What Can Be Done After Months Of No Response While NSFAS Application Is Under Investigation
The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) provides a necessary service for thousands of South African students. Access to NSFAS funding means many South African students have the opportunity to obtain a higher education. Unfortunately, many prospective students find their application ends up under investigation for months and they receive little to no feedback about their application status or about a final decision.
Having your application under investigation for an extended period of time creates a lot of stress and financial strain. Students find it extremely difficult to register for classes, pay tuition, or find affordable housing to support them while they study. Although it is understandable why many South African students feel that they should give up, there are steps that can and should be taken to follow up on your application.
There can be a number of delays that cause your application to be under investigation for months. Your application being under investigation for a long period of time does not necessarily mean that there is an issue with your application. Often it is the case that they are verifying information.
Some of the common issues that cause application delays include:
1. NSAFS Application Income Verification Delays
NSFAS might be cross verifying the financial information that you provided with various government records. Delays can occur if there is a mismatch in the household income and the official records. There may also be issues where a parent or guardian’s financial status cannot be verified. Delays can be caused when affidavits are submitted, but there are discrepancies and records in the database.
2. Problems with Identity Verification
Your application may be put on hold until NSFAS can confirm that you have a South African ID number. NSFAS may also hold your application until it can confirm information regarding your parents/guardians or information from the Department of Home Affairs. Even the smallest discrepancies in names, surnames, or ID numbers can cause an investigation.
3. Documents are Either Missing or are Unclear
Applications tend to come under investigation when documents are either:
– Missing
– Uploaded files are impossible to read
– Certified copies are either old or unclear
– Unnecessary supporting evidence is submitted
4. Duplicate Applications?
If NSFAS believes that you have submitted more than one application, they will come under investigation to determine which application is valid.
5. Academic Eligibility Checks
NSFAS may be reviewing:
– Your status of academic registration
– Requirements of academic progress
– Your funding history
– Your eligibility for funding for the current year
Delays may occur when your institution has not provided the requested information.
6. Fraud Prevention Investigations
NSFAS may come under investigation if:
– Information appears inconsistent
– Documents may be fraudulent
– Applicants are using the same supporting information
– There are concerns regarding funding
If you are under investigation, there is a possibility that you may not have committed fraud.
7. System/Administrative Backlogs
Most of the time the delays have nothing to do with the student. NSFAS processes hundreds of thousands of applications each year. Delays may be caused by:
– High application volume
– Short staff
– Problems with a technology system
– Delays in receiving information from other government departments.
8. Issues with Past Funding, Appeals or other
A case will be re-examined if you have been funded in the past, either through NSFAS or through some other means, due to:
Previous Funding Dispute
Outstanding Academic Requirements
Previous Appeals
Historical Record Verification
An investigation itself does not mean your application will be denied, however, very often NSFAS requires additional time to confirm all details before a decision is made on your case.
Stay Calm and Gather Documents
Your first priority is to be patient and continue to monitor the situation on a daily basis. It is typical to become anxious when you have been waiting an extended period of time with no response to your funding application, especially when your studies depend on the outcome of that investigation. Therefore, it is important that you do not speculate on what the outcome of your investigation will be.
You will need to check back often to your NSFAS portal and review your application to ensure there are no notifications or requests for documentation or updates regarding applications. Applicants occasionally miss important communications that require immediate action regarding their applications.
You will want to make sure you have a copy of the following to use when communicating with a representative from NSFAS when necessary:
NSFAS application reference number
Identity Document
Proof of Income
Records of your Grades/Transcripts
Registration Documentation
Any Correspondence with NSFAS
If your application is currently under review and hasn’t completed the review process for several months, you should make contacting NSFAS your top priority. Many delays occur because the applicant assumes NSFAS will keep them updated on the status of their application.
When you contact NSFAS:
Have your reference number ready.
Explain how long your application has been in review.
Ask if you need to submit any additional documentation.
Ask for an estimated timeline when the review will be completed.
You must also maintain a professional and courteous tone in all communications. Keep a detailed record of the dates of your calls, emails, and any responses you receive.
If you later need to escalate the issue, you will use the records from your communications with NSFAS for that purpose.
Submit Any Outstanding Documentation Immediately
One of the most common reasons for an extended review process is the absence of, or unclear documentation. You need to ensure that you have provided all of the necessary documentation to NSFAS.
Some examples of the types of documents that may be requested are:
Certified copies of your identification documents.
A death certificate for your parent(s) or guardian(s).
Proof of your guardianship.
Confirmation letters from SASSA certifying that you are in attendance at a postsecondary institution.
Your most recent pay stub or an affidavit confirming your income.
Transcripts indicating that you are in good standing at your current post-secondary educational institution.
If you do not provide any required documentation on time, it may prolong the amount of time it will take for NSFAS to resolve your application.
At all times, ensure that any documentation you have provided:
Is legible.
Has been certified, if appropriate.
Has been submitted in the appropriate format.
Was uploaded to the correct NSFAS application portal.
Involve Your Financial Aid Office
Your university or technical school’s financial aid office is a great resource, but is often overlooked by students. They have a strong connection with NSFAS and may help expedite your application process if delays occur.
To get help from your campus financial aid office, you will need to provide:
Your NSFAS reference number
A summary of your issue
Any documents you have that are related to the issue.
Campus financial aid officers may find issues with applications that students cannot see in the student portal and they may offer suggestions for temporary funding while your application is being reviewed and processed.
Check Your Email and SMS Notifications Regularly
NSFAS communicates with students through email and SMS notifications, so missing just one of communications from NSFAS can delay your application even worse.
Students should:
Check their email inboxes every day.
Check their junk/spam folders.
Make sure that their contact information is correct in the NSFAS database.
Have an active mobile phone number.
Your application will get processed as faster if you respond to NSFAS’s request for information quickly.
Use Official NSFAS Sources of Information
Don’t only rely on social media groups, your friends or unofficial sources of information to know what’s going on with your application, or to find out what the process looks like — these sources may provide useful insight from other students, but only NSFAS can provide you with definitive and accurate information about the status of your application.
When using official forms of communication, ensure to confirm any information prior to proceeding.
When creating an email message, ensure to include:
Your full name
Identity number
Application reference number
Contact details
An abbreviated description of the situation you require assistance with
Clear and effective communication tends to provide a quicker response for assistance.
If a reasonable period of time has passed without meaningful feedback then there may be a need to escalate your issue.
When escalating:
Reference earlier corresponding communication you have provided.
Keep a record of your attempts to contact for assistance.
Indicate how delaying of your issue is affecting you as a student.
Request that your issue be honoured immediately.
The escalation process should be professional in nature and not confrontational. Sending emotional messages or threats rarely provides a positive outcome.
Submitting a well-documented file containing your repeated attempts to follow-up, should encourage an improvement in the attention you receive.
Continue with Your Academic Responsibilities
Students should focus on completing their studies whilst they await the outcome of an investigation. Students should not assume that because they have been under investigation, that they will stop their academic obligations.
If you are allowed to register provisionally, you should:
Be present in classes
Fulfil all assignment requirements
Take all tests and exams
Remain in contact with your academic advisor
Continuing to progress academically, regardless of the status of your funding, will help you avoid further complications in the future.
Seek Temporary Financial Assistance Options
While you are waiting for a decision regarding funding finalisation from NSFAS, prolonged periods of time can place considerable financial strain on both you and your family. Therefore, you may wish to understand temporary options available to assist you through this transitional period prior to the final decision from NSFAS being received.
Options for funding include:
Institutional hardship assistance
Payment arrangements with the college
Private scholarships
Community sponsorship
Assistance from family, when available.
While there is not a funding source that will replace NSFAS entirely, these alternatives enable students to continue their studies while in a state of uncertainty.
Knowing Your Rights as an Applicant
Applicants have the right to fair and transparent treatment throughout the funding process, with an expectation of:
Clearly defined communication
Reasonable timelines
Opportunities to provide supplemental documentation
Access to appeal procedures, if applicable.
Being aware of these rights allows students to advocate on their behalf.
It is important to understand that NSFAS processes numerous applications each year, which contributes to potential delays.
Do Not Submit False Information
NSFAS may investigate any application when information is suspect or inconsistent with the information provided. If a discrepancy is found, it may further complicate your application.
You should not do any of the following:
Submit false income information
Submit false documentation
Misrepresent the circumstances of the family
Provide an incorrect identity.
If the mistake was legitimate and occurred during the application process, please notify NSFAS immediately, with the revised data.
Honesty and transparency will go a long way in resolving investigations.
I’d like to share with you some ideas about how extended uncertainty can have an adverse effect on one’s mental well-being. Many students will be feeling stressed, anxious, frustrated, or hopeless; therefore it is important to look into support from:
1. University counseling services
2. Family members
3. Close friends
4. Academic advisors
5. University support centers
Having discussions about what difficulties you have been facing will help to alleviate emotional pressure while also helping to make better choices during more challenging times.
In addition, hope for a positive outcome, but be prepared if your outcome does not work in your favour.
Outcomes can be one of four: Your application is approved, conditional approval; requests for additional information or a rejection because you do not qualify.
If your funding has been denied, then you should begin looking at appeals as well as options for other funding as soon as possible.
It is useful to have documentation in support of your application.
Refer to the following type(s) of documentation:
Emails
Text messages (SMS)
Screenshots of applications
Documents submitted through an application
Dates and times of telephone calls made plus the name(s) of the official(s) you spoke to.
In the event of a dispute or when you require further escalation to have your application revised/submitted another way, a complete record will provide strength to your argument in your favour.
Stay the Course
Persistence is key when dealing with long investigations. Students that follow up are much more likely to receive updates. Students of all backgrounds should make follow up a top priority throughout their time at University to stay informed and be proactive.
Make it a priority in your daily routine to:
- – Check the application status.
- – Follow up with NSFAS.
- – Reach out to the financial aid office.
- – Take a look at the communication channels.
Remember that balance is key. Always have a level of professionalism and patience.
In Conclusion
Months of waiting with no explanation for the status of your NSFAS application is unnerving to say the least. It adds anxiety to registration and affects productivity and finances. Luckily students do have some agency to ease the burden while the investigation is ongoing.
There are multiple ways students can actively deal with the situation including regular status checks of the application, clear communication with NSFAS, sending required documents as soon as possible, and maintaining a record of all financial aid office visits, documented aid received, and all other financial aid communication. Be proactive about these while you search for other possible ways to fund your needs in the meantime. You can bring a lot to the table by being informed, well documented, patient, and persistent. While investigations are a lengthy process, follow up and keep documents proactive as much as possible for the best clarity and most favorable outcome.
