Understanding ISIR and Aid Eligibility Process

1. Session FF-06 The ISIR - What It Is And How To Use It Thomas Threlkeld U.S. Department of Education

2. Eligibility Overview • Student completes FAFSA • FAFSA processed by Central Processing System (CPS) • Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) is determined • School determines eligibility of student using ISIR • School awards student based on COA - EFC = NEED

3. ISIR Institutional Student Information Record • An electronic output document containing all information reported on the FAFSA and the resulting EFC • Sent from CPS to school’s SAIG mailbox • Used by school to determine student’s Title IV aid eligibility • School must maintain in electronic format received for record retention period

4. Output Documents From CPS Student receives either • Paper Student Aid Report (SAR) • Filed paper FAFSA without email address • E-mail notification of SAR • Filed paper FAFSA, FOTW, or FAA Access with valid e-mail address and successful SSN match • Paper SAR Acknowledgement • Filed FOTW or FAA Access without valid e-mail address

5. Student Identifier 000-00-0000 RA 01 • Found on each page of ISIR • Student’s SSN • First two letters of last name • ISIR transaction number • Changing SSN in question 8 will not change the student identifier

6. C-Flag • “C” will show next to EFC: 1866 C • Comment on ISIR related to • Database match issue • Drug conviction question • 2008-2009 comment codes that generate C-Flag listed on page B-56 of ISIR Guide • School must resolve issue before awarding aid

7. * Shows Verification Selection • * will show next to EFC: 1866* • School must complete verification unless exercising the 30% option or school is part of Quality Assurance program • Comment codes 170 & 171 indicate verification selection. Text may/may not appear on first page of ISIR.

8. Assumptions EFC is calculated • CPS makes a determination of appropriate answer • * to left of ISIR field • SAR/ISIR will include comment code 117

9. Rejects No EFC calculated • “Rejects Met” field in FAA Information section • Alpha reject reason codes • Verifiable • Numeric reject reason codes • Non-verifiable • Responsibility of student to resolve • Comments explain action necessary for resolution

10. Non-verifiable Or Verifiable Reject? • Student’s SSN matches, but name does not • Student has an SSN match with Date of Death • Income earned meets IRS minimums and reported not filing income tax return • Mother’s SSN contains all zeroes and reported as a tax filer

11. Assumption Or Reject? • Student reports that she is married and provides spouse’s income, but reports only one person in household • Student reports not married, but provides financial information for spouse • Independent student’s household and number in college are reported as 3 or more

12. Processed Date Found in “Office Information” Section • Department considers school to have received ISIR on ISIR processed date • ISIR will be in school’s SAIG mailbox within 24 hours of processing

13. Source Of Correction Flag Found in “Office Information” section • Identifies source of correction transaction • “A” – applicant • “D” – CPS • “S” – school • Federal school code indicator is in field below to identify originating school

14. Verification Flags Found in “FAA Information” section • Verification Flag • Indicates if student selected on any transaction • Y, N, * • Verification Tracking Flag • Identifies priority for selection based upon likelihood of error • Range is 0001 to 0999 • Higher number is higher priority

15. Professional Judgment Flag Found in “FAA Information” section • 1 – EFC adjustment processed on this transaction • 2 – EFC adjustment requested but failed on this transaction • Resulting transaction will only go to school processing PJ adjustment

16. Dependency Override Flag Found in “FAA Information” section • 1 - transaction resulting from a dependency override • 2 - FAA cancelled dependency override • 3 - dependency override failed • Blank – no override • Not required to use another school’s override

17. EFC’s • Primary EFC must be used for Title IV eligibility • Result of full formula unless student met criteria for simplified needs test • Secondary EFC • Result of full formula when student met criteria for simplified needs test • May be used for institutional aid

18. EFC’s Found in “FAA Information” section • Provides EFC’s for months 1 through 12, both primary and secondary • 9 month EFC always used for Pell Grant • EFC for number of months in period of enrollment used for determination of need

19. EFC Flags Found in “FAA Information” section • Auto Zero EFC Flag • “Y” - criteria met • Blank – criteria not met • EFC Change Flag • 1 – EFC increased • 2 – EFC decreased • Blank – no change in EFC • SNT Flag • “Y” - criteria met • “N” - criteria not met

20. Intermediate Values Found in “FAA Information” section • Represent the values calculated in the EFC calculation • Helpful in understanding the resulting EFC • Useful in making professional judgment adjustments to data elements

21. Match Flags • Alpha or numeric values that show results of database matches • Appendix B of ISIR Guide explains required action and corresponding comment code. • Found in “FAA Information” section

22. SSN Match Flags • Match flag code is “SSN” • Matches SSN with Social Security Administration database • Number • Name • Date of birth • SSA also checks number against date of death file

23. U.S. Citizenship Match Flag • Match flag code is “SSA” • Verifies U.S. citizenship with Social Security Administration using place of birth • Citizenship documentation includes • Birth certificate • U.S. passport • Naturalization certificate

24. DHS Match Flag • Match flag code is “DHS” • Matches immigration status with Department of Homeland Security to document eligible non-citizen • “Y” – match conducted and status confirmed • “N” – match conducted; secondary confirmation by DHS in progress • “blank” – match not conducted

25. DHS Secondary Confirmation Flag • Will indicate if school should submit paper G-845 • Requires DHS Verification # found below Match Flags • G-845 in 2008-2009 FSA Handbook, Volume 1, pages 1-31 & 1-32

26. Selective Service Match Flag • Match flag code is “SS” • Registration required for males, ages 18-25 • Student not yet 26 may provide proof of registration or request CPS process registration (FAFSA question 22) • Student over age 26 must prove that failure to register was not knowing and willful

27. NSLDS Match Flag • Match flag code is “NSLDS” • Matches student against financial aid history data in the National Student Loan Data System • Looks for defaults, discharged loans, borrowing in excess of loan limits, overpayments

28. Veterans Affairs Match Flag • Match flag code is “VA” • Confirms veteran status for independence • Title IV definition of veteran • At least one day of active duty AND • Character of discharge is other than dishonorable • National Guard and Reserve members must have been on active duty for other than training purpose

29. Parent SSN Match • Match flag code is “Father SSN” and “Mother SSN” • Matches SSN with Social Security Administration database • Number • Name • Date of birth • At least one parent’s SSN must match or FAFSA will reject

30. Parent SSN • Parent without SSN must report all zeroes in SSN field on FAFSA • Parent without SSN may file tax return with TIN – report zeroes for SSN on FAFSA

31. Remember • You mustreview all ISIR transactions received • You mustresolve all “C codes” • You mustresolve all conflicting information • Separate process from verification • Involves any information of which the school has knowledge

32. Resources • ISIR Guide • FSA Handbook • Application & Verification Guide (AVG) • Volume 1 – Student Eligibility • FSA Coach (CBT) • FAA Access Demo Site • fafsademo.test.ed.gov • User name: eddemo • Password: fafsatest

33. Contact Information Your feedback and comments are appreciated. Thomas Threlkeld Training Officer 617-289-0144 thomas.threlkeld@ed.gov