We overpaid a trainee on stipend and fringe. Rather than making the trainee pay us back, is it allowable to transfer excessive stipends or fringe benefits from the T32 grant to a department budget?

No. While transferring excessive stipends or fringe benefits to a department budget will result in charging NIH the appropriate amount of costs, the trainee is still receiving additional stipends and fringe benefits. Additional benefits paid to a trainee may indicate an employer-employee relationship, which is not allowed under NIH policy. Also, trainees must be treated consistently across the University, regardless of the financial condition of the department. Please see PAFC’s additional guidance on T32 Training Grants for more information.