I attended an online college, but on my 2015 taxes, I incorrectly filed as single instead of married Filing joint with my husband. Thus, through verification for this school year I had to make the necessary corrections - such as FAFSA, Amending 2015 taxes and verification worksheets for the 2017/2018 school year. Well my school, also asked for me to correction FAFSA for 2016-2017 school year. With the correction my EFC increased by $520 for 2016-2017. I am currently waiting on an update from school. But, I’m wondering since the correction and change in EFC, will that result in an overpayment in Aid for last school year and will I have to repay it? Another concern is that since the verification for the 2017-2018 was put in place two weeks after the term started. I am locked in the cost of school now and I won’t be able to pay for this term without financial aid.
if there was a change that resulted in an over payment, you will have to repay the aid.
You received aid with inaccurate information provided. Yes, you will have to pay it back…because really…it’s aid you should not have received.
A very quick added question…the 2017-2018 FAFSA uses the same tax year information. If you are still in college…was that one completed correctly?
If you received more aid than you were entitled to, then the school has to return it and you will probably have to pay them back.
Why would you file single if you were married?
If changing your tax return from single to married resulted in a tax refund, maybe you can use that money to repay the $520.
You should have finished the verification process ahead of starting school so you would know what aid you will receive.
Is this a for-profit college?
@sybbie719 thanks for your help. I will wait and see what the school says. Hopefully. I have an answer Monday.
@thumper1 neither was accurate. I had to changed 17-18 first. Then, had to back and correct 16-17.
@mommdc BIG error on my part on the filing status. Unfortunately, amending my taxes did not result in a refund. That’s what I told financial aid this process should’ve been done before. And, all they can say it’s a random process. I understand it’s random but this should’ve been taken care of before.
Yes, it is a for-profit.
@mommdc Also, the EFC that shows on my original FAFSA was the amount of financial aid I was given. That amount I was given was at least 2/3 of that. And, once I made the correction. There’s a difference of 520 between the corrected EFC and the incorrect EFC.
I haven’t heard anything from the school yet. Hopefully, I find out something by the end of day on Monday.
What was the EFC on the original FAFSA? Did you qualify for Pell?
Yes, the withdrawal policies are probably not too generous at a for-profit college.
But most schools have a 2 week add/drop period.
How much is the term you are locked in for?
No…it was YOUR responsibility to provide accurate information which was not done. YOU could have made this correction yourself at any time…and notified the college. They are required to look for errors in these forms…and you had one which you should have…and could have corrected.
Filing as single when you were married? Why would,you think this was possible?
And adding…it’s a for profit school. Most of these don’t exactly have the best track record. Many have come under fire for aid issues. At least this school is following through on issues with overpayments.
You made a mistake. The school simply calculated your aid based on the wrong info you gave them. TBH…this has created extra work for the school too.
Don’t blame the school. This was your mistake.
You ou most likely will not be able to continue with your jades if you owe money. Depending on the date that they drop you, you may end up owning for the current semester. Straighten this out asap
@thumper1 I am not blaming the school for the mistake. And, I know what a load this can be. It’s just that I know verification for school happens before the start of school, thus the school and student know if they’re eligible for school. Not, when your two weeks in, the day after the add/drop period expires.
@mommdc the original FAFSA EFC was 09735. The corrected is 010005.
The add/drop period is only for a week. The quarter started 7/3. Add/drop 7/9. Selection for verification 7/12.
We are currently in week 3, week 4 starts Monday. The term is only for 11 weeks.
@mommdc one course cost $2600
@mommdc no pell grants. Loans only.
@sybbie719 trust me I’ve been trying to get this taken care of since 7/12. And, it’s been a run around process. Each day I submit the document requested. Just to get it marked incomplete because I need another document. I just wished to save the sanity of all parties involved that they would’ve just these are all of the required documents needed at first. So, hopefully they don’t need anymore documents and I can get an answer by Monday.
I’ve been receiving the exact amount of financial since I started school back in Oct. 2015. And, since FAFSA was using 2014 tax information (which is accurate). I went through the entire 16/17 receiving that same amount.
Actually colleges are required to do this…and can do so ANY time they find an inconsistency or inaccuracy. Sometimes verification happens prior to the start of school. Sometimes it happens during the academic year.
If you have submitted all of your materials to the college, you should contact them on Monday to find out the status of this.
Also, if you owe them money…you will need to repay ASAP as @sybbie719 noted above…or it’s very possible you won’t be able to continue classes until you do.
@thumper1 As of today, when I spoke the financial aid rep yesterday, I shouldn’t have to submit anything else. And, that I am in the queue waiting to be reviewed. And, hopefully, I get a final answer. So, I’ll know what I need to do.
Excellent…just stay on top of it. Remember to check your spam folder too. Sometimes things slip in there.