DCLPublicationDate: 1/1/98 DCLID: P-98-1 AwardYear: Summary: This letter announces enhancements to the Federal Pell Grant customer support function, including expanded services available through the telephone number used to reach the Institutional Access System as well as new addresses for submission of payment data and correspondence. Dear Colleague: The U.S. Department of Education has restructured the services available to the financial aid community for obtaining information regarding the Federal Pell Grant Program. Through the toll-free number used to reach the Institutional Access System (IAS), Federal Pell Grant customer service representatives will respond to technical questions concerning products, processing and services, routine questions concerning batch submissions, and inquiries regarding institutional authorizations and the status of payment data batches. Effective immediately, the customer service telephone number for the Federal Pell Grant program is 1-800-4PGRANT(1-800-474-7268). You will have three menu options when you call: Option 1: To access basic financial and processing status information or request data or documents from the Institutional Access System (IAS). The IAS is available 24 hours a day, seven days per week, (except during scheduled maintenance). IAS data is updated each night. Option 2: To speak with a customer service representative concerning questions relating to Electronic Data Exchange (EDE) (DOS only), Floppy Disk Data Exchange, Recipient Data Exchange (RDE), or your institution's account. The Pell Grant customer service staff is available to answer questions between the hours of 8:00 A.M. and 8:00 P.M. (Eastern Time), Monday through Friday (except Federal holidays). Option 3: If you are returning a call from the Pell Production Control Services. Due to a change in the Federal Pell Grant Program support contract, the Department is providing new addresses for submitting Pell payment data not transmitted electronically, as well as correspondence related to the program: Regular Mail U.S. Department of Education Student Aid Origination Team, PSS P.O. Box 6565 Rockville, MD 20850-6565 Commercial Courier or Hand Deliveries U.S. Department of Education c/o Computer Data Systems, Inc. Mail Stop 3250, One Curie Court Rockville, Maryland 20850-4389 Institutions participating in Electronic Data Exchange (EDE) should continue to transmit electronic payment data through the Title IV Wide Area Network (TIV WAN). Regardless of how your institution submits payment data, you may contact the program via electronic mail at #pell_systems@ed.gov. Thank you for your continued support of the Federal student financial aid programs. The Federal Pell Grant program staff look forward to working with you throughout the year. Sincerely, Elizabeth M. Hicks Deputy Assistant Secretary Student Financial Assistance Programs Attachment A Attachment B |