JB Pritzker, Governor, State of Illinois

2021-22 Spring-Term Claims & Benefit Usage

01/04/2022

Unless otherwise noted, links in this message are to corresponding pages at the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) website (isac.org).

The ISAC Gift Assistance Programs (GAP) Access portal – which includes the electronic processing systems for the Monetary Award Program (MAP) and the Minority Teachers of Illinois (MTI) Scholarship, Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois, Illinois Veteran Grant (IVG) and Illinois National Guard (ING) Grant programs – is available for submission of the spring-term records discussed below.

Submit 2021-22 Claims/Benefit Usage Data for the Spring Term

Colleges are encouraged to submit 2021-22 MAP spring-term payment requests (claims), 2021-22 MTI Scholarship and Golden Apple spring-term certifications and claims, and 2021-22 IVG and ING Grant spring-term benefit usage data as soon as possible.

The following information is provided to assist colleges in the administration of these programs. You may either scroll through the remainder of this message, or click on the appropriate link(s) to go directly to a specific section:

MAP
MTI Scholarship and Golden Apple
IVG and ING Grant

MAP

  • ISAC is accepting 2021-22 MAP claims for the second term.
  • The 2021-22 MAP second-term priority claim deadline date will be announced once determined.
  • When submitting second-term claims, remember that ISAC has released the suspense status for eligible applicants whose initial Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) or Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid is received from August 27, 2021 forward.
    • In addition, all first-term claims are being paid – including initial claims, increases to previously-submitted claims, claims for awards released from suspense, and late claims – and will continue to be paid through the second-term priority claim deadline, which will be announced once determined.
    • Following further analysis of application and claim data, ISAC will announce the date through which suspended awards are being released (anticipated during the first quarter of 2022).
      • Students who have not yet filed a 2021-22 FAFSA or Alternative Application should be counseled to do so as soon as possible, as they may still be awarded MAP.
  • The disbursement of funds is processed by the State Comptroller's Office.
  • Because Payment Offset and Reconciliation procedures apply to MAP, refund checks should not be sent for cancellations/adjustments made throughout the award year.
    • Funds should only be returned to ISAC after a final reconciliation has been completed at the end of the regular school year.
  • More information regarding payment functionality, including detailed instructions, is available at the following locations on ISAC's website:

MTI Scholarship and Golden Apple

  • ISAC is accepting 2021-22 MTI Scholarship and Golden Apple claims for the second term.
    • Colleges may submit second-term claims by accessing the MTI and Golden Apple systems.
  • The second-term priority claim deadline dates for the 2021-22 MTI Scholarship and Golden Apple programs will be announced once determined.
    • Colleges are always encouraged to submit claims as soon as they are able to do so.
      • The timely submission of claims and cancellations/adjustments allows ISAC staff to monitor remaining funds and award other students, as applicable.
  • By submitting a Golden Apple claim, the institution is certifying that the Scholar is enrolled and continues to meet all eligibility requirements.
    • If not submitting a claim, the institution reports the reason for the student's ineligibility.
  • Submitting claims is a two-step process, which involves generating the request (either individually or in a batch) and then submitting the request.
  • MTI and Golden Apple claim results will be available via each program's online system.
    • After submitting claims, colleges are encouraged to always review the Payment Results/Exceptions report that is available the next business day.
    • As vouchers are generated, they are sent via e-mail to financial aid directors.
  • The disbursement of funds is processed by the State Comptroller's Office.
  • Because Payment Offset and Reconciliation procedures apply to the MTI Scholarship and Golden Apple programs, refund checks should not be sent for cancellations/adjustments made throughout the award year.
    • Funds should only be returned to ISAC after a final reconciliation has been completed at the end of the regular school year.
  • More information regarding online certification (for the MTI Scholarship Program) and payment functionality (for both programs), including detailed instructions, is available at the following locations on ISAC's website:

IVG and ING Grant

  • ISAC is accepting spring-term benefit usage data for the 2021-22 IVG and ING Grant programs.
  • The deadline dates for submitting 2021-22 IVG and ING Grant spring-term benefit usage data will be announced once determined.
  • Even though the summer- (for the IVG Program) and fall-term (for the IVG and ING Grant programs) deadline dates have passed, colleges are still encouraged to submit benefit usage data for those terms as soon as possible.
  • Benefit usage data for the IVG and ING Grant programs is submitted to ISAC by colleges via the benefit usage functionality within each program's system.
    • Colleges report enrollment hours and dollar amounts for initial, in-district and out-of-district benefit usage by students, as well as adjustments to previously-submitted data.
  • Although ISAC is not able to reimburse institutions for 2021-22 IVG or ING Grant awards, reporting of benefits used must still take place so that usage can be accurately reflected on students' accounts.
  • Colleges are encouraged to regularly check their Benefits Results report for each program.
    • Further details are provided in the IVG and ING Grant user guides.
  • More information, including detailed instructions, is available at the following locations:

Watch for Future Updates

Future program updates will be shared with colleges via ISAC's standard methods of communication, including: the MAP, MTI Scholarship, Golden Apple, ING Grant and IVG "Program News" areas; the FAA Message Board; and, this e-Messaging service.

You are receiving this message because you registered for ISAC's e-Messaging service through one or more subscription groups for FAAs.

If you have any questions regarding this e-Message, please contact ISAC's School Services Department by calling toll free at 866.247.2172 or sending an e-mail message to isac.schoolservices@illinois.gov.