Financial Aid Blues
By jswindell10
@jswindell10 (417)
United States
December 7, 2012 1:25pm CST
A couple of days ago, my school contacted me to let me know that I was ineligible to receive any more financial aid due to my name issues. My birth name and working name are slightly different but both are unusual so I don't see what the problem is.
Though I understand that security measures have to be taken and my school has copies of my ID and SS records (with both names) but now I have to come in to make an appointment.
Not happy because this will take time and I wish I could just send this by email or make an appointment by phone but there is no answer.
The Winter session is coming up in less than a month and I only have a couple of classes left to receive my certificate.
Has anyone been in a similar situation? What did you do?
I can't go back to working in an office for low pay that barely makes rent.
3 responses
@michie198 (32)
•
8 Dec 12
I have not had this particular issue with financial aid but I have had A LOT of financial aid issues in the past as an independent student and providing documentation. I am very familiar with verifying names though as an HR assistant. Anyone who had a name that was one way on an ID and another way on the social security card could not work, no exceptions.
Even though they have copies of your ID's with both names my guess is the school is going through an internal records audit. My job does something similar where all employee records are audited and everything must match. If they do not the employee has to come in and refill out documents, not through the mail.
My advice would just be to go to the social security office and have the correct spelling placed on your card. They will ask you to verify the spelling with documentation i.e. a passport. If the issue is not with the social but the backup documentation i.e. passport, state ID then you have to go to those places to get your name to match your social. The social security office takes 2 weeks to give new cards but they give you an instant receipt that is accepted by most places even state institutions.
@jswindell10 (417)
• United States
8 Dec 12
Thank you michie,
That was the answer I was looking for. Fortunately, my ss card/work name are the same so I hope when I go down there they just place the money in hard or tell me when I can expect it. It's only the elimination of my first name so hopefully, it doesn't take that long.
@WakeUpKitty (8694)
• Netherlands
7 Dec 12
The only thing you can do is go over and give them what they want, or at least make them understand how or what. There is no other option and no matter if you are happy to go over or not, since you need it it's worth to take the time for it.
@jswindell10 (417)
• United States
7 Dec 12
Yep...the truth hurts.
I have tried 3x to reach someone to no avail so I will have to go down there first thing Monday morning. Will keep everyone posted!
@LovingMyBabies (85127)
• Valdosta, Georgia
7 Dec 12
I am so sorry. The financial aid process is a pain in the neck to begin with. I just went through the process for the second time and it is horrible! So annoying. I have never been in that situation before so sorry I cannot help. I just filed for financail aid yesterday hoping to get it in time for me to go to school in January. It's going to be cutting it close but I had to try! I hope it all gets straightened out for you soon so you can go too! Good luck with it.
