R 395.75 Post-secondary education and vocational training financial needs test.

Rule 25. (1) College or vocational training may be provided as an IPE-related service when an individual requires new knowledge and skills to achieve an employment goal consistent with the individual’s abilities, capabilities, and informed choice. (2) Individuals shall make maximum effort to secure grant assistance in whole or in part from other sources to pay for post-secondary training. Counselors shall inform individuals considering post-secondary education that the individuals shall make timely annual application for post-secondary financial aid. (3) MRS shall not provide financial assistance for any item covered in the cost of training attendance if the individual, or individual’s family as applicable, fails to make maximum effort to apply for, or refuses to accept, federal, state, institutional, and other grants, need-based scholarships, or tuition waivers for which they may be eligible. (4) Financial support for college or vocational training must be consistent with MRS’ policy of purchasing the service that meets the individual’s vocational rehabilitation needs at least cost to MRS. (5) MRS shall impose a financial needs test for the student’s cost of attendance of training at a post-secondary educational institution. The financial needs test utilized must be the federally established needs test using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or its equivalent, as required by the post-secondary institution, to determine student eligibility for state and federal financial aid. (6) MRS shall not replace the expected family contribution, as determined by the post- secondary institution’s financial aid officer using the federal student aid report, in contributing toward the individual’s cost of attendance at a post-secondary institution. (7) MRS shall not replace insurance benefits received, wholly or in part, as a settlement of liability for vocational rehabilitation services, in contributing toward the individual’s cost of attendance at a post-secondary institution. (8) MRS may provide maximum financial support toward an individual’s cost of college or vocational training during the academic year of $3,500.00 and $1,200.00 for the summer semester. MRS may consider an exception to the maximum when other forms of student aid are excluded due to disability-related factors. MRS shall periodically adjust the maximum financial support figures in accordance with increases in the cost of living. (9) Individuals who are eligible for social security benefits under Title II and XVI of the social security act, 42 USC 401 to 434 and 1381 to 1383f, shall be exempted from financial need test requirements. (10) Individuals attending Michigan Career and Technical Institute are exempt from financial need test requirements and financial aid limitations for the cost of attendance.