Hello everyone, I’m new here. This will be one of a few topics I need help with.
So I’m attending summer school after taking off the spring semester due to financial issues. My school gave me my pell grant for the spring and since I’m only taken 9 credits so I’m only getting 75% of the pell. I had $570 leftover from the fall’s pell grant as well that I never received because I repeated a course but they did not offer me that. Am I still eligible for the money from the fall? My financial situation is still pretty bad and my parents won’t help me. With that extra money I will only owe like $50.
I do plan on asking my financial aid advisors. Just want some advice before going there. My school’s financial aid office is known for being rude and unprofessional.
Yes, you are eligible for up to the amount leftover from your annual award, as long as your school’s summer session is in the 2016-2017 award year. Year round Pell is being reinstated this summer, and that may even result in more money … depending on how many credits you are taking - you have to be at least half time for the additional summer Pell amount. But you can receive remaining Pell from the regular annual Pell payment - up to either the amount remaining or the amount you should get based on the number of credits in which you are enrolled, if that is less than the amount remaining. The new Pell rules are not in place yet, so schools probably aren’t even addressing that possibility yet.
Sometimes you have to stay on top of the aid office to make sure your aid is processed, and processed correctly. I am guessing by your posted info that your EFC is between 1201 and 1300. You should be able to get the $570 no matter how many credits you take (that is the amount for 1-5 credits, but as you know, it is all that is left from your semester award).
That seems odd. If I were you, I would ask to speak to someone higher up (Assistant Director, Associate Director, Customer Service Manager). Ask them to review the specifics of your situation. The thing is, if they don’t give you the Pell and you should have received it, they will be in violation of federal rules. Asking a manager to review your case may be beneficial for not just you, but also for the school. In the end, it may be that you can’t get it … but you need to know for sure … and you should ask to have the reason provided to you in writing.