JB Pritzker, Governor, State of Illinois

2024-25 Claims and Benefit Usage Data Updates and Reminders

04/01/2025

Unless otherwise noted, links in this message are to corresponding pages at the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) website (isac.org).

As of yesterday (Monday, March 31, 2025), the ISAC Gift Assistance Programs (GAP) Access portal – which includes the electronic processing systems for the ISAC programs discussed below – is available for submission of third-term (spring for quarter schools) payment requests (claims). Colleges are encouraged to submit 2024-25 claims and/or benefit usage data as soon as possible.

You may either scroll through the remainder of this message, or click on the appropriate link(s) to go directly to a specific section.

Submitting Claims

Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity (ECACE) Scholarship Program

Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois Program

Illinois Graduate and Retain Our Workforce (iGROW) Tech Scholarship Program

Minority Teachers of Illinois (MTI) Scholarship Program

Nursing Education Scholarships (NES)

Post-Master of Social Work School Social Work Professional Educator License Scholarship (Social Work Scholarship) Program

Reminders for Submitting Claims

Submitting Benefit Usage Data

Illinois National Guard (ING) Grant Program

Illinois Veteran Grant (IVG) Program

ECACE Scholarships

  • ISAC is accepting 2024-25 ECACE Scholarship claims for the third term (spring quarter).
    • The third-term ECACE priority claim deadline date is Friday, May 30, 2025.
  • Even though the ECACE priority claim deadlines have passed for the first (December 31, 2024) and second (March 31, 2025) terms, ISAC is continuing to accept and pay these claims through May 30, 2025.
  • Colleges may submit claims by accessing the ECACE system.
  • More information regarding ECACE payment functionality, including detailed instructions, is available at the following locations:

Golden Apple Scholars

  • ISAC is accepting 2024-25 Golden Apple claims for the third term (spring quarter).
    • The third-term Golden Apple priority claim deadline date is Friday, May 30, 2025.
  • Even though the Golden Apple priority claim deadlines have passed for the first (December 31, 2024) and second (March 31, 2025) terms, ISAC is continuing to accept and pay these claims through May 30, 2025.
  • Colleges may submit claims by accessing the Golden Apple system.
  • More information regarding Golden Apple payment functionality, including detailed instructions, is available at the following locations:

iGROW Tech Scholarships

MTI Scholarships

  • ISAC is accepting 2024-25 MTI Scholarship claims for the third term (spring quarter).
    • The third-term MTI priority claim deadline date is Friday, May 30, 2025.
  • Even though the MTI priority claim deadlines have passed for the first (December 31, 2024) and second (March 31, 2025) terms, ISAC is continuing to accept and pay these claims through May 30, 2025.
  • Colleges may submit claims by accessing the MTI system.
  • More information MTI payment functionality, including detailed instructions, is available at the following locations:

NES

  • ISAC is accepting 2024-25 NES claims for the third term (spring quarter).
    • The NES priority claim deadline date for the third term is Friday, May 30, 2025.
  • Even though the NES priority claim deadline date has passed for the first and second terms (March 31, 2025), ISAC is continuing to accept and pay these claims through May 30, 2025.
  • Colleges may submit claims by accessing the NES system.
  • More information regarding NES payment functionality, including detailed instructions, is available at the following locations:

Social Work Scholarships

Reminders for Submitting Claims

  • Colleges are always encouraged to submit claims as soon as they are able to do so.
    • Regularly check the "Payment List" for each program's system (within the GAP Access portal) to identify newly-added records that are available for payment.
    • The timely submission of claims and cancellations/adjustments allows ISAC staff to monitor remaining funds and award other students, as applicable.
  • By submitting a claim for an ISAC-administered gift assistance program, the institution is confirming that the student is enrolled and continues to meet all eligibility requirements for the program.
    • If not submitting a claim, the institution reports the reason for the student's ineligibility.
  • Submitting claims is a two-step process, which involves generating the request (either individually or in a batch) and then submitting the request.
  • Payment results are available in the program's corresponding component in GAP Access on a daily basis.
    • Colleges are encouraged to always review the Payment Results/Exceptions report, which is available the day after claims are processed.
  • The disbursement of funds is processed by the State Comptroller's Office.
  • Because Payment Offset and Reconciliation procedures apply to each of the programs referenced above, refund checks should not be sent for cancellations/adjustments made throughout the award year.
    • Funds should only be returned to ISAC after a final reconciliation has been completed at the end of the regular school year.

ING Grant

  • ISAC continues to accept spring-term benefit usage data for the 2024-25 ING Grant Program.
    • In order to be considered timely, spring-term ING Grant benefit usage data must be submitted on or before Friday, May 30, 2025.
  • Although the fall-term deadline date has passed, colleges are still encouraged to submit ING Grant fall-term benefit usage data as soon as possible.
  • ING Grant benefit usage data is submitted to ISAC by colleges via the benefit usage functionality within the ING Grant system.
    • Colleges report enrollment hours and dollar amounts for initial, in-district and out-of-district benefit usage by students, as well as adjustments to previously-submitted data.
  • Even though ISAC may not be able to fully reimburse institutions for 2024-25 ING Grant awards, reporting of benefits used must still take place so that usage can be accurately reflected on students' accounts.
  • Colleges are encouraged to regularly check their Benefits Results report for this program.
  • More information, including detailed instructions, is available at the following locations:

IVG

  • ISAC continues to accept spring-term benefit usage data for the 2024-25 IVG Program.
    • In order to be considered timely, spring-term IVG benefit usage data must be submitted on or before Friday, May 30, 2025.
  • Although the summer- and fall-term deadline dates have passed, colleges are still encouraged to submit IVG benefit usage data for those terms as soon as possible.
  • IVG benefit usage data is submitted to ISAC by colleges via the benefit usage functionality within the IVG system.
    • Colleges report enrollment hours and dollar amounts for initial, in-district and out-of-district benefit usage by students, as well as adjustments to previously-submitted data.
  • Even though ISAC may not be able to fully reimburse institutions for 2024-25 IVG awards, reporting of benefits used must still take place so that usage can be accurately reflected on students' accounts.
  • Colleges are encouraged to regularly check their Benefits Results report for this program.
  • More information, including detailed instructions, is available at the following locations:

Watch for Future Updates

Any future program updates will be shared with colleges via ISAC's standard methods of communication, including: the "Program News" area for each program; the FAA Message Board; and, this e-Messaging service.

You are receiving this message because you registered for ISAC's e-Messaging service through one or more subscription groups for FAAs.

If you have any questions, please contact School Services by sending an e-mail to isac.schoolservices@illinois.gov or calling 866.247.2172.