JB Pritzker, Governor, State of Illinois

2021-22 MAP: Release of Suspense, Late Claims, and Payment

03/18/2022

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).

This weekend, processing will take place to implement the 2021-22 MAP functions outlined below.

A follow-up e-Message will be sent to confirm that processing went as planned (anticipated for Monday morning, March 21, 2022). At that time, the 2021-22 MAP system will:

It was previously communicated that this weekend’s processing would also implement a recompute of second- and third-term award amounts, however, that process is being delayed as ISAC continues to evaluate the best manner to implement those increases in light of business considerations for institutions and the agency.

Watch for Future Updates

ISAC staff continues to analyze application and claim volume to determine by how much second- and third-term award amounts will be increased. Our goal remains 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 as much time as possible to adjust award packages before the end of the academic year. 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 details regarding the likely increase of second- and third-term award amounts.

Release of Award Announcements from Suspense

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, an August 27, 2021 initial 2021-22 MAP suspense date was announced, followed by a limited release from suspense status and, then, a February 1, 2022 second suspense date.

With the 2021-22 MAP second-term priority claim deadline of February 25, 2022, having passed, and current data analysis continuing to reflect decreases in both application volume and projected claim rates, ISAC is releasing from suspense status the 2021-22 MAP award announcements for students with initial Central Processing System (CPS) FAFSA receipt dates, or initial ISAC Alternative Application receipt dates, from February 1, 2022 forward. These released records are anticipated to be reflected in the MAP system starting around noon on Monday.

Students who have not yet filed a financial aid application for the current academic year (2021-22) should still be counseled to do so and may still be awarded MAP. ISAC will continue to analyze application and claim data, and will notify colleges if any further action is necessary.

The 2021-22 MAP Applicant Award Announcement Status Chart has been updated to reflect the release of award announcements in suspense status.

Late Claims Being Paid

All 2021-22 MAP first- and second-term claims that had been submitted after each term's priority claim deadline date will be released for payment over the weekend, with results appearing in the MAP system on Monday morning.

Submitting Third-term* Claims
(Also Submit All First-term and Second-term Claims)

ISAC anticipates that, starting Monday morning, the MAP system will begin accepting 2021-22 MAP claims for the third term* and also will continue accepting all first- and second-term claims.

In order to be considered timely, the following 2021-22 MAP claims must be submitted – via either the MAP system or File Transfer Protocol (FTP) – by the third-term priority claim deadline date (which will be announced once determined).

  • For third term*:
    • initial claims, and
    • increases to previously-submitted claims.
  • For first term and second term:
    • initial claims,
    • increases to previously-submitted claims,
    • claims for awards released from suspense, and
    • late claims.

Specific details regarding the payment process are provided in the MAP Payment area, as well as in the “Payment” chapter of the MAP User Guide.

* "Third term" is defined as the third quarter or – for institutions where the second semester begins after February 15th – the second semester.

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.