Maintained for Historical Purposes

This resource is being maintained for historical purposes only and is not currently applicable.

2017-2018 Federal Student Aid Handbook in PDF Format

Posted Date: December 7, 2017

Volume: Complete 2017-2018 Federal Student Aid Handbook with Active Index

The 2017-2018 Federal Student Aid Handbook with Active Index is presented as a single PDF file. The page numbers in the index are active links that will take you directly to the cited page in the PDF file. In the header, "DCL", "CFR", "Glossary", and "Acronyms" are active links that will take you directly to the corresponding Web page or document.

The index appears at the beginning of the document (replacing the table of contents), followed by the Application and Verification Guide, the numbered volumes, and the appendices of the Handbook.

Note that this is a very large file--13MB--so it might take some time to download.

Posted Date: November 22, 2016

Volume: Application and Verification Guide [2017-2018 Federal Student Aid Handbook]

The Application and Verification Guide is presented on the right as a master PDF file, comprising of a table of contents and chapters, followed by separate PDF files for each chapter of the volume. Look right to see all the hyperlinked titles for each chapter (listed as attachments). Opening the PDF files requires version 4.0 or greater of the free Adobe Acrobat Reader software.

Posted Date: January 12, 2017

Volume: Volume 1 - Student Eligibility [2017-2018 Federal Student Aid Handbook]

Volume 1 of the 2017-2018 Federal Student Aid Handbook is presented on the right a master PDF file, comprising of a table of contents and chapters, followed by separate PDF files for each chapter of the volume. Look right to see all the hyperlinked titles for each chapter (listed as attachments). Opening the PDF files requires version 4.0 or greater of the free Adobe Acrobat Reader software.

Posted Date: June 15, 2017

Volume: Volume 2 - School Eligibility and Operations

Volume 2 of the 2017-2018 Federal Student Aid Handbook is presented on the right a master PDF file, comprising of a table of contents and chapters, followed by separate PDF files for each chapter of the volume. Look right to see all the hyperlinked titles for each chapter (listed as attachments). Opening the PDF files requires version 4.0 or greater of the free Adobe Acrobat Reader software.

Posted Date: September 21, 2017

Volume: Volume 3 - Calculating Awards & Packaging [2017-2018 Federal Student Aid Handbook]

Volume 3 of the 2017-2018 Federal Student Aid Handbook is presented on the right as a master PDF file, comprising of a table of contents and chapters, followed by separate PDF files for each chapter of the volume. Look right to see all the hyperlinked titles for each chapter (listed as attachments). Opening the PDF files requires version 4.0 or greater of the free Adobe Acrobat Reader software.

Posted Date: August 3, 2017

Volume: Volume 4 - Processing Aid and Managing FSA Funds [2017-2018 Federal Student Aid Handbook]

Volume 4 of the 2017-2018 Federal Student Aid Handbook is presented on the right as a master PDF file, comprising of a table of contents and chapters, followed by separate PDF files for each chapter of the volume. Look right to see all the hyperlinked titles for each chapter (listed as attachments). Opening the PDF files requires version 4.0 or greater of the free Adobe Acrobat Reader software.

Posted Date: June 14, 2017

Volume: Volume 5 - Withdrawals and the Return of Title IV Funds

Volume 5 of the 2017-2018 Federal Student Aid Handbook is presented on the right as a master PDF file, comprising of a table of contents and chapters, followed by separate PDF files for each chapter of the volume. Look right to see all the hyperlinked titles for each chapter (listed as attachments). Opening the PDF files requires version 4.0 or greater of the free Adobe Acrobat Reader software.

Posted Date:August 14, 2017

Volume: Volume 6 - The Campus-Based Programs [2017-2018 Federal Student Aid Handbook]

Volume 6 of the 2017-2018 Federal Student Aid Handbook is presented on the right as a master PDF file, comprising of a table of contents and chapters, followed by separate PDF files for each chapter of the volume. Look right the page to see all the hyperlinked titles for each chapter (listed as attachments). Opening the PDF files requires version 4.0 or greater of the free Adobe Acrobat Reader software.

Posted Date: November 28, 2016

Volume: 2017-2018 Errata and Updates for 2017-2018 FSA Handbook

The errata and updates below are items that were amended after the initial PDF files were posted to the Web.

For questions about the Handbook contents, you can contact the Schools Publications staff at: fsaschoolspubs@ed.gov.

Application and Verification Guide

Date

Description

Location

Updated Files Posted November 28, 2016

We added an example of a dependency override to emphasize (1) that students who are refugees from war-torn or turbulent countries might present circumstances that warrant a dependency override and (2) that there might be challenges in obtaining documentation of such situations.

Chapter 5, P. AVG-111.

Updated Files Posted May 25, 2017

Under “FSA ID” we added the last sentence referring to an April electronic announcement pertaining to the ID. View the change.

Chapter 1, P. AVG-6

Updated Files Posted May 25, 2017

In the paragraph on welfare benefits, we noted that Medicaid includes benefits from the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). View the change.

Chapter 2, P. AVG-23

Updated Files Posted May 25, 2017

We added CHIP benefits to the margin note as a type of Medicaid. View the change.

Chapter 3, P. AVG-38.

Updated Files Posted May 25, 2017

We updated the electronic announcement reference beneath the list of V4 and V5 reporting results.View the change.

Chapter 4, P. AVG-79

Updated Files Posted May 25, 2017

In the sentence for students who are only eligible for unsubsidized aid, we included the caveat which had been mentioned in the introduction but left out. View the change.

Chapter 4, P. AVG-80

Updated Files Posted May 25, 2017

We clarified the post-enrollment exclusion by adding the phrase “for the award year." View the change.

Chapter 4, P. AVG-80

Updated Files Posted May 25, 2017

In the margin we added a note referencing and summarizing the contents of DCL GEN-17-04, which discusses the IRS’s suspension of the Data Retrieval Tool and the effect on verification for 2017–2018 and the rest of 2016–2017. View the change.

Chapter 4, P. AVG-80

Updated Files Posted May 25, 2017

We added a margin note referring to the electronic announcement of February 23, 2017, that explains IRS documentation requests, uses, and messaging. View the change.

Chapter 4, P. AVG-83

Volume 5

Date

Description

Location

Updated Files Posted August 2, 2017

We removed nonstandard term programs from those programs in which Pell Grants are always determined using the Payment Schedule for Determining Full-Time Awards. View the change.

Chapter 3, P. 5-195

Posted Date: November 8, 2017

Volume: Federal Student Aid Handbook Appendices [2017-2018 Federal Student Aid Handbook]

The Appendices for the 2017-2018 Federal Student Aid Handbook are presented on the right as PDF files. Opening the PDF files requires version 4.0 or greater of the free Adobe Acrobat Reader software.