<p>We’ve been receiving food stamps for over a year now, however the only documentation proving so (that we can find) is from March 2011 to August 2011 (it has to be reviewed and renewed every 6 months). It did get renewed and in fact just expired this month and has been approved to be renewed for March 2012. Is the 6-month period that I have (March to August 2011) good enough to send in, or do I need more? Since we don’t have any more recent documentation, should I include a note explaining what I just explained here?</p>
<p>Are you being asked to verify it? If you are being asked to verify it, I would call the social worker in charge of your case and ask for a letter of verification. If that doesn’t work, I would send in the 2011 paperwork. Frankly, I believe the look-back period for means-tested benefits is two years, not one, but those things can change so maybe a financial aid counselor will weigh in.</p>
<p>What you have is most likely a face to face letter giving you an appointment to come in to have your case reviewed. The college will not accept that. You will most likely have to go to social services and get what is called a budget letter (they will know what it is). The budget letter will state how many people are in your household receiving benefits and the amount of the family’s monthly benefits. have multiple copies made so that each school will receive a copy.</p>
<p>Wow, I’m glad I asked, as I didn’t think it’d be this far off from being okay. Should I send in what we do have and then wait to see what CollegeBoard / my colleges say they need?</p>
<p>@2college: Yes, it was on my list of required documents to send in.</p>
<p>The college board is not going to “say” anything, they are just going to scan in what you sent. The financial aid department may end up considering your file incomplete. </p>
<p>You can send in what you have, however, it has been my experience working with students who needed the letter that without it (for out state opportunity programs), you will they did not move forward in the process and could not get a complete financial aid package. </p>
<p>Perhaps your mom can call social services, and ask them about dropping by to pick up the letter. It is not a hard process to get one.</p>
<p>So if a packet is incomplete, they’re not going to take any steps to inform you and give you a chance to rectify the issue, whatever it may be? How does somebody who didn’t know that they needed a letter from social services do this properly on their first try if there’s no feedback system?</p>
<p>I guess that the expectation is that the student seek clarification from the university itself. I made the call on the behalf of my students, some schools have the specifics located on their website.</p>