You CAN use the research stipend to cover fringe benefits (like health insurance), but take this into account when preparing your material. I cannot stress this enough - Ask your sponsoring PI whether you will be considered an employee + what benefits you will get (4/4)

Many institutions DO NOT consider NSF PRFB Fellows employees. This has to do with how the fellowship is dispensed to awardees. This means that we are often denied key employee benefits (like health insurance 😬, retirement, even parking)… (3/4)

The living stipend awarded is fixed, which means there are no raises as you advance + no COLA. As of right now, PIs cannot directly supplement your income with federal funds. Talk to postdocs at that institution about whether the living stipend is competitive there. (2/4)