New Aid Officer Training
Susan A Smith
Gainesville State College
References: 2010-2011 FSA Handbook Vol.1 Student Eligibility
2010-2011 FSA Application and Verification Guide
New Aid Officer Training
General Title IV Eligibility
Eligibility for Title IV Aid
Ref: Ch. 1 School-Determined Requirements
• Student must:
– Demonstrate financial need
– Have a high school diploma, a GED, pass an
approved ability-to-benefit test or complete a
high school education in a home school
program
– Be enrolled as a regular student in an eligible
program at an eligible institution
– Be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen
– Have a valid Social Security number (SSN)
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New Aid Officer Training
General Title IV Eligibility
Eligibility for Title IV Aid
Ref: Ch. 1 School-Determined Requirements
• Student must:
– If male, be registered with Selective Service
– Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress
Standards established at the institution
– Certify that they are not in default on a
federal student loan
– Certify that they do not owe money on a
federal student grant
– Certify that they will use federal student aid
only for educational purposes
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New Aid Officer Training
General Title IV Eligibility
Eligibility for Title IV Aid
Ref: Ch. 1 School-Determined Requirements
• Student must:
– Not have borrowed in excess of annual or
aggregate loan limits
– Not have property subject to lien for debt
owed to the U.S.
– Not have been convicted, or pled no contest
or guilty to, a crime involving fraud in
obtaining Title IV Funds
• Ineligible until fraudulently obtained funds are
completely repaid to DOE or lender.
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New Aid Officer Training
General Title IV Eligibility
Eligibility for Title IV Aid
Ref: Ch. 1 School-Determined Requirements
• Student eligibility is affected by:
– Remedial Coursework (no credit)
– Preparatory Coursework (loans only, 1 year)
– Teacher Certification Coursework (FWS and
loans)
– Prior Degrees (loans, very limited Pell*)
– Enrollment Status (award based on hours)
– Incarceration (FSEOG or FWS, Pell local*)
– Correspondence Study (independent study)
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New Aid Officer Training
General Title IV Eligibility
Database Matches
Ref: Ch. 2 Citizenship
Is the student a U.S. Citizen?
• CPS performs a database match with the
Social Security Administration to confirm
– Name
– Date of birth
– U.S. citizenship status
– Social Security number
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New Aid Officer Training
General Title IV Eligibility
Database Matches
Ref: Ch. 2 Citizenship
Did it match?
• On the SAR and ISIR, CPS reports one of the
following:
1. Successful Match 
2. Student’s SSN, name or DOB does not
match Social Security records (C-flags 63,
64)
3. Citizenship not confirmed (C-flag 146)
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New Aid Officer Training
General Title IV Eligibility
Database Matches
Ref: Ch. 2 Citizenship
How can the c-flags be resolved?
• Student’s SSN, name or DOB does not match
Social Security records
– Student should correct the FAFSA (or
resubmit with correct SSN)
– If correct on FAFSA, student must contact SSA
to have their record corrected
– Student may provide documentation to FAA
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New Aid Officer Training
General Title IV Eligibility
Database Matches
Ref: Ch. 2 Citizenship
How can the c-flags be resolved?
•
Citizenship not confirmed
Student must provide documentation to FAA
– Birth Certificate
– U.S. Passport
– Certificate of Naturalization
– Certificate of Citizenship (citizen through parent)
– State Department Form for Birth Abroad
Or File as an eligible noncitizen…
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New Aid Officer Training
General Title IV Eligibility
Database Matches
Ref: Ch. 2 Citizenship
Is the student an eligible noncitizen?
•
CPS performs a “Primary Verification”
database match with the Department of
Homeland Security (DHS)
• US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
–
–
–
–
A-Number
Name
Date of birth
Social Security number
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New Aid Officer Training
General Title IV Eligibility
Database Matches
Ref: Ch. 2 Citizenship
Did it match?
• On the SAR and ISIR, CPS reports one of the
following:
1. Successful Match 
2. Not enough information since A-number
was not provided (C-flag 142)
3. Status not confirmed (C-flags 46, 105,
109, 141, 144)
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New Aid Officer Training
General Title IV Eligibility
Database Matches
Ref: Ch. 2 Citizenship
How can the c-flags be resolved?
• Not enough information since A-Number was
not provided
– Student should provide documentation with
their A-Number to the FAA
– Compare A-Number to ISIR; if appropriate
have student correct it on their FAFSA and
resubmit so that the match can be conducted
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New Aid Officer Training
General Title IV Eligibility
Database Matches
Ref: Ch. 2 Citizenship
How can the c-flags be resolved?
• Status not confirmed
– Student should provide documentation with their ANumber and date of birth to the FAA
– FAA should wait 5 to 15 days for the “Automated
Secondary Confirmation” to be completed – a new
ISIR will be sent
– “Automated Secondary Confirmation” Match Flags are
• Y 
• C, N, or X
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New Aid Officer Training
General Title IV Eligibility
Database Matches
Ref: Ch. 2 Citizenship
How can the c-flags be resolved?
• Status not confirmed and “Automated Secondary
Confirmation” Match Flags are C, N, or X
“Paper Secondary Confirmation” is required
– Complete Form G-845
– Attach copies of the front and back sides of the student’s
immigration document
– Mail to: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services,
10 Fountain Plaza, 3rd Floor, Buffalo, NY 14202
Attn: Immigration Status Verification Unit
(Allow 10 to 15 business days for a response.)
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New Aid Officer Training
General Title IV Eligibility
Database Matches
Ref: Ch. 2 Citizenship
How can the c-flags be resolved?
• Interpreting the USCIS response to G-845 
–
–
–
–
–
–
Lawful Permanent Resident alien of the U.S.
Conditional Resident alien of the U.S.
Refugee under Section 207 of the INA
Asylee under Section 208 of the INA
Alien who is a Cuban/Haitian entrant
Alien who is a conditional entrant
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New Aid Officer Training
General Title IV Eligibility
Database Matches
Ref: Ch. 2 Citizenship
How can the c-flags be resolved?
• Interpreting the USCIS response to G-845 –
not eligible for FSA funds
– Alien who is a nonimmigrant
– Alien authorized employment
– Alien not authorized employment in the U.S.
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New Aid Officer Training
General Title IV Eligibility
Database Matches
Ref: Ch. 2 Citizenship
How can the c-flags be resolved?
• Interpreting the USCIS response to G-845 –
may be eligible with additional documentation
– Alien paroled into the U.S.
– Alien who has an application pending
• If the USCIS does not return the G-845 with one
of the responses listed, review USCIS Comments
for reason.
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New Aid Officer Training
General Title IV Eligibility
Database Matches
Ref: Ch. 3 NSLDS Financial Aid History
Has a student defaulted on an FSA loan,
exceeded loan limits, filed for bankruptcy,
or have they been overpaid FSA funds?
• CPS performs a database match with the
National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) to
determine any relevant information
– Name
– Date of birth
– Social Security Number
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New Aid Officer Training
General Title IV Eligibility
Database Matches
Ref: Ch. 3 NSLDS Financial Aid History
Did it match?
• On the SAR and ISIR, CPS reports one of the
following:
1. Successful Match 
2. Partial Match (C-flag 138)
3. Not in database 
4. No relevant history 
5. Processing problem (C-flags 132, 135, 136,
254, 255, 256, 260, 115, 116, 133)
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New Aid Officer Training
General Title IV Eligibility
Database Matches
Ref: Ch. 3 NSLDS Financial Aid History
How can the c-flags be resolved?
• Partial Match: Student’s SSN is in NLSDS database,
but name or DOB does not match what was reported
on the FAFSA
– Student should correct the FAFSA if inaccurate
– If correct on FAFSA, FAA should contact NSLDS
Customer Support at 800.999.8219 to resolve
(will need student’s Social Security Card)
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New Aid Officer Training
General Title IV Eligibility
Database Matches
Ref: Ch. 3 NSLDS Financial Aid History
How can the c-flags be resolved?
• Processing problem: default on an FSA loan
– Student may repay loan in full or consolidate
– Satisfactory repayment arrangements and six
consecutive, full, voluntary payments on time
– Loan rehabilitation with nine full, voluntary
payments on time within 10 consecutive
months
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New Aid Officer Training
General Title IV Eligibility
Database Matches
Ref: Ch. 3 NSLDS Financial Aid History
How can the c-flags be resolved?
• Processing problem: exceeded loan limits
– FAA should recalculate and verify amounts
received
– Student may repay the extra amount
borrowed
– Student may make satisfactory repayment
arrangements to the loan holder
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New Aid Officer Training
General Title IV Eligibility
Database Matches
Ref: Ch. 3 NSLDS Financial Aid History
How can the c-flags be resolved?
• Processing problem: filed for bankruptcy
– Student must provide documentation
indicating that the loan is discharged or
dischargeable while in an active
bankruptcy status (page 1-48)
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New Aid Officer Training
General Title IV Eligibility
Database Matches
Ref: Ch. 3 NSLDS Financial Aid History
How can the c-flags be resolved?
• Processing problem: overpaid FSA funds
– Student must repay the overpayment of
FSA funds
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New Aid Officer Training
General Title IV Eligibility
Database Matches
Ref: Ch. 5 Selective Service
Is a male student registered with
Selective Service?
• CPS performs a database match with the
Selective Service System to confirm
– Last Name
– Date of birth
– Social Security number
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New Aid Officer Training
General Title IV Eligibility
Database Matches
Ref: Ch. 5 Selective Service
Did it match?
• On the SAR and ISIR, CPS reports one of the
following:
1. Successful Match 
2. Registration not confirmed (C-flag 30)
3. Unsuccessful registration (C-flags 33, 57)
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New Aid Officer Training
General Title IV Eligibility
Database Matches
Ref: Ch. 5 Selective Service
How can the c-flags be resolved?
• Registration not confirmed
– If female, student should correct FAFSA
– Register
– Provide evidence that he is registered
(www.sss.gov)
– Provide evidence that he is exempt from
registration
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New Aid Officer Training
General Title IV Eligibility
Database Matches
Ref: Ch. 5 Selective Service
How can the c-flags be resolved?
• Unsuccessful registration
– If name and date of birth is missing, CPS will not
forward to SSS; student should correct FAFSA
– Student is over 26, but never registered; FAA
must determine if non-registration was knowing
and willful
• DD 214
• Student should request a status information letter from
the Selective Service
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New Aid Officer Training
General Title IV Eligibility
Database Matches
Application and Verification Guide
Is the student a veteran?
• CPS performs a database match with the U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs to confirm
– Name
– Date of birth
– Social Security number
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New Aid Officer Training
General Title IV Eligibility
Database Matches
Application and Verification Guide
Did it match?
• On the SAR and ISIR, CPS reports one of the
following:
1. Successful Match 
2. VA did not confirm (C-flags 162, 173,
180)
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New Aid Officer Training
General Title IV Eligibility
Database Matches
Application and Verification Guide
How can the c-flags be resolved?
• VA did not confirm
– Provide DD 214
– If currently active duty, edit FAFSA:
“Yes” to Q49 and “No” to Q50
– If not a veteran, edit FAFSA: “No” to Q50
and provide parental information
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New Aid Officer Training
General Title IV Eligibility
Drug Conviction
Ref: Ch. 1 School-Determined Requirements
Has the student had a drug conviction?
• The student self-certifies on the FAFSA
Q23. Have you been convicted for the possession or
sale of illegal drugs for an offense that occurred
while you were receiving federal student aid?
1. No 
2. Yes (C-flags 053, 054, 056, 058)
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New Aid Officer Training
General Title IV Eligibility
Drug Conviction
Ref: Ch. 1 School-Determined Requirements
How can the c-flags be resolved?
• If left blank, student should answer
question and resubmit FAFSA
• If “Yes”, student should complete the Drug
Conviction Worksheet and submit to FAA
http://ifap.ed.gov/drugworksheets/attachment
s/0107091011Drug%20WorksheetFINAL.pdf
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New Aid Officer Training
General Title IV Eligibility
Drug Conviction: Ineligibility of FSA
Ref: Ch. 1 School-Determined Requirements
Possession of illegal
drugs
Sale of illegal drugs
1st offense
1 year from date of
conviction
2 years from date of
conviction
2nd offense
2 years from date of
conviction
Indefinite period
3+ offenses
Indefinite period
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New Aid Officer Training
General Title IV Eligibility
Drug Conviction
Ref: Ch. 1 School-Determined Requirements
How can the student regain eligibility?
• The day after the period of ineligibility
ends
• When student successfully completes a
qualified drug rehabilitation program
• Conviction is reversed, set aside, or
removed from their record
• Passes two unannounced drug tests given
by a drug rehabilitation program
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New Aid Officer Training
General Title IV Eligibility
Conflicting Information
Ref: Ch. 1 School-Determined Requirements
If your school has conflicting information for a
student or you have any reason to believe his
application is incorrect, you must resolve such
discrepancies before disbursing FSA funds.
•
Discrepancies may occur between
– Campus offices
– FAFSA transactions
– Documents submitted by the student
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New Aid Officer Training
General Title IV Eligibility
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