Why funds get returned
Funds may need to be returned if USAC disbursed them in error, or if the amount supported by participant documentation differs from what was actually disbursed. For E-rate, a return is sometimes triggered by a review of your funding commitments, such as an audit or a form review.
If USAC finds that funds were committed or disbursed in error, it will send you a Commitment Adjustment/Demand Letter (COMAD) or a Recovery of Improperly Disbursed Funds (RIDF) letter, along with a report detailing the adjustments.
How to return funds after COMAD or RIDF has been issued.
You return funds by signing into your USAC account and opening the Program Recovery Payments system.
How to return funds voluntarily
If you want to return funds on your own, without a COMAD, start with USAC’s Voluntary Return Request Form from the Program Recovery Payments system. There are separate versions for E-rate and the Cybersecurity Pilot Program.
From there:
- Submit the completed form to PIDVoluntaryReturns@usac.org.
- USAC uses the information you provided to create a statement in its system that you can pay online.
- Once USAC confirms you can proceed, make your payment through the Program Recovery Payments system.
Received a COMAD or RIDF letter and not sure what to do next? Get a free consultation, we’ll help you work through it.
About the Author: Micah Rigdon has been with Funds For Learning for about 18 years and is based in Edmond, Oklahoma. One unusual fact about Micah is that he holds kung-fu to be the best genre of musical cinema.