JB Pritzker, Governor, State of Illinois

2021-22 MAP Updates: New Suspense and Claim Deadline Dates – Second/Third-Term Award Increases Likely

01/13/2022

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

The following information is being shared to assist colleges in the administration of the Monetary Award Program (MAP).

New Suspense Date: February 1, 2022

Since the opening of 2021-22 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) and Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid filing, ISAC staff has been monitoring and analyzing MAP application volume and projected claim rates. As a result of that ongoing analysis, the initial 2021-22 MAP suspense date of August 27, 2021 was announced in August, followed by the release from suspense status for students with initial FAFSA or Alternative Application receipt dates from August 27, 2021 forward.

When the release of suspense was announced in December, we indicated that a date through which suspended awards are being released was anticipated to be set after the first of the year, once further analysis of application and claim data had been completed. Based on that analysis, ISAC is suspending the announcement of 2021-22 MAP grants for applicants whose initial 2021-22 FAFSA is received by the Central Processing System (CPS), or whose initial Alternative Application is received by ISAC, on or after Tuesday, February 1, 2022.

The 2021-22 MAP Applicant Award Announcement Status Chart has been updated to reflect the February 1, 2022 suspense date.

Students who have not yet filed a financial aid application for the current academic year (2021-22) should be counseled to do so as soon as possible, and no later than January 31, 2022 to be considered for a 2021-22 MAP award.

Second-Term Priority Claim Deadline: February 25, 2022
(All First-term Claims also Due by February 25)

ISAC began accepting 2021-22 MAP payment requests (claims) for the second term in early January, and also continues to accept all first-term claims.

In order to be considered timely, the following 2021-22 MAP claims must be submitted no later than 7 p.m. (CT) on Friday, February 25, 2022.

  • For second term:
    • initial claims, and
    • increases to previously-submitted claims.
  • For first term:
    • initial claims,
    • increases to previously-submitted claims,
    • claims for awards released from suspense, and
    • late claims.
  • Based on the current 2021-22 MAP suspense date (February 1, 2022), first- and second-term claims should only be submitted if the student's initial 2021-22 FAFSA or Alternative Application receipt date is October 1, 2020 through (including) January 31, 2022.

Likely Increase of Second- and Third-Term Awards

We recognize that the 2021-22 second-term priority claims deadline date of February 25, 2022 is earlier than in recent years. The ongoing pandemic, along with other factors, resulted in low first-term claim rates. Having an early second-term priority claim deadline will allow ISAC staff the time needed to assess claim volume and determine whether and by how much second- and third-term award amounts will be increased. Our goal is to best leverage the full $479.5 million fiscal year 2022 MAP appropriation so as to provide meaningful assistance to the greatest possible number of eligible students, while also providing financial aid administrators sufficient time to adjust award packages before the end of the academic year.

Watch for Future Updates

You will be notified via ISAC's usual communication methods (i.e., the MAP Program News page, the FAA Message Board, and this e-Messaging service) as more information regarding 2021-22 MAP becomes available – including an announcement of when the February 1, 2022 suspense date is reflected in the MAP system, and whether second- and third-term award amounts will be increased.

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.