Silas Purnell Illinois Incentive for Access (IIA) Program

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Program Description
Eligibility
How to Apply
How Funds Are Disbursed
Processing Updates

If the information you provided on your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) results in a calculated zero expected family contribution when you're a college freshman, you may be eligible to receive the Silas Purnell Illinois Incentive for Access (IIA) Program grant for up to $500.

Eligibility

To be eligible, you must:

• Be a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen
• Be an Illinois resident
• Be enrolled at least half time as a freshman at an IIA-participating college (school defines freshman status)
• Have a valid Student Aid Report (SAR) with zero expected family contribution
• Not have a baccalaureate degree
• Meet Monetary Award Program (MAP) eligibilty requirements
• Meet satisfactory academic progress standards of your college
• Not be in default on any student loan
• Not owe a refund for any state or federal grant

To apply, you must complete the FAFSA as soon as possible after January 1, prior to the academic year that starts on or after July 1. While the FAFSA can be completed using either the Internet or a paper application, you will receive quicker results and decrease the potential for time-consuming errors by using FAFSA on the Web. Before you submit your application online, you must be assigned a Personal Identification Number (PIN) from the U.S. Department of Education. If you (and/or your parent, if you are a dependent student) have not already been assigned a PIN, apply for one now so that you will be able to complete the FAFSA online. Once obtained, the same PIN is used to complete each year's FAFSA.

Your eligibility for the IIA Program will be automatically determined if you are classified as a freshman by the approved Illinois college at which you plan to use the award, and that college is listed on your FAFSA.

Verification of eligibility, and announcement of an estimated award amount (if any), is performed by the college. Only if you are eligible will an estimated IIA grant appear on a financial aid award letter from your college. If you are an IIA recipient, refer to the Silas Purnell Illinois Incentive for Access (IIA) Grant Program Information document for more detailed information regarding the program.

How Funds Are Disbursed

ISAC works with the college to disburse funds for this program. The college certifies student eligibility and then submits a payment request on behalf of the student. It may take up to eight weeks after the date that ISAC processes the payment request before funds are received at the college.

Depending on the college, students may be responsible for payment until program funds are received. Qualified applicants who are awaiting receipt of funds from this program should contact the Financial Aid Office or Business Office to determine the college's policy.

Processing Updates

Note that ISAC routinely updates this section as new information becomes available. Be sure to check back periodically for the current processing status.

For the 2008-09 Academic Year (last updated on January 2, 2008):

The 2008-09 FAFSA, used to apply for the IIA Program (for college freshmen) and many other forms of federal and state financial assistance, is available online at FAFSA on the Web. If you plan to enroll in college during the 2008-09 academic year, you are strongly encouraged to complete the FAFSA online as soon as possible. While the FAFSA can be completed using either the Internet or a paper application, you will receive quicker results and decrease the potential for time-consuming errors by using FAFSA on the Web.

Before you submit your application online, you (and your parent, if you are a dependent student) must be assigned a Personal Identification Number (PIN) from the U.S. Department of Education. Once obtained, the same PIN is used to complete each year's FAFSA.

For the 2007-08 Academic Year (last updated on August 7, 2007):

Suspension: Due to limited funding and an increase in the number of eligible applicants, ISAC has suspended the announcement of 2007-08 IIA grants to all students whose initial 2007-08 FAFSA is received by the federal processor on or after August 7, 2007. FAFSAs received at the federal processor on or after August 7th will be placed in a hold status and will not be released for IIA award processing unless additional funding becomes available. Students whose IIA award announcements are in suspension status will not receive IIA grant money.

The suspension of 2007-08 IIA award announcements does not impact any other financial aid programs.

If you are enrolled for the 2007-08 academic year and have not yet submitted a FAFSA, you are still encouraged to do so as soon as possible. FAFSA results are used to determine eligibility for other forms of federal and state financial assistance.

Click here to access the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).