Frequently
Asked Questions
Applying for Aid
Eligibility
Awards
Other
Applying for Aid
What forms do I need to
apply for financial aid at Lansing Community College?
All students seeking federal
student aid must complete the Free Application for Federal
Student Aid (FAFSA) or the
Renewal FAFSA soon
after January 1 of the academic year in which you will
attend school. The fastest and best way to apply is online at
www.fafsa.ed.gov
What types of aid programs
am I applying for by filling out the FAFSA?
You are
establishing your eligibility for federal grants like the Pell, Stafford Student
Loans as well as Federal Work Study. In addition,
you must
file the FAFSA to apply for the Michigan Competitive
Scholarship, and other state grants (excluding the MI Merit
Award).
Do I have to submit
anything else if I wish to apply for summer?
Yes.
You will have to complete and submit the “Summer Intent to
Enroll” Form. The form is available on the LCC Financial Aid
website, as well as from the front counter.
Do I need to reapply each
year?
Yes.
You must complete the FAFSA each year if you are requesting
federal student aid. You may begin applying January 1 of the
academic year in which you are attending school. You may also be
asked to provide other documents directly to the LCC Financial
Aid Office in support of your application, like your federal
income tax return.
Should I just go ahead and
send my federal tax return to LCC once it’s completed?
No.
The LCC Financial Aid Office will request a copy of your return,
and other documents, if needed. Every year there are students
selected by the Federal Government to have their FAFSA
financial information verified. Students selected for
verification will receive additional documentation requests
from the Office of Financial aid.
What if LCC requests a
copy of my income tax return and I don’t have one?
If you cannot locate your tax
return, you may request the IRS to provide you with a tax
transcript, which must be signed by you. An IRS Form must
include details for each line of the income tax return. Check
for your closest IRS regional office or call 800-829-1040.
Remember, all income tax forms must be signed.
What if I didn’t file an
income tax return?
If you (your spouse, if
married, or parents, if dependent) earned income from work but
did not file a U.S. income tax return, you must include earnings
in the appropriate box on the FAFSA for “earnings from work” and
check “did not file.”
If you (and spouse/parent)
did not work, you should include any untaxed income, including
support from friends or relatives and other untaxed income as
specified in Worksheets A and B (see page 8 on the FAFSA for
details). If you indicate $0 income on the FAFSA, you may be
required to complete a Non-Filer’s Form detailing how you lived
during the year prior to the academic year with no income.
What if I am
separated/divorced but I have filed a joint tax return?
You should
provide only
your income on the FAFSA. Do not include your spouse’s
income on the FAFSA. In addition, do not include your spouse in
the number in household.
What if I am a dependent
student, my parents filed a joint tax return and they have
separated or they are divorced?
You should only include the
parent’s income with whom you have spent the most time in the
past 12 months. That is the parent that should be counted in the
number in household. If this parent has remarried you must
include the step-parent's financial information on the FAFSA.
Refer to the FAFSA instructions for additional guidance.
What if I am married now
but didn’t file with my spouse last year?
If you are married at the
time you file the FAFSA, you must include your spouse’s
income. Combine your incomes, taxes paid, etc; if you become
married after you submit the FAFSA, do not include your spouse’s
income.
My parents don’t claim me
on their tax return and don’t give me money. Am I considered
independent?
Whether or not your parent(s)
claim you on their income tax return or you work and live away
from home has no bearing on your dependency status. To be
considered independent, you must answer “yes” to at least one of
the questions on the FAFSA in Step Three, relating to student
status.
You must
be able to answer “yes” to at least one of the following as of the date you
complete the FAFSA:
-
Will you be 24 by the end of the calendar year?
-
At the beginning of the school year, will you be working
on a master’s or doctorate program?
-
Are you married?
-
Do you have children who receive more than half of their support
from you?
-
Do you have dependents (other than your children or spouse) who live
with you and who receive more than half of their support
from you now, and will through the academic year?
-
Are both of your parents deceased, or are you or were you (until age
18) a ward/dependent of the court?
-
Are you a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces?
If you are dependent and your
parents live abroad, you must still use their income, but it
must be reflected in U.S. dollars and will be included in the
question on “earnings from work.” There is a foreign currency
conversion at FAFSA on the Web.
When are the FAFSA
deadlines?
The priority date in Michigan is March 1st. The Central Processor must
receive the FAFSA no later than June 30
of the end of the academic year (for the 2008-2009
academic year that would be June 30, 2009).
Eligibility
How is my financial need
determined?
When applying for financial
aid, an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is determined based
on a formula established by the U.S. Congress. The EFC is the
amount you and your family are expected to contribute toward
your education.
LCC determines your Cost of
Attendance (COA), which includes tuition and fees, an off campus
room and board allowance, an estimated cost of books and
supplies, transportation, and other personal expenses. The
equation to determine need is:
COA – EFC = Financial Need.
What if I have special
circumstances?
There are certain situations
that may affect your COA or EFC. Such situations or
circumstances may include loss of income, death in the family,
divorce of you or your parents (if dependent) after you
completed the FAFSA, or childcare paid to an approved childcare
facility.
If you have such a special
circumstance, you must complete the Special Circumstance
document titled “Loss of Income” available at the
front desk of enrollment services, or online at
www.lcc.edu/finaid/forms.htm.
The request will be reviewed by a Financial Aid Advisor to
determine if the situation warrants an increase in COA or a
change to your EFC. You must provide documentation to substantiate your
request.
Is quitting my job to go
back to school considered a special circumstance?
In many cases students who
have experienced a significant loss of income can appeal to have
their eligibility re-evaluated. It would require the same
process as the one referenced in the previous section.
Awards
When will I hear about my
financial aid award?
The earlier you apply the
greater chance you have of receiving your financial aid award
notification early, as long as all information you provide is correct. Your
financial aid file will not be complete until all requested
information has been received and reviewed for accuracy. Once
your file is complete you should receive an award letter within
two to four weeks based on the time of year. You may also view
your financial aid status, including any outstanding document
requests, on Star Port, by entering your LCC “tuid” and
password. If you cannot determine your status, contact the
Office of Student Financial Aid.
Can I have my aid
transferred from another school to LCC?
No.
Financial Aid does not transfer
from one school to another. Each college or university
determines your eligibility when you are in attendance. If you
will be transferring to LCC and you have completed a FAFSA for
the current year, you will need to have your FAFSA information
sent to LCC. This can be accomplished by going to
www.fafsa.ed.gov and
requesting the information be sent to LCC: school code 002278
When will I receive my
student aid credit balance?
If the total amount of your
financial aid award for the term exceeds your tuition and fees
owed to LCC, a refund of any remaining credit balance will be
mailed to your home. Checks are
mailed at the beginning of the first week of a semester, and on a weekly basis
as student financial aid applications become completed,
awarded, and/or accepted.
How do I obtain student
employment?
If you are interested in
applying for student employment you should indicate that on the
FAFSA. If you are eligible for either Federal Work Study, or
Michigan Work Study based on your demonstrated need, it will be
part of your financial aid package. You
may review the available jobs on-line at
www.lcc.edu/ces
You will also need to interact with
the Center for Employment Services once you have selected job
opportunities you wish to pursue. In addition, you can seek
non-need based employment through the center for employment
services as well.
How do I apply for
Stafford Loans?
Subsidized Staffords
If you are interested in
applying for a federal Stafford Student Loan, you should answer
“yes” on the FAFSA to the question, “In addition to grants, are
you interested in student loans?”
The
maximum amount students can borrow each year is based on their
grade levels in school. For example, first year students can
borrow up to $3,500, while second year students can borrow up to
$4,500.These awards are based on at least half-time status (6
hours). Subsidized Stafford Loans currently carry variable
interest rates, but the interest is subsidized by the
federal government while you are enrolled. ALL loan
borrowers must complete and follow the instructions on the loan application available at
www.lcc.edu/finaid/forms.htm or by visiting the Financial
Aid Office.
Unsubsidized Staffords
Unsubsidized
Stafford Loans are not based strictly on demonstrated need. The
amounts that can be borrowed annually in this program will vary
based on the student’s year in school. This loan also has a
variable interest rate; however, the interest rate will become
fixed at 6.8 percent as of July 1, 2006. Interest accrues and is
added to the principal of the loan(s) Students may be eligible
to borrow a combination of Unsubsidized and Subsidized Stafford
Loans. For additional, more specific information regarding
Stafford Loan eligibility and loan aggregates, please go to
Mapping Your Future.
Do I have to pay interest
on my loans while I attend school?
No.
A Subsidized Stafford Loan is
based on your demonstrated need. The interest is paid by the
U.S. Government while you remain in school or a deferment
status.
You may choose to defer your
interest on the Unsubsidized Stafford Loan, but the interest
will accrue and be added to the principal of the loan(s).
In the Federal Stafford Loan
Program repayment begins six months after you leave school or
drop below half-time status (6 hours).
What is a Parent Loan?
If you are considered
dependent based on federal student aid criteria, your parent may
be able to borrow money on your behalf through the Parent Loan
(PLUS) Program. To borrow in the PLUS Program your parent must
pass a credit check required per federal regulation. You will be
notified by the loan lender/guarantor of the approval or
denial. If your parent is denied the loan you may have other
loan options. Check with the Financial Aid Office for details.
The PLUS Application is available at
www.lcc.edu/finaid/forms.htm
What is an Alternative
Loan?
It is a long-term, private
educational loan that is obtained through lending institutions
and non-profit organizations. Typically a credit approval is
required for the applicant or a credit worthy co-signer is
required. Different interest rates and repayment requirements
exist for these programs. Interest accrues and can be added to
the loan principal.
How do I apply for an
alternative loan?
You can apply by selecting an
alternative loan lender on the LCC Financial Aid website and by
completing the loan application from the selected lender.
Approval/Denial notices will be sent from the selected lender.
How do I receive veteran
benefits?
Veterans – Students who served, are serving, or are
dependents of those who were 100% disabled while serving in
the U.S. Armed Forces are eligible to activate their
benefits through LCC. The Office of Enrollment Services has
all the necessary paperwork to activate Chapters 30, 31,
1606, 1607, and 35. Please contact us to assist you in
applying for your benefits. General and detailed information
on this program is available through the Department of
Veteran's Affairs webpage at
http://www.gibill.va.gov/. For more information on Ch.
31 please see the
Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment webpage.
How Can I Apply for my Veteran's
Benefits On-line?
Go to
http://vabenefits.vba.va.gov/vonapp/main.asp
How do I get a copy of my DD214?
Go to
http://www.archives.gov/veterans/evetrecs/index.html
Where can I find
scholarship information?
Scholarship information,
including external scholarship web sites, is provided on the LCC
financial aid web site and in the LCC awards and scholarships
booklet. The booklet can be downloaded from
online and is also
available in the Enrollment Services Department.
What is the
process for receiving financial aid during the summer?
You must submit a
Summer Intent Form. The Office of
Financial Aid will determine your eligibility and send you
an award letter/notification..
If you have a credit balance for the summer a credit balance
check will be mailed to you. You can follow the progress of
your awards and disbursements online through
STAR PORT > Student
Self Service > Finance Tab > Financial Aid > Awards.
Other
Do I have to include
financial aid I received as taxable income on my income tax
return?
Possibly. Student receiving
financial gift aid must report the value of scholarships, and
grants (i.e., Federal Pell Grant) from LCC if the total exceeds
the cost of your tuition, fees, books, and required equipment
and supplies. Loans are not included. For more information,
check with a tax specialist.
Why do I owe LCC money, I
have financial aid?
If you owe LCC money and you
have financial aid then your aid does not cover all of your
tuition and fee charges. You may wish to contact the Financial
Aid Office to see if you may be eligible for additional
assistance. If not, you remain obligated to pay your bill.
How do I purchase my
books?
The purchase of required
textbooks is your responsibility. You can use personal
funds or, if you have received a credit balance check at the
beginning of the term, you can use some of that money.
What is satisfactory
academic progress?
A school's policy concerning
the minimum number of credit hours that students must complete
each semester or academic year, the maximum time frames they
have to complete their academic programs and the minimum
cumulative GPAs that must be achieved and maintained to retain
federal student aid eligibility. Specific collegiate programs
like scholarships may have their own retention requirements. For
additional information about this policy
click
here.
If I drop a class will I
lose financial aid?
Possibly.
You should contact the Financial Aid Office for additional
information.
What happens if I withdraw
from school?
If you withdraw from classes,
drop below half-time status, or drop out of school, your
financial aid may be reduced or cancelled, and you may have to
repay a portion of the aid you have previously been paid. The amount of
repayment would be based on a formula established by the U.S.
Department of Education. If you have any questions, please
contact the Office of Student Financial Aid before you withdraw
to determine if you will be required to return any portion of
your financial aid.
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