Federal Financial Aid Student Eligibility and the Application Process TASFAA New Aid Officers Workshop May 16, 2011 Presented by: Karen Krause University of Texas at Arlington

General Student Eligibility Requirements US citizen or eligible non-citizen US citizen or eligible non-citizen Attend an institution that participates in federal financial aid programs Attend an institution that participates in federal financial aid programs Have obtained a high school diploma or it’s equivalent Have obtained a high school diploma or it’s equivalent Be working toward a degree or certificate Be working toward a degree or certificate

General Student Eligibility Requirements Enroll as a regular student in an eligible program Enroll as a regular student in an eligible program Enroll at least half time (6 credit hours for undergraduate students)* Enroll at least half time (6 credit hours for undergraduate students)* * Federal Pell Grants may be awarded for less than ½ time enrollment based on eligibility * Federal Pell Grants may be awarded for less than ½ time enrollment based on eligibility Meet Satisfactory Academic Progress standards Meet Satisfactory Academic Progress standards

General Student Eligibility Requirements Not owe a refund on a federal grant or be in default on a federal educational loan Not owe a refund on a federal grant or be in default on a federal educational loan Registered with Selective Service if required Registered with Selective Service if required

Other Program Eligibility Requirements Federal TEACH Grants have specific requirements concerning grade point average and future plans for teaching that must be considered Federal TEACH Grants have specific requirements concerning grade point average and future plans for teaching that must be considered State grant, work and loan programs have additional criteria State grant, work and loan programs have additional criteria

Citizenship Requirements U.S. citizen or national U.S. citizen or national U.S. permanent resident U.S. permanent resident Citizens of the Freely Associated States: the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republics of Palau and the Marshall Islands Other eligible non-citizens Other eligible non-citizens

Citizenship Requirements Citizenship match first with Social Security Administration (SSA) Citizenship match first with Social Security Administration (SSA) Name, Date of Birth and SSN matched Name, Date of Birth and SSN matched Common confirmation documents Common confirmation documents Copy of birth certificate Copy of birth certificate Copy of U.S. passport (current or expired) Copy of U.S. passport (current or expired) Certificate of Naturalization Certificate of Naturalization

Citizenship Requirements Permanent residents and eligible non- citizens Permanent residents and eligible non- citizens First match with Social Security Administration (SSA) First match with Social Security Administration (SSA) Second match with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Second match with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) DHS match takes precedence over SSA match DHS match takes precedence over SSA match

Citizenship Requirements Data elements used in permanent resident and eligible non-citizen match Data elements used in permanent resident and eligible non-citizen match Social Security number Social Security number Name Name Date of birth Date of birth Alien registration number (A-number) Alien registration number (A-number)

Citizenship Requirements Automated Secondary Confirmation Automated Secondary Confirmation If match doesn’t confirm, DHS automatically tries to otherwise determine eligibility If match doesn’t confirm, DHS automatically tries to otherwise determine eligibility CPS waits 3 days before processing ISIR CPS waits 3 days before processing ISIR Paper Secondary Confirmation Paper Secondary Confirmation If automated secondary confirmation doesn’t occur, student may provide unexpired documents to be mailed to USCIS in DHS If automated secondary confirmation doesn’t occur, student may provide unexpired documents to be mailed to USCIS in DHS

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

Academic Qualifications High school diploma High school diploma Recognized equivalent such as a GED certificate Recognized equivalent such as a GED certificate Recognized home schooling at the secondary level Recognized home schooling at the secondary level Approved Ability to Benefit test Approved Ability to Benefit test Self certification on the FAFSA is acceptable documentation Self certification on the FAFSA is acceptable documentation

Database Matches Selective Service System to verify registration Selective Service System to verify registration National Student Loan Data System for loan default and grant overpayment National Student Loan Data System for loan default and grant overpayment Department of Veteran’s Affairs Department of Veteran’s Affairs Social Security Administration Social Security Administration Department of Homeland Security Department of Homeland Security

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

FAFSA Comments Comment codes may be informational - examples: indicating potential Pell and TEACH eligibility Comment codes may be informational - examples: indicating potential Pell and TEACH eligibility “C” flags and other comment codes must be resolved “C” flags and other comment codes must be resolved Missing signatures Missing signatures Loan default or grant overpayments Loan default or grant overpayments Citizenship status Citizenship status Bankruptcy Bankruptcy

FAFSA Comments Applications selected for verification – school must request and obtain verification documents prior to awarding Applications selected for verification – school must request and obtain verification documents prior to awarding Aggregate loan limits met Aggregate loan limits met

Federal Loan Default Confirmed through National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) Confirmed through National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) No federal aid can be awarded to students with a loan default until it is resolved No federal aid can be awarded to students with a loan default until it is resolved Default resolution Default resolution Repayment in full Repayment in full Satisfactory Repayment Arrangements Satisfactory Repayment Arrangements Loan consolidation Loan consolidation

Grant Overpayment Confirmed through NSLDS Confirmed through NSLDS Student must resolve overpayment prior to receiving additional Title IV funds Student must resolve overpayment prior to receiving additional Title IV funds

Selective Service Required for males ages 18 – 25 including U.S. citizens, permanent residents, other eligible non-citizens Required for males ages 18 – 25 including U.S. citizens, permanent residents, other eligible non-citizens Common exemptions Common exemptions Currently serving in the armed forces on active duty Currently serving in the armed forces on active duty Not 18 at the time they complete the FAFSA Not 18 at the time they complete the FAFSA Males born before 1960 Males born before 1960 Females Females

Selective Service Males who failed to register must request a Status Information Letter from SSS Males who failed to register must request a Status Information Letter from SSS Based on the letter and other supporting documents, FAA must decide if the student knowingly and willfully failed to register Based on the letter and other supporting documents, FAA must decide if the student knowingly and willfully failed to register FAA’s decision is final and cannot be appealed to the U.S. DOE FAA’s decision is final and cannot be appealed to the U.S. DOE

Satisfactory Academic Progress School must define and publish the established SAP policy School must define and publish the established SAP policy Policy must include a qualitative measure (example: grade point average) Policy must include a qualitative measure (example: grade point average) Policy must include a quantitative measure (completion rate, maximum time frame) Policy must include a quantitative measure (completion rate, maximum time frame)

Application Methods FAFSA on the Web (FOTW) – both new applications and renewal applications FAFSA on the Web (FOTW) – both new applications and renewal applications EDE Express EDE Express Paper FAFSA – less than 1% of the total applications processed for (based on DOE information in July, 2010) Paper FAFSA – less than 1% of the total applications processed for (based on DOE information in July, 2010)

FAFSA Signature U.S. Department of Education PIN U.S. Department of Education PIN Serves as electronic signature on the FAFSA as well as the MPN Serves as electronic signature on the FAFSA as well as the MPN Allows students to check the status of the FAFSA and make corrections Allows students to check the status of the FAFSA and make corrections Allows students to access the NSLDS and Direct Loan Servicing web sites Allows students to access the NSLDS and Direct Loan Servicing web sites

FAFSA Signatures PIN required for both student and parent (if dependent) PIN required for both student and parent (if dependent) PIN remains active for up to 10 years PIN remains active for up to 10 years PIN represents the signature of a specific individual – not a particular role PIN represents the signature of a specific individual – not a particular role

Output Documents Student Aid Report – sent to student electronically if an address is provided Student Aid Report – sent to student electronically if an address is provided Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR) – sent to the institution(s) that the student has authorized Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR) – sent to the institution(s) that the student has authorized Output documents are sent within a few days Output documents are sent within a few days Will not be sent to a school unless authorized by the student Will not be sent to a school unless authorized by the student

FAFSA Results of the FAFSA will indicate if the student has been selected for verification Results of the FAFSA will indicate if the student has been selected for verification FAFSA will calculate the Expected Family Contribution that will be used to calculate a student’s financial aid eligibility FAFSA will calculate the Expected Family Contribution that will be used to calculate a student’s financial aid eligibility

Financial Aid Resources Information for Financial Aid Professionals (IFAP) – – this site also includes the Student Aid Handbook Information for Financial Aid Professionals (IFAP) – – this site also includes the Student Aid Handbookwww.ifap.ed.gov National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators – National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators – Texas Guaranteed Student Loan Corporation – Texas Guaranteed Student Loan Corporation –

Financial Aid Resources Texas Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators – Texas Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators – Southwest Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators – Southwest Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators – Colleagues and mentors in the profession Colleagues and mentors in the profession

Questions?

Contact Information Karen Krause Executive Director, Office of Financial Aid, Scholarships and Veteran’s Affairs University of Texas at Arlington