Submit 2025-26 Claims and Benefit Usage Data for Second Term

01/16/2026

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

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 second-term (winter for quarter schools; spring for semester schools) records. Colleges are encouraged to submit 2025-26 second-term payment requests (claims) and/or benefit usage data as soon as possible.

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Priority Claim Deadline: March 30

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: May 29

Illinois National Guard (ING) Grant Program

Illinois Veteran Grant (IVG) Program

ECACE Scholarships

  • ISAC is accepting 2025-26 ECACE Scholarship claims for the second term.
    • The second-term ECACE priority claim deadline date is Monday, March 30, 2026.
  • Even though the priority claim deadline of December 31, 2025 has passed for the first (fall) term, ISAC is continuing to accept and pay ECACE first-term claims through March 30, 2026.
  • Colleges may submit claims for the first and second terms 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 2025-26 Golden Apple claims for the second term.
    • The second-term Golden Apple priority claim deadline date is Monday, March 30, 2026.
  • Even though the priority claim deadline of December 31, 2025 has passed for the first (fall) term, ISAC is continuing to accept and pay Golden Apple first-term claims through March 30, 2026.
  • Colleges may submit claims for the first and second terms by accessing the Golden Apple system.
  • More information regarding Golden Apple payment functionality, including detailed instructions, is available at the following locations:

NES

  • ISAC is accepting 2025-26 NES claims for the second term.
    • The second-term NES priority claim deadline date is Monday, March 30, 2026.
  • Even though the priority claim deadline of December 31, 2025 has passed for the first (fall) term, ISAC is continuing to accept and pay NES first-term claims through March 30, 2026.
  • Colleges may submit claims for the first and second terms by accessing the NES system.
  • More information regarding 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 and then submitting the request.
  • Payment results are available via the program's electronic system 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 is accepting spring-term (second semester/second & third quarter) benefit usage data for the 2025-26 ING Grant Program.
    • In order to be considered timely, spring-term ING Grant benefit usage data must be submitted on or before Friday, May 29, 2026.
  • 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 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 is accepting spring-term (second semester/second & third quarter) benefit usage data for the 2025-26 IVG Program.
    • In order to be considered timely, spring-term IVG benefit usage data must be submitted on or before Friday, May 29, 2026.
  • 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 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

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 email to [email protected] or calling 866.247.2172.