Potential Delays in Processing & Payment of Aid

Due to ongoing changes and updates to the FAFSA system, as well as delays in information being sent to schools and external agencies by Federal Student Aid (FSA), processing times for FAFSA corrections and other related financial aid tasks are longer than usual. These delays also impact state aid and other types of financial assistance.

Delays in federal and state assistance may affect the information on your aid offer and/or the aid listed as a credit on your bill with the Office of Student Accounts. Please read the sections below for more details and how you may be impacted.

---

FEDERAL CORRECTIONS & AID PROCESSING

Currently, schools cannot make batch corrections to FAFSA data elements. These delays impact the Office of Financial Aid's ability to correct and verify critical aspects of your financial aid application, which ultimately may affect or delay:

• Your Financial Aid Offer
• Aid from crediting toward your bill
• Aid from paying to your account
• Any expected refund amount

Federal Student Aid (FSA) expected that schools would be able to make batch corrections beginning in the first half of August. However, on July 30, 2024 Federal Student Aid (FSA) announced that batch corrections will not be available to schools until the 2025-2026 FAFSA cycle. The Office of Financial Aid at Millersville is working through this new information and what it means. We will continue to update this page with information as we learn more.

It is important to understand that this does not affect all students. The information below is intended to guide you if the delays do impact your aid.

When in doubt, contact the Office of Financial Aid.

---

School Submitted FAFSA Corrections & Updates:

Students may need to submit additional documentation to provide proof of identity or the school may need to make corrections to your FAFSA to ensure that your degree type and grade level are accurate. For your this information to be updated, the school needs to be able to make corrections to your FAFSA. These corrections could include updates to your: Social Security Number, Date of Birth, Legal Name, Citizenship Status, Year in College (affecting Federal Direct Student Loan amounts), or any data required to be updated through the verification process (e.g., tax information, family size, statements of education, resolution of conflicting data).

Unusual and Special Circumstance Reviews & Updates:

Students experiencing unusual or special circumstances will also be affected by these delays. Official documentation of these circumstances is required for processing, and corrections to the FAFSA will be necessary once documentation is submitted.

Unusual Circumstances: These are situations where students are unable to contact their parents to provide income information on the FAFSA. This includes circumstances such as: Threats to health or safety, abandonment by parents, custodial parent(s) incarceration, both parents deceased (or non-custodial parent estranged), homelessness or risk of homelessness, in foster care, legal guardianship, or emancipated minor status

Special Circumstances: These typically involve a significant change in the financial situation of the student or their family, requiring a re-evaluation of their Student Aid Index (SAI). Such circumstances include a change in income due to job loss or permanent reduction of hours, separation or divorce, death in the immediate family, reduction/loss of child support, high non-reimbursed medical expenses, one-time pension/retirement plan withdrawals to cover expenses.

---

PA State Grant Data & Payments

The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) administers the PA State Grant Program and other aid programs such as PATH, CHAFEE, and Ready to Succeed. PHEAA relies on the FAFSA to assess eligibility for these programs. Due to ongoing FAFSA errors and delays, PHEAA's data processing has been significantly impacted. This ultimately affects students who may be eligible for the PA State Grant and other state programs. At this time, key points to note are:

• Estimated PA State Grants will be credited to your bill but may not represent the final award you receive from PHEAA
• Actual grant eligibility cannot be determined until students create their GrantUs account and the PA State Budget is passed
• Actual PA State Grants will not be listed until Millersville receives notification from PHEAA
• Delay in payment of grant funds will affect any expected refunds

It is important to understand that this does not affect all students. The information below is intended to guide you if the delays do impact your aid.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact PHEAA.

---

Estimated versus Actual Awards:

If you had an estimated PA State Grant listed on your Aid Offer, it is important to understand this is not an official grant nor is it your official award amount.

• For your PA State Grant to be official, you must create a GrantUS account and complete any documentation with PHEAA, who will determine your actual eligibility. 

Once Millersville receives official notification from PHEAA regarding your PA State Grant eligibility, your estimated award will be canceled and replaced with your actual award.

• Once you have an actual award amount listed, it will be credited toward your bill; however
• Funds from the PA State Grant are not expected to be paid until October, which will affect any expected refunds.

 Estimated Processing & Payment Timeline:

• By September 2024:
  • PHEAA expects to have all FAFSA information loaded into their new system, GrantUs.
  • You should receive an email from Noreply@grantus.pheaa.org to set up your GrantUs account. For help, visit PHEAA GrantUs Student Training.
• Beginning September 2024:
  • PHEAA will likely check your eligibility and may ask you to upload more documents in GrantUs. You’ll get an email if you need to do this. 
• By the end of September:
  • You should find out if you’re eligible for the PA State Grant and your award amount, depending on the state budget.
  • Schools are expected to have access to update your PA State Grant records (like your enrollment status and academic progress) in GrantUs.
• Sometime in October 2024:
  • PA State Grant money for Fall 2024 is expected to be sent out.
  • Schools may start nominations for the RTSS program, but this could be delayed.

---

Federal Aid:

Check Your Status: Regularly monitor your financial aid status through myVILLE Student Portal.

Submit Documents Promptly: Ensure all required documents are submitted as soon as possible to avoid further delays.

Stay Informed: Keep an eye on your email for updates from our office.

---

state aid:

Create your GrantUs account: Look for an email from noreply@grantus.pheaa.org inviting you to create your account.

Submit Documents Promptly: Make sure all required documents are submitted and forms completed as soon as possible to avoid further delays.

Stay Informed: Keep an eye on your email for updates from PHEAA.

If your financial aid exceeds your charges and you expect to receive a refund, you may request an advance of these funds to cover essential expenses like books, rent, or other immediate needs before your full aid is disbursed. An Advanced Refund Request allows you to receive a portion of your scheduled refund early; it is not additional financial assistance.

• Financial aid is typically disbursed after the add/drop period each semester, as the Office of Financial Aid must verify your enrollment before releasing funds. For the fall semester, aid is scheduled to be disbursed on September 4, 2024; and February 3, 2025, for the spring semester.

If you are expecting a refund, you can request an advance of up to $500 through the Office of Financial Aid. If your expected refund exceeds $500, you may also request up to $500 in Marauder Gold with the Office of Student Accounts. The combined total between both offices cannot exceed $1,000.

• If an estimated PA State Grant is canceled and not replaced with an actual award, students may owe a balance.
• If additional charges or adjustments to other aid occur after an advanced refund is processed, it will cause a balance due.

click here for more information on advanced refunds

Millersville Financial Aid Questions:

Do you have questions about your financial aid requirements at Millersville or pending corrections to your FAFSA?

• Call Us: 717-871-5100
  • Available Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-6:00 PM EST
• Email Us: fa.mail@millersville.edu
  • Available Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM EST
• Schedule an Appointment: millersville.edu/fameeting
  • Available Monday-Friday 9:00 AM-3:00 PM EST

Millersville Billing Questions:

Do you have questions about your bill? Contact the Office of Student Accounts (OSA).

• Call OSA: 717-871-5101
• Email OSA: osa@millersville.edu
  • Available Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM EST

Your GrantUs Portal & PA State Grant/Special Program Eligibility Questions:

Do you have questions about your eligibility OR need help with GrantUs? Contact State Grant and Special Programs for general questions and help resolving any GrantUs account issues.

• Call PHEAA: 1-800-692-7392 
  • Available Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM EST
• Message PHEAA: Use the GrantUs Message Center to send a direct message through your GrantUs portal. Choose the HELP feature within your GrantUs portal to send a direct message to State Grant and Special Programs.
• Email PHEAA: granthelp@pheaa.org or grantus@pheaa.org.