collegezone.com Print page Close window

Verification for MAP
{ISAC Rules, Section 2700.50}

If a student is selected for verification for federal student assistance, that student must also be verified for MAP. A selected student must be verified for MAP even if the student is ineligible for federal student assistance.

It is the school's responsibility to ensure that all MAP recipients meet the Illinois residency requirements. The U.S. Department of Education's (ED's) verification procedures do not include procedures for verifying Illinois residency. If a student is selected for verification by the Central Processing System (CPS) or by the school as a part of its participation in ED's Quality Assurance Program, and falls into one of the three categories listed below, the school must verify the student's Illinois residency for MAP.

  • The student changed dependency status to an independent status.
  • The student was not enrolled in an ISAC-approved MAP institution or an ISAC-approved Illinois high school during the preceding 12 months.
  • The school has information which indicates the applicant may not be a resident of Illinois.
If a school has conflicting information about an applicant's residency, the school must resolve this discrepancy prior to delivering MAP funds. The requirement to resolve conflicting information is separate from the verification requirement and supersedes all verification rules.

The following are examples of documents that may be collected for verification of Illinois residency. For an independent student, the documentation must indicate that the student resided in Illinois for the relevant 12 continuous, full months prior to the beginning of the school's academic year:
  • Parent's (or student's, if independent) valid federal or Illinois income tax return;
  • Illinois high school or Illinois college transcript; 
  • Illinois driver's license;
  • Utility or rent bills in the applicant’s (or parent's) name;
  • Illinois auto registration card;
  • Wage and tax statements (IRS Form W-2);
  • Statement of benefits history from the Illinois Department of Public Aid;
  • Residential lease in the applicant's (or parent’s) name;
  • Statement of benefits from the Illinois Department of Employment Security;
  • State of Illinois Identification Card issued by the Secretary of State;
  • Statement of benefits from the Social Security Administration;
  • Illinois voter's registration card; or
  • Property tax bill.

If a student is a resident of Illinois, but the institution cannot determine this fact, the student or the institution may verify residency through ISAC’s appeal process.

A school may request first term payment even though verification is not yet complete. If, after verification, a MAP payment adjustment is appropriate, the school must submit the appropriate refund. If verification is not completed within 60 days after the conclusion of the regular school year, the school must return the first term payment to ISAC. For periods other than the first term of eligibility in an academic year, the verification process must be completed before the school may request payment.

© 2003-2012 Illinois Student Assistance Commission