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I TANF TANF TANF TANF TANF TANF TANF TANF SNAP SNAP SNAP SNAP SNAP SNAP SNAP SNAP • a government program or agency (such as U.S. Office of Education, Veterans Administration). Verify all educational assistance to determine whether it is exempt or non-exempt. Consider loans for education (including loans from relatives or other people) as educational assistance only if payment is deferred. Most educational assistance programs are administered through the U.S. Office of Education under Title IV of the Higher Education Act. A few examples of the most common Title IV educational assistance grants include: • Pell Grants • Stafford Loan Program • Parent Loans for Students (PLUS Loans) • Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants • College Work Study • Carl D. Perkins Loans (title IV, Part E) (formally National Direct Student Loans) Educational assistance is also provided by the National Community Services Act (NCSA) program. Customers are awarded from $1,000 to $4,000 per year of completed services to apply toward past or future educational expenses. Do not count the educational award, as it is always made payable directly to the financial institution or institution of higher learning. The VA provides educational assistance under a number of different programs. Payments are usually made monthly only for those months the veteran is in school. If school attendance is less than full time, the payments may be made less frequently. Dependents and survivors of veterans may also be eligible for educational benefits. Some VA educational benefits are based on contributions by the veteran. • VA educational benefits paid directly to the veteran are counted as unearned income. However, any portion of a grant, scholarship or fellowship used for paying tuition, fees or other necessary educational expenses is excluded from income. • The Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) received by recipients of the Post 9-11 GI Bill cannot be reduced for other educational expenses as this payment is earmarked specifically for shelter expenses- all tuition and fees are paid directly to the school for the benefit of the veteran. 733.1 Educational Assistance General Procedures (toc) The following are procedures for determining countability and budgeting educational assistance. Apply these procedures to students of: • a postsecondary institution, • a school for mentally or physically handicapped, or • a program which provides for completion of a secondary school diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED). INCOME Division of Social Services Eligibility and Payments Manual 26 Jun 26 MTL 09/26 EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE A-733