Pell Grant

[JT624]

<p>So I filed my Fafsa in January and completed the Fafsa correction form in early February and sent the info to all the schools I'm applying, and my top school (Creighton University) has told me that I would get the Pell Grant amount of $5350 for the 2009-2010 school year. Did anyone else find out about their Pell grant amount (considering if you're eligible)? I wanted to know if I got the max since I know the amount has increased since the 2008-2009 year.</p>

[kelsmom]

<p>That is the new maximum.</p>

[Ld400]

<p>I just knew it was in the 5000-5500 range, I looked on Wikipedia. lol. :p</p>

[JT624]

<p>Alright lol that’s cool. Is that because of the Stimulus package? Too bad that’s still not enough to cover a lot of the rising college costs next year.</p>

[Ld400]

<p>Ha, I was expecting the ACG to be higher, but oh well. XD</p>

[JT624]

<p>What is the ACG amount by the way? All I know is that I’m receiving the Pell, I hope I have a chance for the ACG, and the FSEOG lol</p>

[Ld400]

<p>First year: $750
Second year: $1300</p>

<p>something like that…</p>

[JT624]

<p>that’s only enough to cover a year of book expenses : (
Oh well, it’s better than no money.</p>

[Ld400]

<p>^ yup, both of that is true…it’s not much but it’s better than nothing.</p>

[Neptun3]

<p>JT624, I’m assuming you have an EFC of 0?</p>

[soniya]

<p>I am a bit confused on Pell Grants…
I applied to 7 different schools.
I only heard back from two so far
(Tulane University & University of Texas at Austin).</p>

<p>Can anyone fill me in on how I would be eligible for PELL Grants?</p>

[swimcatsmom]

<p>Pell is based on your EFC. If your EFC is below the max EFC ceiling (4617 for 2009-2010)for the Pell then you are eligible for it. The amount depends on your EFC. An EFC of 0 would mean the maximum Pell of $5350. As the EFC increases the Pell reduces until there is 0 Pell eligibility at EFC 4618…</p>

[JT624]

<p>Yea, my EFC is 0</p>

[Ld400]

<p>This is bothering me, Wikipedia actually says this</p>

<p>

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 caps the Pell Grant’s award at $4,860 in the 2009-2010 school year.[2] Federal budget legislation passed in early 2006 cut the federal financial aid budget by $12.5 billion. While the maximum Pell Grant legislative limit was raised to $5,800 through 2011, maximum Pell Grant awards were not funded at this level. The maximum award available to students has been frozen at $4,050 since 2003-04.

</p>

<p><a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Pell_Grant[/url]”>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Pell_Grant&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

[swimcatsmom]

<p>Wikepedia is completely out of date on this one. (one of the reasons teachers do not allow citation of Wikepedia as a source - it can be useful but is often inaccurate). $4050 has not been the maximum funded for the Pell for 2-3 years.</p>

<p>My daughter has received the Pell the last 2 years. 2006-2007 the maximum was $4310. 2008-2009 the max was $4731 (the maximum in the bill was $4800 but it was funded at $4731 - that is what people actually got). 2009-2010 it is $5350 and the disbursement tables issued to financial aid professional reflect that it is funded at that amount. The act does have the wording that the maximum is $4860 but that was increased by a combination of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and the College Cost Reduction and Access Act (CCRAA) (P.L. 110-84) (no I don’t really understand it but the people issuing the instructions to financial aid officers do). From </p>

<p>[IFAP</a> - Dear Colleague Action Letters](<a href=“http://www.ifap.ed.gov/dpcletters/P0901.html]IFAP”>http://www.ifap.ed.gov/dpcletters/P0901.html)</p>

<p>

On February 17, 2009, President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (P.L. 111-5) that included an appropriated amount for the Federal Pell Grant Program to establish the maximum Federal Pell Grant award for the 2009-2010 award year at $4,860. Recall that the College Cost Reduction and Access Act (CCRAA) (P.L. 110-84) provides for an automatic increase to the appropriated Federal Pell Grant maximum award for the 2009-2010 award year of $490 for students enrolled full-time. For students enrolled less-than-full-time, the increase is ratably reduced according to the student’s enrollment status. The CCRAA does not extend the maximum Federal Pell Grant eligible EFC beyond the EFC that was determined by the relevant appropriations - 4617 for the 2009-2010 award year. As noted, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 provides for a $4,860 Federal Pell Grant maximum award for the 2009-2010 award year, which is increased by $490 under the provisions of the CCRAA, resulting in a 2009-2010 maximum Federal Pell Grant of $5,350.

.</p>

[soniya]

<p>Thank you for the information.
When/how do I find out how much I received?</p>

[pinkfeather]

<p>The College Financial Aid letter will tell you. Pell grants are the very first source of FA (even at a private college). Then comes ACG, SEOG, and finally institutional grants followed by Stafford loans, Perkins loans, and federal work study (money you will get paid only if you find qualified work).</p>

[soniya]

<p>When will this letter come in the mail, if you know?</p>

[odc5791]

<p>Different schools send award letters out at different time and sometimes its based on how early you sent in your fafsa. So the time varies. I know some schools who will be
begining on Mar. 15</p>

[melstr0]

<p>My dad lost his job at the end of last year (in December). He still doesn’t have another job and we notified the schools right away. However, because he lost his job at the end of the year our taxes stayed the same (we wouldn’t be eligible for pell grant if he had a job). However, is a school able to adjust your EFC and get you a pell grant if your fafsa numbers don’t reflect a recently lost job?</p>