PHEAA NEWS:
PA School Services Reminders:
• PHEAA Materials – We update many of our publications annually, so please be sure to
toss out the old when you receive new materials from PHEAA. If, during cleaning, you find
that you need to replace or replenish your supply of brochures, guides, or other materials,
you can order online at
PHEAA.org or contact your Access Partner for assistance. We also
offer some of our publications, such as the
PA Student Aid Guide, electronically on our
website.
• Upcoming Events – Don’t forget to place your scheduled Financial Aid Night and FAFSA
Workshop dates and times on your high school calendars and post on social media so
families can plan to attend. Promoting the event beforehand can really have a big impact
on how many people attend your events. If you haven’t scheduled your events yet, please
reach out to your Access Partner. If your school is not allowing in-person events due to
Covid-19, don’t worry! We are offering virtual Financial Aid Nights to make sure families still
have access to the information they need.
INDUSTRY NEWS:
FAFSA Errors Involving Dependency Status & Other Errors
Students sometimes answer the
13 dependency status questions on the FAFSA incorrectly. This can cause delays in receiving financial aid or cause the FAFSA to be rejected. You can find some other common FAFSA errors and their explanations at
savingforcollege.com.
Automatic Extension of Borrower Relief
As part of a recent Presidential Memorandum, student loan borrowers’ federal loan
payments will be automatically paused through December 2020, interest-free, with no opt-in request needed. Nonpayments will count toward Income-Driven Repayment (IDR), and Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) progress*. Additionally, collections on defaulted student loans will also remain halted until 2021.
* Borrowers must still certify qualified full-time employment, during the non-payment period, for non-payments to count towards PSLF progress.
RESOURCES:
12th Grade College Prep Checklists
Senior Year is the time to apply for admission to college and for federal student aid by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form. These
checklists let students and parents know what they should be doing throughout the year to stay on track at this busy time - including learning how to manage federal student aid.
PA Forward Student Loan Program
High school seniors may already be thinking ahead to their college days and wondering how they will pay for higher education. Please remind them that the PA Forward Student Loan Program offers a great way to help families bridge the gap between what they have and what they still need beyond federal loans, grants, and scholarships. Please visit
PHEAA.org/PAForward for more information.