federal financial aid student eligibility and the application process tasfaa new aid officers...

Federal Financial AidFederal Financial AidStudent Eligibility and the Student Eligibility and the

Application ProcessApplication Process

TASFAA New Aid Officers WorkshopTASFAA New Aid Officers WorkshopMay 16, 2011May 16, 2011

Presented by:Presented by:

Karen KrauseKaren Krause

University of Texas at ArlingtonUniversity of Texas at Arlington

General Student Eligibility General Student Eligibility RequirementsRequirements

US citizen or eligible non-citizenUS citizen or eligible non-citizenAttend an institution that participates in Attend an institution that participates in

federal financial aid programsfederal financial aid programsHave obtained a high school diploma or Have obtained a high school diploma or

it’s equivalent it’s equivalent Be working toward a degree or certificateBe working toward a degree or certificate

General Student Eligibility General Student Eligibility Requirements Requirements

Enroll as a regular student in an eligible Enroll as a regular student in an eligible programprogram

Enroll at least half time (6 credit hours for Enroll at least half time (6 credit hours for undergraduate students)*undergraduate students)*** Federal Pell Grants may be awarded for less than ½ Federal Pell Grants may be awarded for less than ½

time enrollment based on eligibilitytime enrollment based on eligibility

Meet Satisfactory Academic Progress Meet Satisfactory Academic Progress standardsstandards

General Student Eligibility General Student Eligibility RequirementsRequirements

Not owe a refund on a federal grant or be Not owe a refund on a federal grant or be in default on a federal educational loanin default on a federal educational loan

Registered with Selective Service if Registered with Selective Service if requiredrequired

Other Program Eligibility Other Program Eligibility RequirementsRequirements

Federal TEACH Grants have specific Federal TEACH Grants have specific requirements concerning grade point requirements concerning grade point average and future plans for teaching that average and future plans for teaching that must be consideredmust be considered

State grant, work and loan programs have State grant, work and loan programs have additional criteriaadditional criteria

Citizenship RequirementsCitizenship Requirements

U.S. citizen or nationalU.S. citizen or nationalU.S. permanent residentU.S. permanent residentCitizens of the Freely Associated States:

the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republics of Palau and the Marshall Islands

Other eligible non-citizensOther eligible non-citizens


Citizenship match first with Social Security Citizenship match first with Social Security Administration (SSA)Administration (SSA)

Name, Date of Birth and SSN matchedName, Date of Birth and SSN matchedCommon confirmation documentsCommon confirmation documents

Copy of birth certificateCopy of birth certificateCopy of U.S. passport (current or expired)Copy of U.S. passport (current or expired)Certificate of NaturalizationCertificate of Naturalization


Permanent residents and eligible non-Permanent residents and eligible non-citizens citizens First match with Social Security Administration First match with Social Security Administration

(SSA)(SSA)Second match with the Department of Second match with the Department of

Homeland Security (DHS)Homeland Security (DHS)DHS match takes precedence over SSA DHS match takes precedence over SSA

matchmatch


Data elements used in permanent resident Data elements used in permanent resident and eligible non-citizen matchand eligible non-citizen matchSocial Security numberSocial Security numberNameNameDate of birthDate of birthAlien registration number (A-number)Alien registration number (A-number)


Automated Secondary ConfirmationAutomated Secondary Confirmation If match doesn’t confirm, DHS automatically If match doesn’t confirm, DHS automatically

tries to otherwise determine eligibilitytries to otherwise determine eligibilityCPS waits 3 days before processing ISIRCPS waits 3 days before processing ISIR

Paper Secondary ConfirmationPaper Secondary Confirmation If automated secondary confirmation doesn’t If automated secondary confirmation doesn’t

occur, student may provide unexpired occur, student may provide unexpired documents to be mailed to USCIS in DHSdocuments to be mailed to USCIS in DHS

Social Security NumberSocial Security Number

SSA match validates that SSN is valid and SSA match validates that SSN is valid and matches the name and date of birth on the matches the name and date of birth on the FAFSA application as presentedFAFSA application as presented

Academic QualificationsAcademic Qualifications

High school diploma High school diploma Recognized equivalent such as a GED Recognized equivalent such as a GED

certificatecertificateRecognized home schooling at the Recognized home schooling at the

secondary levelsecondary levelApproved Ability to Benefit testApproved Ability to Benefit testSelf certification on the FAFSA is Self certification on the FAFSA is

acceptable documentationacceptable documentation

Database MatchesDatabase Matches

Selective Service System to verify Selective Service System to verify registration registration

National Student Loan Data System for National Student Loan Data System for loan default and grant overpaymentloan default and grant overpayment

Department of Veteran’s AffairsDepartment of Veteran’s AffairsSocial Security AdministrationSocial Security AdministrationDepartment of Homeland SecurityDepartment of Homeland Security

Database MatchesDatabase Matches

2010-2011 new automated Department of 2010-2011 new automated Department of Defense match for students whose parent Defense match for students whose parent or guardian died as result of military or guardian died as result of military service in Iraq or Afghanistan after service in Iraq or Afghanistan after September 11, 2001September 11, 2001

FAFSA CommentsFAFSA Comments

Comment codes may be informational - Comment codes may be informational - examples: indicating potential Pell and examples: indicating potential Pell and TEACH eligibilityTEACH eligibility

““C” flags and other comment codes must C” flags and other comment codes must be resolvedbe resolvedMissing signaturesMissing signaturesLoan default or grant overpaymentsLoan default or grant overpaymentsCitizenship statusCitizenship statusBankruptcyBankruptcy

FAFSA CommentsFAFSA Comments

Applications selected for verification – Applications selected for verification – school must request and obtain verification school must request and obtain verification documents prior to awardingdocuments prior to awarding

Aggregate loan limits metAggregate loan limits met

Federal Loan DefaultFederal Loan Default

Confirmed through National Student Loan Confirmed through National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS)Data System (NSLDS)

No federal aid can be awarded to students No federal aid can be awarded to students with a loan default until it is resolvedwith a loan default until it is resolved

Default resolutionDefault resolutionRepayment in fullRepayment in fullSatisfactory Repayment ArrangementsSatisfactory Repayment ArrangementsLoan consolidationLoan consolidation

Grant OverpaymentGrant Overpayment

Confirmed through NSLDSConfirmed through NSLDSStudent must resolve overpayment prior to Student must resolve overpayment prior to

receiving additional Title IV fundsreceiving additional Title IV funds

Selective ServiceSelective Service

Required for males ages 18 – 25 including Required for males ages 18 – 25 including U.S. citizens, permanent residents, other U.S. citizens, permanent residents, other eligible non-citizenseligible non-citizens

Common exemptionsCommon exemptionsCurrently serving in the armed forces on Currently serving in the armed forces on

active dutyactive dutyNot 18 at the time they complete the FAFSANot 18 at the time they complete the FAFSAMales born before 1960Males born before 1960FemalesFemales

Selective ServiceSelective Service

Males who failed to register must request Males who failed to register must request a Status Information Letter from SSSa Status Information Letter from SSS

Based on the letter and other supporting Based on the letter and other supporting documents, FAA must decide if the documents, FAA must decide if the student knowingly and willfully failed to student knowingly and willfully failed to registerregister

FAA’s decision is final and cannot be FAA’s decision is final and cannot be appealed to the U.S. DOEappealed to the U.S. DOE

Satisfactory Academic ProgressSatisfactory Academic Progress

School must define and publish the School must define and publish the established SAP policy established SAP policy

Policy must include a qualitative measure Policy must include a qualitative measure (example: grade point average)(example: grade point average)

Policy must include a quantitative measure Policy must include a quantitative measure (completion rate, maximum time frame)(completion rate, maximum time frame)

Application MethodsApplication Methods

FAFSA on the Web (FOTW) – both new FAFSA on the Web (FOTW) – both new applications and renewal applicationsapplications and renewal applications

EDE ExpressEDE ExpressPaper FAFSA – less than 1% of the total Paper FAFSA – less than 1% of the total

applications processed for 2010-2011 applications processed for 2010-2011 (based on DOE information in July, 2010)(based on DOE information in July, 2010)

FAFSA SignatureFAFSA Signature

U.S. Department of Education PIN U.S. Department of Education PIN http://www.pin.ed.gov

Serves as electronic signature on the Serves as electronic signature on the FAFSA as well as the MPNFAFSA as well as the MPN

Allows students to check the status of the Allows students to check the status of the FAFSA and make correctionsFAFSA and make corrections

Allows students to access the NSLDS and Allows students to access the NSLDS and Direct Loan Servicing web sitesDirect Loan Servicing web sites

FAFSA SignaturesFAFSA Signatures

PIN required for both student and parent PIN required for both student and parent (if dependent)(if dependent)

PIN remains active for up to 10 yearsPIN remains active for up to 10 yearsPIN represents the signature of a specific PIN represents the signature of a specific

individual – not a particular roleindividual – not a particular role

Output DocumentsOutput Documents

Student Aid Report – sent to student Student Aid Report – sent to student electronically if an e-mail address is providedelectronically if an e-mail address is provided

Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR) – Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR) – sent to the institution(s) that the student has sent to the institution(s) that the student has authorizedauthorized

Output documents are sent within a few daysOutput documents are sent within a few days Will not be sent to a school unless authorized by Will not be sent to a school unless authorized by

the studentthe student

FAFSAFAFSA

Results of the FAFSA will indicate if the Results of the FAFSA will indicate if the student has been selected for verification student has been selected for verification

FAFSA will calculate the Expected Family FAFSA will calculate the Expected Family Contribution that will be used to calculate Contribution that will be used to calculate a student’s financial aid eligibilitya student’s financial aid eligibility

Financial Aid ResourcesFinancial Aid Resources

Information for Financial Aid Professionals Information for Financial Aid Professionals (IFAP) – (IFAP) – www.ifap.ed.gov – this site also – this site also includes the Student Aid Handbookincludes the Student Aid Handbook

National Association of Student Financial National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators – Aid Administrators – www.nasfaa.org

Texas Guaranteed Student Loan Texas Guaranteed Student Loan Corporation – Corporation – www.tgslc.org

Financial Aid ResourcesFinancial Aid Resources

Texas Association of Student Financial Aid Texas Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators – Administrators – www.tasfaa.org

Southwest Association of Student Southwest Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators – Financial Aid Administrators – www.swasfaa.org

Colleagues and mentors in the professionColleagues and mentors in the profession

Questions?Questions?

Contact InformationContact Information

Karen KrauseKaren KrauseExecutive Director, Office of Financial Aid, Executive Director, Office of Financial Aid,

Scholarships and Veteran’s AffairsScholarships and Veteran’s AffairsUniversity of Texas at ArlingtonUniversity of Texas at Arlington

[email protected] [email protected]