JB Pritzker, Governor, State of Illinois

2023-24 MAP Updates: Suspense, and First-Term Claim Deadline

09/20/2023

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

2023-24 MAP Suspense Date: September 23, 2023

ISAC is suspending the announcement of 2023-24 Monetary Award Program (MAP) grants for applicants whose initial 2023-24 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) is received by the Central Processing System (CPS), or whose initial Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid is received by ISAC, on or after Saturday, September 23, 2023.

Beginning as early as Tuesday, September 26, 2023, MAP records in suspense status will:

  • be reflected in the MAP system;
  • show on the appropriate screens and reports; and,
  • appear in the MAP Eligibility File Extraction.

Application Volume and Projected Claim Rates Being Monitored

When 2023-24 FAFSA and Alternative Application filing commenced on October 1, 2022, ISAC staff began to monitor and analyze MAP application volume and projected payment request (i.e., claim) rates. While the fiscal year 2024 (FY24) state operating budget MAP appropriation of $701,566,200 reflects historic funding for the program, current data analysis – which shows an increase in applications – indicates that the suspension of 2023-24 MAP award announcements is necessary at this time.

ISAC staff will continue to monitor MAP application volume and claim rates. If future analysis indicates that a partial release of awards from suspense status is viable, we will communicate that information to the financial aid community as it becomes available.

2023-24 MAP Applicant Award Announcement Status Chart

The 2023-24 MAP Applicant Award Announcement Status Chart provides an overview of categories for students based on the initial application receipt date.

Student Award Announcements

Colleges must suspend announcements of MAP awards to applicants whose initial 2023-24 application (FAFSA and Alternative Application) receipt date is on or after Saturday, September 23, 2023. Please note that ISAC is not notifying affected applicants that their awards have been placed in suspense status. Colleges are advised to follow their own policies and procedures regarding communicating announcement information to students with suspended awards.

Identifying Records in Suspense Status

MAP records in suspense status will be indicated by a MAP Suspend Code of "S" (S = New application received after the suspense date will not be considered for an award this year) in the MAP system and in the MAP Eligibility File Extraction. The MAP system contains filters that will allow you to identify student records and create a report of those records placed in suspense status.

Submit First-Term Claims by December 8

In order to be considered timely, 2023-24 MAP payment requests for the first term must be submitted on or before December 8, 2023 (the priority claim deadline date). Any initial claims submitted after a term's priority claim deadline date will be considered late and will only be paid if funds remain after paying all timely claims.

Check ISAC's Website Periodically for Updates

As new information becomes available throughout the year, ISAC will continue to update the MAP Program News page within the ISAC Gift Assistance Programs section, which may be accessed via the Financial Aid Administrators area. Be sure to check back periodically for the current processing status of the program.

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.