It is now almost certain that there won’t be another federal stimulus check. Some states, however, continue to offer support to their citizens through benefit programs and stimulus payments. The latest state to do so is Missouri, which is planning to send coronavirus stimulus checks to students.
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On Wednesday, the Missouri State University (MSU) Board of Governors voted in favor of distributing federal Higher Education Emergency Relief fund aid to students by the end of October. If all things go as per the plans, then full-time degree-seeking students, who enrolled this fall at MSU would get stimulus checks of either $750, $1,000 or $1,500.
“This is money that is supposed to be distributed to the students just kind of like everybody else got their stimulus check,” MSU President Clif Smart said, according to news-leader.com.
The university is scheduled to get $20.7 million in student aid grants for the Springfield campus, as well as $1.7 million for the West Plains campus from the latest round of federal aid, which was approved in March. Part of this fund is required to go directly to the students, who can use it to pay for their living or college expenses.
Students, who are eligible for federal Pell grants are expected to automatically get a minimum of $1,500. Some may get up to $1,600, but it would depend on the fall enrollment tally, which will be finalized later this month. Other eligible U.S. students will get $1,000 in stimulus payment.
Foreign students who enrolled this fall at MSU would get $750. Such students, however, will have to apply for the aid, as well as prove that they are in need of financial assistance.
How Can Students Use The Money?
Students will have the option to use the money toward any outstanding balance they may have with Missouri State. Eligible students will get the money in their Missouri State account with an option to accept the funds.
If they accept the funds, they automatically give their consent to use the money toward any outstanding balance. If students decline the money, then the funds will be issued to them as a refund, either direct deposit or a check.
The university has already distributed funds to the students who enrolled this summer. At the time, the university gave out over $450,000 of the federal student aid grants to those enrolled in Springfield and $47,000 to those enrolled in West Plains.
Separately, California continues to issue fresh payments under the second Golden State Stimulus program. The state authorities released the first batch of payment under the second round on August 27. Now, the authorities are all set to release the second batch of payments on Friday.
In the first batch, the authorities issued about 650,000 direct payments. The second batch would include about 2 million direct deposit payments.