If a Student Enrolls After the Census Date, Can We Count the First Time He Enrolls As the Pell Recalculation Date and Award Pell Based On That Date?

If an institution does not perform an initial calculation of a student’s Federal Pell Grant until after the Pell recalculation date (PRD), the initial calculation would be based on the student’s enrollment intensity as of the date the initial calculation is performed. If the student is not enrolled on the date of the initial calculation, an institution can perform the initial calculation based on a projected enrollment intensity.

An initial calculation is the first calculation that is made on or after the date the school has received an ED-produced student aid index (SAI), such as the student’s initial FAFSA Submission Summary (FSS) or Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR) with an official SAI, and uses the enrollment intensity at the time of the initial calculation. If you’ve estimated the student’s eligibility prior to receiving an FSS or ISIR for the student, you must confirm prior estimated eligibility or determine the student’s eligibility at the time the FSS or ISIR is received.

You should document the date that you initially calculate a student’s Pell Grant. The earliest date is the date of receipt of an ED-produced SAI, such as on an FSS or ISIR, assuming the school has a documented or projected enrollment status for the student. If you fail to document the date of the initial calculation, you must use the later of (a) the date that the FSS or ISIR is first received and the student’s enrollment intensity as of that date or (b) the date the student enrolls.

Your school is considered to have received the ISIR on the date it was processed by the FAFSA Processing System (FPS). This date is labeled “Processed Date” on the ISIR. In the case of an FSS, your school is considered to have received it on the date processed unless you document a later date.

Note: An ED-produced SAI may be an SAI from a FSS/ISIR, FAFSA Partner Portal, or online FAFSA. 

See Volume 7, Chapter 7 of the FSA Handbook.

Student Aid Reference Desk: For additional information, try the Student Aid Reference Desk. It is a central hub of all the important financial aid resources you need with direct links to legislation, regulation, Dear Colleague Letters, and other ED and NASFAA references. It is updated on a rolling basis with the latest news and changes.