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Summary: Issue Alert - No CPS Processing on February 28, 2007 Due to Social Security Administration System Issues

Publication Date: March 1, 2007

Author: G. Kay Jacks, General Manager, Application, Operations and Delivery Services, Federal Student Aid

Summary: Issue Alert - No CPS Processing on February 28, 2007 Due to Social Security Administration System Issues


Posted on 03-01-2007


Federal Student Aid is alerting schools that the Central Processing System (CPS) did not process 2006-2007 or 2007-2008 application and correction data on February 28, 2007 due to an issue with the Social Security Administration (SSA) computer system that prevented the two agencies from performing the SSA database matches. This delay impacted application data received for CPS processing on February 27, 2007 and February 28, 2007.

The systems problems at SSA have now been resolved, allowing the CPS to resume processing. As a result, please note:

  • Application and correction data received by the CPS after 4:30 a.m. (Central Time) on February 27, 2007 and before 4:30 a.m. (Central Time) on February 28, 2007 will be processed by the CPS on March 1, 2007.
  • Application and correction data received by the CPS after 4:30 a.m. (Central Time) on February 28, 2007 or on March 1, 2007 will be processed by the CPS on March 2, 2007.

Note: Schools should be prepared to receive larger-than-usual 2007-2008 Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR) files on March 2, 2007 as a result of this processing delay and the current “peak” processing period for the 2007-2008 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Importing these ISIR files into your system may require more time and system resources than usual.

Important Reminder Regarding 2007-2008 Application Deadlines

Federal Student Aid encourages schools with 2007-2008 application deadlines occurring this week not to penalize students impacted by this processing delay.

If you use the CPS Processed Date as the key criteria for determining whether a student’s 2007-2008 ISIR transaction was received by a deadline occurring this week, we recommend you also examine the CPS Receipt Date on the transaction when determining if the student met your deadline. For example, if your school has a 2007-2008 deadline of March 1, 2007, we recommend you provide an exception to any applicant with a CPS Processed Date of March 2, 2007 if the student’s ISIR transaction has a CPS Receipt Date of February 28, 2007.

If You Have Questions

We regret any inconvenience this issue may cause you or your students.

If you have any questions regarding this message, contact CPS/SAIG Technical Support at 800/330-5947 (TDD/TTY 800/511-5806) or by e-mail at CPSSAIG@ed.gov.