Allocation of NSF GRFP funds

[TheBobbRoss]

Im a second year PhD student on an NSF fellowship and lately I’ve been having some issues with my funding. 

The accountant from my department basically told me there weren’t enough funds to keep paying me (there are still 7 months left in the fiscal year). When I go to Division of Research to find out what is going on they mention that they pool the money they receive from NSF and split it among all NSF award winners at my institution. This seems odd to me for two reasons. 

1. I don’t know why they would pool and split the money.

2. The awards are all the same I believe so even if pooling/splitting the funds was the norm, everyone should still have the same money from the award. 

My department chair and advisor are now involved and trying to resolve this with division of research. 

Does anyone have any information or experience with this? 

[Bayesian1701]

I don’t have any experience with this but I had an idea on how they could run out without some more nefarious reasons.  Maybe they would run out if they are mixing it and giving it to people who may be on reserve who aren’t receiving money from the NSF for that year.  They shouldn’t run out of money unless they are giving someone more money than they should.  Have they been paying you more than they should or possibly are taking out money for fees and tuition (I don’t think they should be)?  It does seem fishy that the money is apparently gone when it shouldn’t be.

[TheBobbRoss]

So my department covers my tuition and fees through a separate fellowship and the payments I receive are all in the appropriate amount. It adds up to the total award amount for the stipend. Taxes are not withheld so it couldn’t be that. They don’t even submit 1099 or any other tax form for this award. It’s not included in the 1098 ether. 

Its strange to me, the first year everything was handled properly. I received my stipend in the full amount plus the institutional allowance. This year there is not even enough money to cover my stipend according to DOR due to this pooling/splitting system.