FINANCIAL AID DEVELOPMENTS By Kim Slote, policy analyst ...

[Pages:3]FINANCIAL AID DEVELOPMENTS By Kim Slote, policy analyst

SHUTDOWNS AND CLOSURES

During the month of Jan., the government shutdown and hazardous weather affected the normal processing of federal student aid. The list below provides announcements related to these issues with the date of publication.

Impact of Partial Government Shutdown on FSA ? Jan. 3, 2019

CPS Processing Without Selective Service System Match During Partial Government Shutdown ? Jan. 9, 2019

Loan Servicing Information ? Temporary Closures of Federal Loan Servicing Centers Due to Hazardous Weather Conditions ? Jan. 28, 2019

CPS Resumes Selective Service System Match on Jan. 31, 2019 ? Jan. 31, 2019

VERIFICATION

On Jan. 9, 2019, the USDE published an Electronic Announcement: Changes to 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 Verification Requirements. To assist students and families with difficulty in obtaining documentation needed to verify their FAFSA/ISIR information, the USDE is giving institutions guidance on other acceptable documentation for these topics.

Income Tax Return Verification of Nonfiling Additional Documentation

Requirements

This guidance supersedes past guidance limiting the use of an income tax return as acceptable documentation for tax filers and supplements the guidance regarding the requirement to obtain verification of nonfiling. More detailed information is outlined in the announcement.

FORMS

Several updated forms were published by the USDE in Jan. The forms listed are linked with the corresponding electronic announcement or Federal Register notice with the date of publication.

Revised Perkins Assignment Form and Instructions Now Available ? Jan. 11, 2019

2019-2020 College Financing Plan (Shopping Sheet) ? Jan. 16, 2019

Revision of the Teacher Loan Forgiveness Application and Teacher Loan Forgiveness Forbearance Request ? Jan. 29, 2019

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FINANCIAL AID DEVELOPMENTS By Kim Slote, policy analyst

Revision of the Federal Student Loan Discharge Applications ? Jan. 29, 2019

Federal Register Notice: Comment Request: Cancer Treatment Deferment Form ? Jan. 31, 2019

FAFSA

An Electronic Announcement was published by the USDE Jan. 17, 2019: Login Requirement for CPS Web Applications Demonstration System to be Removed on Jan. 20, 2019. Federal Student Aid has removed the login requirement for access to the Central Processing System Web Applications Demonstration System. It is no longer required to have a user ID and password to access the Web Demo System. This system is used as an aid for training financial aid personnel and to assist parents and students. For further information you can access the 2019-2020 CPS Test System User Guide at .

FEDERAL PELL GRANT

Dear Colleague Letter GEN-19-01 was published by the USDE Jan. 23, 2019: 20192020 Federal Pell Grant Payment and Disbursement Schedules. Both PDF and Excel versions of the Federal Pell Grant Payment and Disbursement Schedules are attached to the announcement. These

schedules must be used to determine Federal Pell Grant awards for the 2019-2020 award year for full-time, three-quarter-time, halftime and less-than-half-time students. The maximum award for the 2019-2020 Federal Pell Grant is $6,195. There are a number of important reminders in the announcement.

HEAL PROGRAM

The USDE published an Electronic Announcement Jan. 24, 2019: HEAL Program Information - Maximum HEAL Program Interest Rates for Quarter Ending March 31, 2019. The "Current Maximum Interest Rates" section of the HEAL Interest Rates page of the HEAL Information Area on the Information for Financial Aid Professionals website has been updated with the maximum HEAL Program interest rates for the quarter ending March 31, 2019.

CAMPUS-BASED PROGRAMS

A Federal Register Notice was issued by the USDE Jan. 24, 2019: 2019-2020 Award Year Deadline Dates for Campus-Based Programs. The notice announces the 20192020 award year deadline dates for postsecondary institutions to submit requests and documents for the Federal Perkins Loan, Federal Work Study and Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant Programs. To ensure continued

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FINANCIAL AID DEVELOPMENTS By Kim Slote, policy analyst

funding levels and participation in the programs, institutions must comply with the campus-based reporting deadlines.

On Jan. 30, 2019, the USDE published an Electronic Announcement: Application for Participation in the Work Colleges Program. Information outlined covers how schools can apply for participation in the Work Colleges Program, which is part of the Federal Work Study Program, for the 20192020 award year. Deadlines and contact information are available in the announcement, with instructions on how to apply.

An Electronic Announcement was published by the USDE Jan. 31, 2019: Tentative 20192020 Funding Levels for the Campus-Based Programs. Tentative funding levels and corresponding worksheets for the CampusBased Programs were posted to the Common Origination and Disbursement website Feb. 1, 2019, for the 2019-2020 award year. Attached to the announcement are two documents; 2019-2020 Explanation of Worksheets and 2019-2020 Expected Family Contribution Procedures and Standard EFCs.

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