A bipartisan group of representatives introduced a bill late last month to help students who are working and/or have dependents access financial aid by extending students’ lifetime Pell Grant eligibility and raising the allowable income threshold for Title IV aid.
The bill — dubbed the Strengthening Financial Aid for Students Act — was introduced by Rep. Antonio Delgado (D-NY), and co-sponsored by Reps. Don Young (R-AK), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), and Jeff Van Drew (D-NJ).
“Many students go to school while working, raising a family, or pursuing other goals, causing their degrees to take longer and cost more,” Van Drew said in a statement. “The Strengthening Financial Aid for Students Act increases support for these students, as well as those pursuing traditional paths, by increasing the Pell Grant awards and availability.”
Specifically, the legislation would increase the number of semesters for which a student may receive Pell Grant funding from 12 to 14, and raise the income protection allowance (IPA) by 35% (with annual increases based on the Consumer Price Index), which would keep more of a student’s earnings from being counted in their Expected Family Contribution (EFC).