<p>Due to a retirement and a job loss, I filed a request for a reduction in income for S at the state university he will be attending. As a result, our EFC was reduced, some of his loan offers were changed from unsubsidized to subsidized, and he received $1176 in Pell Grant money. Since he is recieving Pell, does this qualifiy him for an ACG also? He has taken and passed four AP tests, with another three lined up for this year. Is this something I have to ask for or is it awarded automatically?</p>
<p>I’m not to knowledgeable about this, but I qualified for the Pell Grant and the ACG. Both were included in my financial aid package so it was automatic for me.</p>
<p>This grant is usually not awarded until over the summer when the financial aid office can get copies of the AP scores and final transcript.</p>
<p>It was included automatically for my daughter (3 years ago) based on her Pell eligibility and the response to the ACG related questions in FAFSA. But it was not offered until much later (just before the fall semester) when they confirmed her eligibility.</p>
<p>In your situation, as you were not initially Pell eligible, I would suggest sending a quick email to the FA department asking about it, just to make sure you don’t fall between the cracks. My daughter’s FAFSA actually came back saying she might be ACG eligible based on her answers to the questions and her Pell eligibility. My understanding is this flags you to the FA department to check for ACG eligibility. As you weren’t initially pell eligible you may or may not be not be flagged so I would definitely ask just to ensure they are aware you may be eligible.</p>
<p>Wait, so your EFC was adjusted due to a recent job loss?</p>
<p>Yes. I had sent in the appeal based on H’s release from the Army Reserve in November 2009, which cut our income by about $16,000 but was not reported on the FAFSA. When I found out for sure that my position was being eliminated, I called the department about what to do … they called me back about a week later, asked when I was losing my job and adjusted my 2010 expected income. All I had to do was fax a copy of the letter from my supervisor. BTW, this schools’ cooperation in this matter has a lot to do with S’s decision to attend there. The other two schools to which he was accepted refused to do fin. aid reviews until mid - May, meaning we’d have to commit before they would even look at our financials. Since my job ends June 30, I told my son I don’t feel that we can do that. He’s kind of disappointed, as this school was his second choice, but he understands.</p>
<p>We don’t award ACG on the initial package (need final transcript/AP exam grades/proof of graduation).</p>