Pell grant approved but...

itsmejuli · Nov 3, 2010

What did the financial aid advisers at your school have to say?

Reno1978, BSN, RN · Nov 3, 2010

A great question for his financial aid advisor.

nurse0520 · Nov 3, 2010

is he finshing a degree, is he just starting, who applied first, different school? those could be some answers but i agree with the other reply ask the financial aid advisor

TDCHIM · Nov 3, 2010

Does he already have a bachelor's degree? Is he starting from scratch, with no university credits, or does he have previous hours from a degree he hasn't completed? Does he have any previous school loans in default or in forbearance? I believe gender may have some impact on pell grant awards as well. Those are just some initial thoughts - they are by no means an exhaustive list of possibilities for the discrepancy. Both you and he should really contact your respective financial aid officers for a full explanation of your federal aid awards and scholarship outlook.

DoGoodThenGo · Nov 3, 2010

Ok, so I have my RN, ADN and I applied for the Pell Grant and was approved to recieve funds so I can achieve my Bachelor's.
The question is why was my husband denied any funds using the same tax return. He hasn't been to college yet and was hopeful to finally attend.
Can anyone explain why he got denied but I got approved?
I don't understand.
thanks, Lisa

We here cannot answer this, especially with so little information provided.

Your husband should have received a SAR letter from the government, on this notice there is an "EFC" number which determines if one is eligible for aid. IIRC, the number for the 2010-2011 school year is about 5,200 (give or take, you can "Google" the information or ask your financial aid advisor at school). If your husband is above this number, then he wasn't in "need" (or poor enough if you like) to qualify for aid.

Even though you and your husband filed joint tax returns, one assumes your wages are not equal. Income along with domestic arrangements (number of dependents, number of persons in school, etc), all go into factoring need based federal aid.

Best persons to advise you and or your husband would be the financial aid advisor at school.

Lisa1980 · Nov 3, 2010

No, he hasn't been to college yet; so he has no credits.

He hasn't applied for school yet, so he doesn't have a financial counselor to talk to yet. He was not going to go if he didn't get the pell grant. We can't afford two tuitions' so if we both got approved it would of helped fianancially. We have a daughter to support.

I guess I am just surprised. I doubt he'll look further into it at this time.

thanks though, Lisa

fromtheseaRN, BSN, RN · Nov 3, 2010

i would think it would be the opposite- he being approved and not you.

my understanding of pell grants was that they were for first degrees only, and could not be received if you already had a degree.

DoGoodThenGo · Nov 3, 2010

i would think it would be the opposite- he being approved and not you.
my understanding of pell grants was that they were for first degrees only, and could not be received if you already had a degree.

One cannot obtain Pell aid if you already have a bachelor's degree and or are attending graduate school. Having an associate degree does not automatically cause one to loose Pell grant status.

oregonmom · Nov 3, 2010

I would look into this further because last year when I was finishing my AA I received Pell Grant money and later on my husband decided to return to school and he got more money than me to go only part-time while I went full time. Did you make a mistake on your financial aid application? Did you put down both of you would be students? Sounds like a mistake was made somewhere in the paperwork.

MickeysMom · Nov 4, 2010

I worked as a work study in the financial aid office while in school so I have a little knowledge about what his problem may be. If you compare your SAR you guys should have the same info because your income is combined and is considered as one. Also he has to actually apply to a school in order for the school to process the information and send it to the Dept. of Ed., it is impossible to determine his financial aid until the school has received his SAR and run a cost of living and cost of tuition report for the term/s he would be attending. If you guys are attending the same school the aid should be around the same as to what you were awarded. I hope this info helps

DoGoodThenGo · Nov 4, 2010

I worked as a work study in the financial aid office while in school so I have a little knowledge about what his problem may be. If you compare your SAR you guys should have the same info because your income is combined and is considered as one. Also he has to actually apply to a school in order for the school to process the information and send it to the Dept. of Ed., it is impossible to determine his financial aid until the school has received his SAR and run a cost of living and cost of tuition report for the term/s he would be attending. If you guys are attending the same school the aid should be around the same as to what you were awarded. I hope this info helps

Thought of the same thing, (not currently enrolled nor applying to a Pell grant approved program), as a possible reason for the denial. Wasn't sure though, so kept mum.

One thing about Pell grants, the funds aren't unlimited, and it is best to apply early as possible. Start getting required paperwork together by Christmas, and soon as one can in Jan, make the application.

For the OP, take the above poster's suggestion and compare your SARs to see if there is any difference that stands out. Also if the husband did not indicate a school of choice, go back, enter that information and see if the application can be resubmitted.