Pell grant Estimate- $5,500- Is it a sure thing?

<p>Does that mean the Pell Grant is a sure thing? </p>

<p>Just updated the FAFSA to "already completed" from "will file". Successfully used the data retrieval tool and at the end the results were this:</p>

<p>EFC 00080
Pell Grant Estimate $5500
Direct Stafford Loan Estimate $6500</p>

<p>So are we for sure getting the Pell? Is there anything else we might receive?<br>
Originally filed the FAFSA on 1/1/12 but couldn't update with the filed status until today.</p>

<p>Our numbers are sooo different than last year that I just wanted to see how this worked. Last year we had an EFC of $11,000 and no Pell or other "freee money" type of aid but we did get the stafford loans.</p>

<p>For sure you are getting Pell and that amount UNLESS you’ve made a mistake and your EFC changes later.</p>

<p>Did your income drop substantially? A drop in your EFC by $11k means quite an income drop.</p>

<p>You might also get SEOG, but that’s up to the school and what they have available.</p>

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<p>We haven’t made any mistakes, it’s correct. And we used the data retrieval too so they have the IRS info as well.</p>

<p>Yes, our income for 2011 was only about 1/3 of what it was the previous year (2010). This grant money is the only silver lining in an otherwise very bad financial year for us.</p>

<p>SEOG is also grant money? </p>

<p>If I corrected today, when will the school receive this info?</p>

<p>SEOG is grant money, but not a sure thing like Pell is. And, the amounts of the award can vary. </p>

<p>*How much SEOG can I get?
You can receive between $100 and $4,000 a year, depending on when you apply, your financial need, the funding at the school you’re attending, and the policies of the financial aid office at your school.</p>

<p>*</p>

<p>I don’t know if filing at this “late” hurts chances for SEOG or not. Each school decides how it hands out SEOG since it is limited.</p>

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I actually did the FAFSA on 1/1/12 with a “will file” status. I called the University before the 3/1/12 deadline to make sure that my non-updated FAFSA still met their deadline and they said yes. So hopefully my place in line is dated 1/1/12 not today. But we’ll see.</p>

<p>They said they actually don’t receive ANY FAFSAs until 3/15/12 and that’s when they begin packaging for everybody.</p>

<p>SEOG policies vary from school to school. I worked at a state U with a ton of Pell eligible students, and we ONLY gave SEOG to 0 EFC students. However, we gave other institutional aid to students with low EFC’s, and in your case your grants would only have been $80 (your EFC) less than someone with a 0 EFC received. YMMV, depending on the school.</p>

<p>Are you a sophomore? Your loan amount is a sophomore amount.</p>

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<p>Yes, my daughter will be a sophomore in the fall, currently finishing her freshman year. She goes to a state university so I’m not sure how much other “institutional aid” there may be. And she also applied for the University’s foundation scholarship and we haven’t heard yet but she didn’t get it last year, it’s kind of a blanket app that covers a variety of institutional scholarships. But honestly, I’m thrilled with just the Pell! That will help so much! If there’s anything else, we’ll gladly take it too but if not, we should be able to get by thanks to the Pell Grant. </p>

<p>I just wondered if it was listed on your results as “estimated pell grant $5500” does that mean that it’s a sure thing. Or might it still change and we won’t get it? Sounds like it’s a definite thing so yay for that!</p>

<p>The only reason it would change would be if she was selected for verification & something you entered on the FAFSA had to be changed as a result of verification. Otherwise, you can count on it.</p>

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We are selected for verification. I assume because of the very significant change in our income in 2011. I did the data retrieval tool and don’t know what other documents they will ask for. But we can provide whatever they need and no numbers should change as I am 100% certain of my figures.</p>

<p>OH, and one more thing…how much of that stafford loan could be subsidized? We would only ever take the subsidized portion of the loans, would never take the unsubsidized.</p>

<p>$4500 of the loan can be subsidized for a sophomore.</p>