… Financial Aid - Disbursements & Refunds (UC) … Disbursements & Refunds … Disbursements are financial aid funds applied to your student account. Disbursement is a technical term used by the financial aid department. The financial aid department disburses federal and state aid (Pell, Sub, Unsub, PLUS, Cal Grants, etc.) to your student account to pay for your direct educational cost. Once your direct educational cost are paid, the financial aid department “refunds” …