New Federal Guidelines for Financial Assistance Distribution Announced
Over the years, institutions have asked for guidance on how Passport Student Support Funds (PSSF) may be used, and WSAC has provided the Student Support Fund Guide memo to financial aid administrators and Passport Designated Support Staff (DSS) to provide guidance based on state program laws. Although Passport program laws are flexible, federal financial aid regulations and limits on student budgets have made it difficult for institutions to utilize PSSF to assist Passport students with emergency funding.
We received federal guidance for the 2024-25 school year through a Dear Colleague Letter GEN-23-11, dated 8/4/2023. This correspondence provides us with guidance regarding the impact of emergency aid, such as money provided to institutions through Passport Student Support Funds, the Education and Training Voucher (ETV) program, and extended foster care benefits received by students.
An excerpt from the letter reads:
The new definition of items excluded from consideration as other financial assistance now includes the following two forms of assistance:
- Foster care benefits received under Title IV, Part E, of the Social Security Act, including education and training vouchers and room and board that youth are receiving as extended foster care benefits under Section 477 of that act
- Emergency financial assistance provided to the student for unexpected expenses that are a component of the student’s COA, and not otherwise considered when determining the student’s need
Passport Designated Support Staff should continue working with campus Financial Aid Teams in determining a student’s ability to receive PSSF assistance. Thank you on behalf of the students and we recognize PSSF has been challenging to administer within federal limitations.
If you have any questions about the new policy and how it could impact Passport programming and services on your campus, please contact:
Dawn Cypriano-McAferty, M.S. (she, her, hers)
Assistant Director, Passport to Careers Program
Washington Student Achievement Council
360.753.7846 | 888-535-0747, opt. 3
passport@wsac.wa.gov
