FAFSA Comment Codes
When the U.S. Department of Education processes a FAFSA, the processor may place a
C code on the applicant’s Student Aid Report (SAR). This code acts as an alert for
the student and the Financial Aid Office to indicate that the student cannot receive
aid until a given issue is resolved.
Default
If you are notified that you are not entitled to Title IV student loans because your
application for financial aid states that you are in default, usually, if you make
six consecutive payments on your defaulted student loan debt, the lender will provide
you with a default clearance letter. You can then forward it to the Southeastern Financial
Aid Office. After our review and approval, you will regain eligibility to receive
Title IV funds.
You can check the status of your file and the history of your student loans by visiting
the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS).
If you have already paid your loans but your status still shows you are in default,
contact your lender or the Department of Education at 1-800-433-3243 (Toll Free) and ask them to provide you with your default clearance letter.
Overpayment
An overpayment means that you received grant funds in excess of your eligibility.
When the NSLDS indicates that you have received at least one overpayment of federal
student aid funds, you are required to repay the excess. You are not eligible to receive
any federal student aid until your overpayment is resolved.
To resolve a Pell overpayment issue, call the Department of Education at 1-800-621-3115 (Toll Free). They will provide you with options to clear this issue. Once your overpayment
is cleared, the Department of Education will provide you with an overpayment clearance
letter that you can submit to the Southeastern Financial Aid Office. After our review
and approval, you will be again entitled to receive Title IV funds.
Loan Limits
According to your school level (graduate or undergraduate), there is an established
amount of funds you can borrow during a lifetime. If you are close to reaching the
limit or have exceeded it, you might not be able to borrow more to help you cover
the cost of your tuition.
You can check the status of your file and the history of your student loans by visiting
the NSLDS. If you have exceeded your loan limit, we have other options available to
help you cover the cost of your tuition. Ask your Financial Aid Counselor about alternative
loan options to fund your education.
Permanently Discharged Student Loans
Students who in the past had their loans discharged for medical conditions are not
entitled to receive Title IV aid unless an official doctor’s certification is submitted,
which states that the student has the ability to engage in substantial gainful activity,
along with a signed personal statement, which states that as a student, you are aware
that the new FSA loan cannot be discharged later for any present impairment unless
it deteriorates so that you are again totally or permanently disabled.