Student Eligibility

Presented by: Krissy Bhaumik

kbhaumik@umich.eduUniversity of Michigan

Student Eligibility: Objectives

• Basic understanding of the general student eligibility criteria.

• Introduction to information databases use to match, determine and monitor student eligibility for Title IV funds.

• Identification of key topics important for financial aid professionals.

Eligibility for Title IV Aid

• General eligibility requirements MUST be satisfied

• Some requirements are student-related; others relate to program of study

• Criteria Categories– Initial Checks– School Monitoring– Conflicting Information

Student Eligibility: FAFSA

FAFSA Application Checks Eligibility With:– Social Security Administration (SSA)– Department of Homeland Security

(DHS)– Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)– Selective Service System (SSS)– National Student Loan Data System

(NSLDS)– Department of Health and Human

Services (HHS)– Department of Justice Hold File (DoJ)– Department of Defense (DoD)– Self-Certifications

A STUDENT MUST:

A student MUST…

… be a regular student in an eligibleprogram at an eligible institution.

A student MUST:

• Have high school diploma or equivalent, or:

• Pass ability-to-benefit (ATB) test approved by Department of Education (ED); or

• Complete home schooling in accordance with state requirements

A student MUST: Citizenship

• Be a U.S. citizen or U.S. National, or eligible noncitizen– U.S. citizen (includes natives of Puerto Rico,

U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and Northern Mariana Islands);

– U.S. national (natives of American Samoa and Swain’s Island); or

– Eligible noncitizen

• U.S. citizenship verified through SSA match

What if citizenship match with SSA fails?

U.S. citizen or national must provide one of following:

– U.S. passport

– Copy of birth certificate showing student was born in U.S. or one of its territories

– Certificate of Naturalization

– Other reasonable documentation

Not a U.S. Citizen, you say?

Who are eligible noncitizens? – Permanent Residents– Other qualifying statuses– Verified through DHS match

Eligible Noncitizens

An eligible noncitizen must:

– Indicate noncitizen status on FAFSA citizenship question.

– Provide his or her Alien Registration Number

DHS to the Rescue!...

• DHS Primary Verification:– Database match – If DHS match confirms eligible

noncitizen status, no further proof required

• DHS Secondary Verification:– Automated DHS secondary

confirmation request – 3 days

DHS to the Rescue!...

Manual Confirmation If:

• No automated DHS secondary confirmation within 15 business days of receipt of ISIR;

• School has conflicting information; or

• School believes student information is incorrect

DHS to the Rescue!...

Form G-845: Submit with supporting documentation to appropriate USCIS office– Electronic Announcement 10/19/07

SSNX xxx-xx-xxxx

X

A student MUST: SSN

A student MUST have a valid social security number (SSN)– Verified via match between CPS and SSA

before Title IV aid may be awarded and disbursed

– Match verifies student’s SSN is correct and SSN corresponds to individual’s name and date of birth

– SSN requirement does not apply to residents of Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands, or Palau

SSN Match

• ISIR/SAR Corrections vs. Filing a new FAFSA

• Documentation of correct SSN• Parents’ SSN• Regular Date of Death Match

A student MUST:

• Be registered with Selective Service, if required– Registration confirmed with

Selective Service and match results reported on ISIR/SAR

– “Sign me up!”– Special Circumstances

• Veteran Match– Dependency Determination– Checked with VA– Other than dishonorable discharge

A student MUST:

Sign Statement of Educational Purpose certifying that all funds received from Title IV programs will be used only for educationally-related purposes.– Final signature step on the FAFSA

A Student Must: Financial Need

For need-based financial aid programs, students must demonstrate financial need under following formula:

Cost of attendance (COA) – Expected family contribution (EFC) = Need

A student MUST: Meet SAP

Maintain Satisfactory AcademicProgress (SAP) in his or her program of study:

– Qualitative and Quantitative Components

– Must be regularly assessed– Must be consistently applied

A student must NOT:

A student must NOT:

Not have property subject to judgment lien for debt owed to the

U.S.

A Student Must NOT:

• Not be in default on Title IV loan or owe overpayment on Title IV grant or loan.

• Not have borrowed in excess of annual or aggregate Title IV loan limits.

National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS)

• National database containing selected federal financial aid history information on Title IV recipients.

• Data used to:– Prescreen and postscreen applicants– Ensure aggregate and annual limits are

not exceeded– Confirm eligibility for aid

A student must NOT: Drugs

• Not have disqualifying drug conviction while enrolled and receiving Title IV aid– Date of Offense vs. Date of Conviction– Length of suspension– Restoration of Eligibility

• Student self-certifies on FAFSA• DoJ Drug Abuse Hold File Match

School Monitoring

• Enrollment as a regular student in an eligible program

• High School Diploma or equivalent, Ability to Benefit, or home schooling

• Prohibition against receiving loan amounts in excess of annual or aggregate limits

• Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)• Financial Need• Individual Title IV program requirements

Conflicting Information

Criteria not specifically checked, but must be resolved if conflicting information arises– Simultaneous enrollment in

elementary or secondary school– Judgment lien on property for debts

owed to U.S.– Incarceration– Self-reported information (example:

drug conviction)

Reporting Suspected Fraud

• Calling 800-MIS-USED • Online complaint on the OIG fraud Web site at

http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/oig/hotline.html?src=rt

• Writing the Inspector General’s Hotline, Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20202-1500

If school finds information indicating student may have engaged in fraud, school must refer this information to ED’s Office of the Inspector General by:

Certain Programs of Study

Eligibility for Title IV aid may be impacted by enrollment in certain courses of study:– Second Bachelor’s Degree– Correspondence Study– Telecommunications Courses– Remedial Coursework– English as a Second Language (ESL)– Direct Assessment Program– Short-term Programs– Credit/Clock Hour Conversion

Changes in Eligibility

• What happens when eligibility changes during the award year?

• Gaining Eligibility: – Federal grants and Campus-Based Funds– Stafford Loans

• Losing Eligibility:– No Title IV disbursements after becoming

ineligible– Exception: Citizenship Status

Questions?

Krissy Bhaumikkbhaumik@umich.edu