Errata and Updates for 2013-2014 FSA Handbook

Posted Date:February 28, 2013

Volume: Errata and Updates for 2013-2014 FSA Handbook

2013-2014 Federal Student Aid Handbook Errata and Updates

The errata and updates below are items that were amended after the initial PDF files were posted to the Web.

For questions about the Handbook contents, you can contact the Schools Publications staff at: fsaschoolspubs@ed.gov.

Application and Verification Guide

Updated Files Posted February 28, 2013 - Chapter 4, PP. AVG-81-82. We removed the "When a tax return is unavailable" section in Chapter 4. We will consider whether a similar provision is necessary following the end of tax return processing for 2012.
Updated Files Posted February 28, 2013 - Chapter 4, P. AVG-84. Under the "High school completion" section, we explicitly state that if a school has already obtained during the admission process one of the documents that is acceptable for verifying high school completion, no further document is needed for that requirement.
Updated Files Posted February 28, 2013 - Chapter 4, P. AVG-91. We clarified the guidance under the "Verification status codes" section to show that a code of "S" is reported for all the verification exclusions, except the exclusion for post-enrollment. When a student is selected by the Central Processing System (CPS) for verification, after ceasing to be enrolled at the school and all disbursements have been made, a blank is to be reported for the status code.
Updated Files Posted February 28, 2013 - Chapter 4, P. AVG-106. In the "Notary's Certificate of Acknowledgement" section, the word "provided" was changed to "proved."
Updated Files Posted February 28, 2013 - Chapter 5, PP. AVG-117-118. We updated the page references to Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Publication 17 since the edition for 2012 tax returns became available.

Volume 1: Student Eligibility

Updated Files Posted October 24, 2013 - Chapter 1, P. 1-15. One of the three approved means of regaining Title IV eligibility after an indefinite loss of eligibility due to drug-related convictions was inappropriately removed. The three approved methods are: having the conviction reversed, set aside, or removed from the student's record so that fewer than two convictions for sale or fewer than three convictions for possession remain on the record; successfully completing an approved rehabilitation program, which includes passing two unannounced drug tests from the program; or completing two unannounced drug tests that are part of an approved rehab program, without completing the rest of the program.

Volume 3: Calculating Awards and Packaging

Updated Files Posted November 6, 2013 - Chapter 1, P. 3-7. In the paragraph under the subheading "Programs using standard terms or substantially equal nonstandard terms (term-based)," the second sentence ("For Direct Loans, these terms…") should be disregarded; the guidance does not apply.
Updated Files Posted October 24, 2013 - Chapter 5, P. 3-91. In the 5th paragraph, the third sentence, which begins "A student enrolled in preparatory coursework…" should be disregarded; it contains incorrect guidance. The annual loan limit for undergraduate-level preparatory coursework is $2,625, as stated elsewhere in the chapter. The annual loan limit for preparatory coursework for enrollment in a graduate or professional program is $5,500, as stated elsewhere in the chapter.
Updated Files Posted October 24, 2013 - Chapter 5, P. 3-95. In the last paragraph in the left-hand column, the word "defined" should be replaced with "denied."
Updated Files Posted October 24, 2013 - Chapter 5, P. 3-109. Guidance on assuming the beginning date of an academic year at a prior school when information was unavailable should be disregarded—since academic year dates are available from COD, it is no longer permissible to use the assumption method. Schools must use the data available on the "award detail information page" in the COD web interface.