How can it be held against me that I withdraw from college classes 10 years ago & now can't get a pell grant?

Question

I just recently started going back to college since I withdrew 10 years ago. I am currently receiving a pell grant. When I applied to receive it for my fall semester, I was denied the grant because I withdrew from classes 10 years ago because of a difficult pregnacy. When I withdrew it was done without penalty and in the school's time frame for withdrawals. I just don't understand why I got the grant this semester,but now they just want to cut me off because of my past. I thought this was based on income and grades. I have a 3.0 GPA and my husbands income decreased by 6,000 from my last application. This just seems so unfair, because I am at a point in my life where I want to better myself and my family. I can't afford to pay out of pocket to attend. This pell grant was my only chance of getting a degree. Any info on this would be greatly appreciated!!

Answer 1

Shara:

When the financial aid office at your school processes your request for federal financial aid (like the Pell), they are required to check your financial aid history in a federal database called the National Student Loan Data System. The NSLDS contains records of any previous educational assistance that you have ever received. If the financial aid office discovers that you are in default on a federal student assistance loan OR if they find that you have received an overpayment of a federal student assistance grant, they are required to deny certification of any future assistance until you have cleared up the problem.

Once the financial aid office has generated a new record for you in the process of searching the NSLDS, the system will continue to use a "postscreening" process to notify the school if any changes pop up on your financial aid history. It is possible that your school has only recently been notified of a problem with past assistance.

You mentioned that you withdrew from your classes 10 years ago - that's most likely the cause of your problem. If you had received Pell Grant funds for the semester in which you withdrew, you were responsible for returning part of those funds to the government. If you think an elephant never forgets, then you haven't owed money to the federal government - their memory makes an elephant seem like an Alzheimer's victim.

How much of the Pell Grant you were obligated to return to the government 10 years ago depends on when, during the semester, you withdrew from school. For example, if you completed 30% of the semester, you would have been required to return 70% of your Pell Grant funds to the federal government.

So - the only way for the financial aid office to clear your current aid suspension is for you to make arrangements to repay the Pell Grant funds that you owe from 10 years ago.

I'm sorry to be the bearer of unfortunate news. Good luck to you.

Answer 2

I would assume that you need to write a letter of appeal to address the area. Check to make sure that the pregnancy situation is ten years ago is what is causing the problem.

I would go for the route of calling and sending letters - also sitting down with the financial aid counselor and informing them of the situation. Which of course you can validate through the school's record - when you drop you have to note the reason for withdrawing from school - these files should be present at the school (at least in digital format). Then you have your doctor's records - you can check with your doctor and have him / or her validate.

The first step is sitting down with the director of financial aid at your school. Explaining the situation so that she / or he understands then asking them what steps can you take to validate the situation so that you can obtain your pell grant.

Step two would involve some sort of appeal letter which may come from either you or that director (I am unsure - the director will be able to guide you through that process).

I do hope that everythings works out. Good Luck in your endeveavors - it is a wonderful thing that you are returning to complete your college education.