available in a timely manner. We encourage students to consider additional financial resources. As part of a student’s holistic review of their SEF request, the student’s semester refund will be taken into account.
• Provide supporting documentation of the event or circumstance causing the financial emergency, as well as documentation of the resulting expense (e.g., unpaid bill, invoice, estimate, or other proof of anticipated cost). Both the cause of the emergency and the financial impact must be documented.

Possible Expenses Covered

• Assistance with travel-related costs associated with the death or illness of an immediate family member (parent, grandparent, sibling, spouse/partner, and/or child) due to a financial hardship. The student must provide an obituary, memorial service pamphlet, or other documentation that includes: the date of the family member’s passing, date of funeral/memorial service, the city and state where the services were held, and the relationship between the student and the family member.
• Books and other essential academic expenses due to a documented financial hardship
• Emergency housing due to an unexpected or unforeseen emergency (fire, natural disaster, or victim of a crime) and assistance with the replacement of essential personal belongings
• One-time/non-recurring medical emergency or medication expenses due to a financial hardship
• Food insecurity due to the loss of a job or other demonstrated financial hardship
• Car emergencies that render the car inoperable or unsafe to drive

Expenses Not Covered

• Termination from job (includes quitting a job for a non-emergency)
• Health, Car and/or Apartment insurance
• Study abroad costs, including loans to cover these educational costs
• Non-essential utilities (i.e. cable)
• University-related fines (i.e. parking, library, etc.)
• Cost related to entertainment, recreation, or non-emergency travel
• Cost and fees related to legal expenses
• Outstanding personal debt, including credit card debt and/or other emergency expenses already paid
• Tuition/Fees
• Rent, unless it is due to the loss of a job, reduced work hours, or other demonstrated financial hardship

Awards

Students are eligible for a one-time funding award of up to $500. Students approved for the Student Emergency Fund are connected with Niner Finances for a required educational component. Niner Finances provides resources and tools designed to help students learn more about how to navigate their financial well-being.

Application

Applicants must complete the Student Emergency Fund application in its entirety and submit official supporting documentation that speaks directly to your unexpected and unavoidable life emergency. Applications that are not complete and do not have an accurate student ID number provided will not be processed. It is the expectation that all statements, information, and documentation provided are truthful and accurate at the time of application. Applications that are submitted without supporting documentation will be denied.

Examples of Supporting Documentation

• For Loss of a Job and/or Loss of Income: An official letter from the employer confirming separation of employment and/or letter from employer explaining employee’s current work status (as laid off, furloughed, reduction of work hours, etc.). While pay stubs help us understand a student’s income, they do not by themselves document a financial emergency. The student must provide documentation of how the loss of income has impacted their financial status (i.e. bills that cannot be paid, with said bills attached to the application). Termination from a job does not qualify under loss of income.
• For Food: A written statement explaining why the Jamil Niner Food Pantry or Swipe Out Hunger Program is not meeting the student’s needs or a letter from the employer demonstrating a change in employment status (laid off, furloughed, loss of work hours, etc.).
• For Loss of Items: Police report, insurance claim, or other official documentation showing the student’s name, date of the incident, and a description of the items that were stolen, damaged, or destroyed. The loss must result from an unexpected event, such as theft, accident, fire, or natural disaster. Documentation of estimated repair/replacement costs may also be submitted to demonstrate the financial impact of the loss.
• For Prescriptions: Unpaid bill or quote from a pharmacy showing the student’s name, prescription date, and the associated cost of the medication. Prescription expenses should be related to an unexpected illness, injury, or medical emergency. Routine or ongoing prescriptions may be considered only when a documented change in circumstances, such as a loss of income, unexpected expense, or other qualifying financial hardship, has made the student temporarily unable to afford a previously manageable medication cost. Documentation must clearly demonstrate the student’s financial responsibility for the expense and the reason the prescription has become a financial hardship.
• For Car Repairs: Documentation demonstrating that the vehicle is inoperable or unsafe to drive and that repairs are necessary. Submit an estimate or invoice from a licensed repair shop showing the student’s name, the date of estimate, a description of the required repairs, and the anticipated cost. If the repair need resulted from an accident, theft, or other incident, supporting documentation such as a police report, insurance claim, or tow receipt may also be provided. Photographs of vehicle damage cannot be used to verify the extent, cause, or cost of repairs.
• For Illness: Unpaid bill or quote from a medical facility showing the student’s name, date of service, and medical costs. Eligible expenses must be connected to an unexpected illness, injury, or medical emergency. Routine checkups, preventative care, elective procedures, and recurring medical expenses generally do not qualify as financial emergencies. Documentation must clearly identify the cost of services and the student’s responsibility for payment.
• Death of an Immediate Family Member: In the unfortunate circumstance that a student experiences the passing of an immediate family member, the student must provide an obituary, memorial service pamphlet, or other documentation that includes the date of the family member’s passing, date of funeral/memorial service, the city and state the services were held, and the relationship between the student and the family member.

The following items are not acceptable forms of supporting documentation, as they cannot be independently verified and/or do not adequately document a specific financial emergency: screenshots of personal bank account balances, pay stubs without accompanying documentation of a qualifying financial hardship, text messages, photographs of damage to or destruction of property (including personal belongings and vehicles), and documentation that does not clearly include the student’s full name.

Determination

SASS will review all applications for the Student Emergency Fund when funds are available for distribution. Eligibility requirements (noted above) will be reviewed, along with the level of need and availability of funds. SASS will determine whether the applicant qualifies and the appropriate funding amount to be awarded. Applicants will receive an official email to their UNC Charlotte email address with the determination and relevant information. Applicants may be asked to meet with a SASS staff member to discuss their application further, if necessary. Please note that SASS may not be able to fulfill all requests due to the availability of funds.

Disbursement of Funds

Any monies awarded through the Student Emergency Fund will not be applied to a student’s University account. Funding will be disbursed via direct deposit. It is important that applicants log into their my.charlotte.edu account to verify that their direct deposit information is accurate and/or to enroll in direct deposit. Please review direct deposit directions for more information. Please note that if a student does not have a bank account, funds can be disbursed by check, though the turnaround time will be longer. You are strongly encouraged to verify and/or enroll in direct deposit prior to submitting an application to the Student Emergency Fund.

Financial Implication

Please note that Student Emergency Fund payments are considered taxable income for the recipient under federal law. Some international students may see a 14% federal tax deducted from their disbursement. If a federal tax deduction is required, it will be reported to the recipient on a Form 1042-S, which will be mailed by March 15 of the next calendar year.

Additionally, awards provided through the Student Emergency Fund may impact a student’s Financial Aid package. Students are encouraged to speak with Niner Central to discuss any potential impacts prior to application.

Application Process

Please review all information shared on this page prior to submission of an application and remember to complete the application in its entirety. Applications that are submitted without supporting documentation will be denied. When ready, please submit your application to the UNC Charlotte Student Emergency Fund using the link below. Questions related to applications for the Student Emergency Fund can be directed to Student Assistance and Support Services via phone (704-687-0289) or email (studentsupport@charlotte.edu). Please note that SASS will communicate any updates on individual applications directly to students via their UNC Charlotte email addresses when such updates are available.

Interested in donating directly to the UNC Charlotte Student Emergency Fund? We appreciate any support provided to our students.