FAFSA emails missing some applicants
 
The FAFSA processor has heard from schools that some financial aid applicants, after providing an e-mail address on their FAFSA or PIN application, are not receiving e-mail correspondence. FSA replies that it has researched the issue and found that although the SAR and PIN e-mail messages are being sent to the applicants as they should be, there are several reasons why an e-mail might not reach the inbox of an applicant.
 
Reasons that you may not be receiving important FAFSA messages:
  • Bulk Mail Folders: Some e-mail accounts include a "bulk mail folder" or a "junk mail folder." The SAR or PIN e-mail is sometimes perceived as unsolicited mail and directed into these folders.

Solution: Check all folders in the e-mail account to determine if this has happened. Some e-mail providers (for example, AOL, Earthlink, or Hotmail) may require an e-mail address to be listed in the e-mail address book before allowing delivery to the user's inbox. To ensure that the SAR or PIN e-mail is delivered to the inbox, enter the following originating e-mail address into the address book: cpsnotify@cpsemail.ed.gov.

  • Delivery Failure: Some e-mail does not reach its intended destination. This could be due to a failure on the Internet or heavy e-mail traffic that exceeds an e-mail provider's bandwidth. In addition, because the SAR and PIN e-mail messages contain a hyperlink, the message may be perceived as unwanted e-mail or "spam," and the user's personal e-mail account settings may filter it out.

Solution: The user may wish to contact their e-mail provider if they continue to encounter e-mail delivery problems.

  • Exceeded Mailbox Size Limit: Most e-mail providers limit the amount of space available for e-mail storage. If the user has exceeded the limit, the SAR or PIN e-mail will not be delivered.

Solution: Verify that the mailbox has available storage space.

  • Incorrect E-mail Address: If the user's e-mail address has changed or was typed incorrectly, the SAR or PIN e-mail will not be delivered. E-mail addresses have a strict format that must be adhered to. An e-mail address must have a domain (.com, .edu, .gov, etc.) and cannot begin with "www."

    Solution: Ensure that the e-mail address on your FAFSA is current and that it is typed correctly.

 

 

 3.17.2006