US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

20 U.S.C. § 1087–55

Flexible use of funds

(a)

Carry-over authority

(1)
Of the sums granted to an eligible institution under this part for any fiscal year, 10 percent may, at the discretion of the institution, remain available for expenditure during the succeeding fiscal year to carry out programs under this part.
(2)
section 1087–53 of this title Any of the sums so granted to an institution for a fiscal year which are not needed by that institution to operate work-study programs during that fiscal year, and which it does not wish to use during the next fiscal year as authorized in the preceding sentence, shall remain available to the Secretary for making grants under to other institutions in the same State until the close of the second fiscal year next succeeding the fiscal year for which such funds were appropriated.
(b)

Carry-back authority

(1)
Up to 10 percent of the sums the Secretary determines an eligible institution may receive from funds which have been appropriated for a fiscal year may be used by the Secretary to make grants under this part to such institution for expenditure during the fiscal year preceding the fiscal year for which the sums were appropriated.
(2)
An eligible institution may make payments to students of wages earned after the end of the academic year, but prior to the beginning of the succeeding fiscal year, from such succeeding fiscal year’s appropriations.
(c)

Flexible use of funds

An eligible institution may, upon the request of a student, make payments to the student under this part by crediting the student’s account at the institution or by making a direct deposit to the student’s account at a depository institution. An eligible institution may only credit the student’s account at the institution for (1) tuition and fees, (2) in the case of institutionally owned housing, room and board, and (3) other institutionally provided goods and services.

(d)

Flexibility in the event of a major disaster

(1)

In general

In the event of a major disaster, an eligible institution located in any area affected by such major disaster, as determined by the Secretary, may make payments under this part to disaster-affected students, for the period of time (not to exceed one academic year) in which the disaster-affected students were prevented from fulfilling the students’ work-study obligations as described in paragraph (2)(A)(iii), as follows:
(A)
Payments may be made under this part to disaster-affected students in an amount equal to or less than the amount of wages such students would have been paid under this part had the students been able to complete the work obligation necessary to receive work study funds.
(B)
Payments shall not be made to any student who was not eligible for work study or was not completing the work obligation necessary to receive work study funds under this part prior to the occurrence of the major disaster.
(C)
section 1087–53 of this title Any payments made to disaster-affected students under this subsection shall meet the matching requirements of , unless such matching requirements are waived by the Secretary.
(2)

Definitions

In this subsection:
(A)
The term “disaster-affected student” means a student enrolled at an eligible institution who—
(i)
received a work-study award under this section for the academic year during which a major disaster occurred;
(ii)
earned Federal work-study wages from such eligible institution for such academic year;
(iii)
was prevented from fulfilling the student’s work-study obligation for all or part of such academic year due to such major disaster; and
(iv)
was unable to be reassigned to another work-study job.
(B)
section 5122(2) of title 42 The term “major disaster” has the meaning given such term in .

Pub. L. 89–329, title IV, § 445Pub. L. 99–498, title IV, § 403(a)100 Stat. 1435Pub. L. 102–325, title IV, § 444106 Stat. 566Pub. L. 105–244, title IV, § 444112 Stat. 1714Pub. L. 110–315, title IV, § 444122 Stat. 3259(, as added , , ; amended , , ; , , ; , , .)

Editorial Notes

Codification

section 2755 of Title 42Section was formerly classified to , The Public Health and Welfare, prior to transfer to this section. See note below.

Pub. L. 88–452section 2755 of Title 42Pub. L. 89–329Pub. L. 90–575, § 131(a)Pub. L. 99–498Section was originally enacted as section 125 (and later renumbered section 145) of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, , at which time it was classified to , The Public Health and Welfare. It was renumbered as section 445 of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, , by , (b)(1), and later editorially transferred to this section to merge with the rest of the Act, which is classified to this chapter. For complete credit information on acts affecting this section prior to , see Prior Provisions note below.

Prior Provisions

section 445 of Pub. L. 89–329Pub. L. 88–452, title I, § 14578 Stat. 516Pub. L. 89–329, title IV, § 441(6)79 Stat. 1250Pub. L. 90–222, title I, § 111(a)81 Stat. 726Pub. L. 89–329, title IV, § 445Pub. L. 90–575, title I, § 131(a)82 Stat. 1028Pub. L. 99–498section 1087–54 of this titleA prior , title IV, formerly , formerly § 125, , ; , , ; renumbered § 145, , , ; renumbered , by , (b)(1), , , related to sources of matching funds, prior to the general revision of this part by . See .

Amendments

Pub. L. 110–3152008—Subsec. (d). added subsec. (d).

Pub. L. 105–2441998—Subsec. (c). added subsec. (c).

Pub. L. 102–3251992—Subsec. (b). designated existing provisions as par. (1) and added par. (2).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1998 Amendment

Pub. L. 105–244Pub. L. 105–244section 3 of Pub. L. 105–244section 1001 of this titleAmendment by effective , except as otherwise provided in , see , set out as a note under .

Effective Date of 1992 Amendment

Pub. L. 102–325section 2 of Pub. L. 102–325section 1001 of this titleAmendment by effective , see , set out as a note under .