Permission to go over maximum # of weeks for OSAP if program takes slightly longer.. [Archive]

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Syne

Jun 21st, 2012, 07:33 PM

This is going to be a rather obscure question, as most people don't take more than 10 years of post-secondary education - but the program I want to enroll in will take me slightly longer than the maximum number of weeks allowed for OSAP. Does anyone know what will happen?

Possible scenarios I can think of.

1.) I will get the funding, but a lesser amount due to the cap being hit

2.) I won't get the funding because the program takes longer than the max. # of weeks

3.) I will get an exception and be granted full funding for good academic standing.

4.) The # of weeks will be missed in the audit and it won't be an issue.

The problem is, even the financial aid officer I spoke to seemed to have no idea what would happen in this scenario. The reason I need a concrete answer on this is because I'm taking my nursing pre-reqs this year and also graduating with my B.Sc. if I play my cards right. But I need to know if my plan going forward is going to be complicated by this. I don't want any surprises.

P.S. - Please keep all thoughts regarding the amount of time I've been in school to yourself.

Syne

Jun 21st, 2012, 07:56 PM

Once this has been answered, can it be moved with the OSAP sticky? I forgot about it.

CSK'sMom

Jun 22nd, 2012, 02:23 PM

It's my understanding it's a hard rule. There is no leeway and permission can't be granted for an extension... You would only receive funding for the number of weeks you have left on the lifetime max and no more, no matter how much longer the program runs. You'd have to self fund the rest.

SO.. basically if the program was 100 weeks and you only had 60 weeks left on your lifetime max, you'd have to fund those other 40 weeks on your own. Another thing to think about it that it may very well put you in repayment for those 40 weeks as well due to the lifetime max. I'd be surprised if it didn't actually as otherwise I'm sure many would self fund at a 60% courseload just to stay fulltime and out of repayment....

Audience

Jun 22nd, 2012, 04:03 PM

My understanding was that repayment as deferred while in school regardless of how one is funding it. Would OSAP tequire you to drop out to avoid defaulting?

CSK'sMom

Jun 22nd, 2012, 04:50 PM

My understanding was that repayment as deferred while in school regardless of how one is funding it. Would OSAP tequire you to drop out to avoid defaulting?

Good question... My feeling is that once lifetime max is hit for OSAP funding that may not apply any longer. That would mean self funding plus repayment but then RAP would be an option at that point. Just a feeling though as I certainly don't know anyone that has hit the lifetime max, other than Syne of course. :razz: It's not exactly a common occurrence...

BornRuff

Jun 22nd, 2012, 05:20 PM

Even if you do get approved initially, they could very well figure it out sometime after and demand immediate repayment of the funds that you were not entitled to.

When you first started talking about this, I really thought it was an elaborate trolling attempt. Lets hope that is actually the case, or else you have really screwed yourself financially.

Syne

Jun 22nd, 2012, 05:52 PM

MissMalfoy

Jun 22nd, 2012, 10:43 PM

I certainly don't know anyone that has hit the lifetime max, other than Syne of course. :razz: It's not exactly a common occurrence...

It can't be that uncommon. I'll be graduating with about 30 weeks left. I've done one college program and am going into my third year of university (planning to graduate in August 2014 and then doing another year for my BEd). Unless my math is horribly wrong, which is actually possible since I was just recently diagnosed with dyscalculia. But I counted the weeks on a calendar a few times and it came up the same.