AwardYear: 1995-1996 ChapterNumber: 3 ChapterTitle: Completing the Verification Process Section: Updating PageNumber: **[A correction page was issued on 6/28/95 which replaces pages 41 and 42. This entry reflects the CORRECTED text. Please reference these pages in your paper document for additional information.]** As shown below, there are only three application data items that a student is allowed to update if they change after the application is filed. The chart on the next page briefly summarizes the requirements and procedures for updating. UPDATING Except for the three data items listed below, no other application information can be updated if it changes after the application has been filed. Dependency Status Household Size Number Enrolled in Postsecondary Education All three of the above items can be updated DIRECTLY on the SAR or through the electronic corrections process. Other information that has changed since the original application was filed MAY NOT be updated. Updating Dependency Status An applicant MUST update his or her dependency status if it changes at any time during the award year, with one major exception. If the student's dependency status changes as the result of a change in the applicant's marital status,*9* dependency status MUST NOT be updated. Dependency status can be updated DIRECTLY ON THE SAR or through the electonic corrections process, and must be for Pell Grant recipients. However, for the Campus-based, Federal Direct Loan, and Federal Stafford Loan Programs, reprocessing is not required. You may recalculate the student's EFC based upon the updated dependency status and disburse aid from these programs accordingly. However, you may be liable for any overpayment that results from your having incorrectly recalculated the EFC. (A student may not update his or her dependency status on a Stafford loan application that has been previously certified.) **[The charts on page 42 are currently unavailable for viewing. Please reference your paper document for additional information.]** Updating Household Size and Number Enrolled in Postsecondary Education If a student's household size or number enrolled in postsecondary education has changed as a result of a change in the applicant's marital status, the information may not be updated.*10* However, if it changes for any other reason, an applicant MUST update household size and the number enrolled in postsecondary education. All applicants selected for verification MUST update these items to be correct AT THE TIME OF VERIFICATION. Household size and number enrolled in postsecondary education should be updated if they change at any time during the award year (for reasons other than a change in the applicantÂ’s marital status). Note that IT IS THE STUDENTÂ’S RESPONSIBILITY to notify the school if an update of either item is necessary; the school is not expected to continually check these items for each student to assure their validity. Rather, the school will have complied with this rule by informing applicants of their responsibility to comply with this requirement. The procedures for updating differ depending upon the type of aid the applicant will receive, as explained on the following page. **[A correction page was issued on 6/28/95 which replaces pages 41 and 42. This entry reflects the CORRECTED text. Please reference these pages in your paper document for additional information.]** FOR THE FEDERAL PELL GRANT PROGRAM. Household size and number enrolled in postsecondary education should be updated on the SAR or through the electronic corrections process. When a student updates this information, you may choose to recalculate the student's EFC by hand, or you may require the student to resubmit the application for processing. If you recalculate and the student's award remains unchanged or increases, you may pay the student based on the original EFC. Corrections and processing are not required. However, if you wish to pay the student under the increased award, the application must be reprocessed. You may either withhold payment until the reprocessed output document is received, or make a first payment based on the original EFC, adjusting the second payment upon receipt of the reprocessed EFC. (You are potentially liable for any overaward resulting from an incorrect hand-calculation of the EFC.) If the student's scheduled award will decrease, the application must be reprocessed; you must withhold payment until you receive the reprocessed EFC. (For details on recalculations and first payments, see the Counselor's Handbook.) FOR THE CAMPUS-BASED, FEDERAL DIRECT LOAN, AND FEDERAL STAFFORD LOAN PROGRAMS. When a student updates household size and number enrolled for verification, you may choose to recalculate the student's EFC by hand, using the updated data. (However, you may choose not to recalculate, instead requiring the student to update the data and have his or her application reprocessed.) If you award campus-based, Federal Direct Loan, or Federal Stafford Loan funds based upon your recalculation, you may be liable for any overpayment that results from your having incorrectly recalculated the EFC. Using Updated Information to Award Aid If you made interim disbursements to a student based on information that must now be updated, you must do the following: - use the updated information to determine the correct award - adjust prior or future disbursements to avoid an overaward |