The errata and updates below are items that were amended after the initial files were posted to the web. For updates to the previous edition of the Federal Student Aid Handbook, see the introduction section contained within each volume. For questions about the Handbook contents, you can contact the Schools Publications staff at: fsaschoolspubs@ed.gov.
Application and Verification Guide
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Updates published February 5, 2024 |
Throughout the volume, we updated links and references to the “SAI Formula Guide” to reflect the final version of the 2024-25 Student Aid Index (SAI) and Pell Eligibility Guide, published on the Knowledge Center on January 30, 2024. In Chapter 2, under the "Contributor: Student, Student Assets (22)" section, we updated the text to clarify that a qualified education benefit or education savings account is reported as a parental asset if the account is designated for the student for which the FAFSA form is filed. Accounts designated for other individuals in the family are not included. In Chapter 4, under the "Acceptable Documentation, Income Information for Non-Tax Filers" section, we moved several paragraphs from “Reviewing and Using Documentation – Using the Tax Transcript” to this section to better align topics. We updated the relocated text to reflect that a verification of non-filing letter is only required for individuals who would file a return with a relevant tax authority other than the IRS. Further, dependent students are exempt from the requirement to submit verification of non-filing documentation. |
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Updates published on April 17, 2024 |
We updated the IRS form line numbers for income tax paid and education credits and guidance on filers with amended tax returns to reflect the updated information provided in Electronic Announcement GEN-24-29. Chapter 2, Student 2022 Tax Return Information (20) – In Chapter 2, under the “Contributor: Student, Student 2022 Tax Return Information (20), FA-DDX Transferred Data” section, we updated the IRS form line numbers for income tax paid and education credits to align with the data received from the IRS through the FA-DDX. Chapter 4, Reviewing and Using Documentation – In Chapter 4, under the “Reviewing and Using Documentation, Using the Tax Return” we similarly updated the IRS form line numbers in the table for U.S. income tax paid and education credits. Chapter 4, Special Cases – In Chapter 4, under the “Special Cases, Filers of Amended Returns” we updated the guidance to reflect the announcement that the IRS will only be providing original tax data when there is an amended tax return on file. |
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Updates published July 24, 2024 |
Chapter 4, Special Cases – In Chapter 4, under the “Special Cases, Filers of Amended Returns” section, we clarified the guidance to align with Electronic Announcement GEN-24-71. |
Volume 1 - Student Eligibility
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Updates published April 4, 2024 |
We corrected the Enrollment Status section in Chapter 1 to make clear that a student is no longer required to be enrolled at least half-time to be potentially eligible for additional Pell Grant funds in excess of 100 percent of the student’s Pell Grant Scheduled Award (also known as Year-Round Pell). In Chapter 2, we have added a brief discussion of how the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA) applies to determining which individuals are able to demonstrate eligible noncitizen statuses, for purposes of Title IV eligibility as a “qualified alien” under 8 U.S.C. § 1641(b). |
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Updates published May 15, 2024 |
In Chapter 1, we addressed an error in the description of the two methods a school can use to calculate the pace at which a student is progressing, for SAP assessment purposes. The two correct methods are (1) dividing the total number of hours the student has successfully completed by the total number they have attempted, or (2) determining the number of hours that the student should have completed by the evaluation point in order to complete the program within the maximum timeframe. |
Volume 4 - Processing Aid and Managing FSA Funds
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Updates published May 15, 2024 |
In Chapter 2, under “When Schools Can’t Make Interim Disbursements,” we provided updates to the temporary flexibilities around interim disbursements to align with (GENERAL-24-55) 2024-25 FAFSA: Update on Processing Paper FAFSA Forms, Implementing School-Initiated Corrections, and Temporary Changes to Process for Reporting Disbursements to Provide Institutional Flexibility. In Chapter 3, under “Interim Disbursements – School Responsibility,” we provided updates to the temporary flexibilities around interim disbursements to align with (GENERAL-24-55) 2024-25 FAFSA: Update on Processing Paper FAFSA Forms, Implementing School-Initiated Corrections, and Temporary Changes to Process for Reporting Disbursements to Provide Institutional Flexibility. |