2025-26 Claims and Benefit Usage Data Updates and Reminders

12/03/2025

Links in this message go to the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) website (isac.org) unless otherwise noted.

This message provides important reminders regarding the submission of 2025-26 payment requests (claims) and benefit usage data for the first term (fall semester or quarter). Submission of first-term claims and data is done via the ISAC Gift Assistance Programs (GAP) Access portal, which includes the electronic processing systems for the ISAC programs discussed below. You are encouraged to submit 2025-26 first-term claims and/or benefit usage data for your students as soon as possible.

You may scroll through this message, or click on a link to go to a specific section.

Priority Claim Deadline: December 31

Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity (ECACE) Scholarship Program

Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois Program

Nursing Education Scholarship (NES) Program

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

Reminders for Submitting Claims

Benefit Usage Data Deadline: December 31

Illinois National Guard (ING) Grant Program

Illinois Veteran Grant (IVG) Program

ECACE Scholarships

Golden Apple Scholars

NES

  • ISAC is accepting 2025-26 NES claims for the first term.
    • The first-term NES priority claim deadline date is Wednesday, December 31, 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 fall-term benefit usage data for the 2025-26 ING Grant Program.
    • In order to be considered timely, fall-term ING Grant benefit usage data must be submitted on or before Wednesday, December 31, 2025.
  • 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 2025-26 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 fall-term benefit usage data for the 2025-26 IVG Program.
    • In order to be considered timely, fall-term IVG benefit usage data must be submitted on or before Wednesday, December 31, 2025.
  • Although the September 30, 2025 summer-term deadline date has passed, colleges are still encouraged to submit IVG benefit usage data for the summer term 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 2025-26 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, ISAC's 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 [email protected] or calling 866.247.2172.