How Long Does NSFAS Take To Respond To Appeals? – An Appeal is a request made from students to the NSFAS to reconsider its decisions not to award funding. Students write an appeal to the NSFAS to plead with them to rethink and consider them and offer them the financial assistance they need to further their education in the public university or TVET College.
An appeal written by a student should be submitted within 30 days of receiving their application results. To submit your appeal, you must log in to your myNSFAS profile and provide the requested information. After a student has submitted the appeal, it takes the NSFAS 30 days to respond to the appeals.
READ ALO: What Does NSFAS Provisionally Funded Mean?
Appeals are sometimes considered when there have been changes in the student’s household income since the application.
How Long Does The NSFAS Appeal Take?
Typically, it takes the NSFAS about 30 to 60 days from the day of submission but this can vary depending on several factors. Some factors include;
-Volume of appeals; During peak times, especially at the beginning of the academic year, it might take longer due to the huge number of appeals submitted.
-Completeness of your documents; If your appeal includes all the necessary and correct documentations,it’s processed faster but if you have missing or incorrect documents,it can delay the process.
-Communication from NSFAS; You should be receiving updates via the MyNSFAS portal,email or SMS regarding the status of your appeal.
It is very good to be checking your myNSFAS account more often for updates on your appeal.
If your appeal takes longer than 60 days, consider contacting NSFAS directly for clarification.
READ ALSO: What Is The Difference Between The ISFAP And NSFAS
How Do You Know If Your NSFAS Appeal Is Successful?
If you want to know if your NSFAS appeal has been approved, you will need to regularly check your myNSFAS to know your status.Checking your myNSFAS status may include messages about the need for additional documents or further action.
If your status shows “Funded Subject to registration and availability of Funds” it means your appeal has likely been successful. Below is a more detailed explanation.
1. Check your myNSFAS Portal; Log into your myNSFAS account and check the “ Track Application Progress” or “ Application Status “ tab.
2. Look For Specific Status Update; You may be sent a message from the NSFAS via your registered email or cell phone number.
3. Underline the status terms; “Application Submitted” means your application is being processed. “ Documents Missing” means that you will need to upload additional documents.
When you see “Under Review,” it means that your application is being evaluated .
4. “Funded Subject to registration and availability of funds” If you see this on your status,congratulations, your application has been successfully approved for funding.
How Long Does NSFAS Take To Answer Appeals?
The National Student Financial Aid Scheme which is usually known as the NSFAS typically aims to process appeals within 30 days of submission. Students have 30 days to write an appeal letter after being notified about an unsuccessful application. Appeals can be considered when there have been changes in the students household income since application. Response can sometimes vary on the factors such the volume of appeals received and the completeness of your submission.
The process can sometimes take longer and can be extended to six weeks or longer during peak periods. The NSFAS has suggested that there is no fixed turnaround time for appeal and students should check their myNSFAS portals frequently.
READ ALSO: How Much Must Your Parents Earn To Qualify For NSFAS
Can NSFAS Appeal Be Rejected?
Yes, an NSFAS approval can be rejected. Even though the appeal process offers you an opportunity to contest a funding decision, it does not automatically guarantee approval.
The results all depend on the type of specifics of your case and supporting documentation you provided.
Here are some common reasons for NSFAS Appeal Rejection.
1. Exceeding the N+ Rule; The NSFAS sticks to the N+ rule which limits funding to the minimum duration of your qualification (N) plus one additional year. If you exceed this period, there is a high possibility your appeal may be denied.
2. Household Income Above Threshold;If your household income is more than the set limit which is R350,000 per year for most applicants or R600,000 for individuals with disabilities, your appeal may be denied.
3. Academic Ineligibility; If you fail to meet academic requirements such as passing at least 50% of your modules, your appeal will be rejected.
4. Incomplete or Incorrect documentation; Presenting missing documents, outdated or invalid documents can lead to appeal rejection.
5. Late Submission; Appeals must be written within 30 days of receiving the rejection notice.
Late submission can’t be considered no matter what the reason is.
6. Receiving Another Bursary; You can’t be funded by two institutions at the same time,
Why Does NSFAS Reject Appeals
The National Students Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) may reject appeals for various reasons. It would be whether the applicant or continuing student was not able to meet the specific qualifications or administrative requirements. Below are some of the most common reasons.
- Academic Performance; Failing to meet the academic progression requirements. Normally,the applicant is supposed to pass a rate of 50% or higher in enrolled modules or subjects. The NSFAS requires students to meet a certain academic performance standard before the student can continue to receive financial assistance. If you do not pass at least 50% of the subject you are studying and you fail to progress to the next academic year,your appeal would be denied.
- Incomplete or Incorrect Appeal Documentation: An appeal must include all important supporting documents like medical certificates, academic records, death certificates, etc.
Appeal can be denied if required documents are missing, if documents are outdated, unclear or certified. Also if your appeal form is incomplete or incorrectly filled out, your appeal can be rejected.
- Course or Institution Ineligibility: There are certain courses and institutions that are not qualified to receive funding from the NSFAS. Certain private institutions and courses are not accredited. If your program or institution does not meet the standard, your appeal will not be considered.
- Financial Ineligibility: The NSFAS evaluates whether your household income meets the qualified threshold which is currently (R350,000 or R600,000 for students with disabilities). If your financial situation does not fall within the qualifying range,your appeal is more likely to be denied.
- Lacking Valid Motivation: An appeal needs to be presented with a valid reason for reconsideration. A valid reason such as illness, Death of a primary family supporter or parent,documented personal hardship. If your motivation lacks sufficient evidence,your appeal may be considered as invalid.
- Duplicate or Late Submission: Your appeal can be denied if you submit more than one appeal or you miss the submission deadline.
READ ALSO: How Many Students Are Funded By NSFAS
Who Qualifies For NSFAS Appeal?
There are certain criteria you must meet to qualify for an NSFAS appeal .If you meet those criteria and you also have a valid reason, you might be taken into reconsideration. Here are are the types of students who are qualified to submit their NSFAS appeal:
1 If you were previously funded and lost funding due to:
- Failing to meet academic requirements which is not getting at least 50% of the course you are studying.
- Exceeding the N+ Rule which means using more than the given time to complete your degree but having valid reasons such as sickness or death of a family member or parents.
- Getting pregnant and giving birth during the academic term.
- Disability related challenges having an effect on your studies.
In cases like this, you must provide important documents like medical reports or death certificates and a letter from your institution confirming your ability to finish your qualification within an additional academic term.
2. Incorrect Assessment or Data Error: If your application was denied due to an error or missing documents or and incorrect information,you can provide the correct information or outstanding documents at a specific time frame.
3.Change in financial Circumstances:
- A change in your household has come since your initial application. For example:
a. Unemployment of parents or guardians.
b.Death of a primary income earner.
c.Legal separation or divorce affecting financial support.
Such documents can be provided as evidence such as UIF documents or death certificates.
Can I Appeal For NSFAS Twice?
No. You cannot appeal for NSFAS appeal twice in the same academic year.
Every student has the chance to appeal once a year. “ Only One appeal per student per academic year”.This means that once you submit an appeal a particular academic year,you cannot submit a second appeal even if the first appeal was denied.
Also, you should make sure that your first and only appeal is complete,truthful,and supported by strong and valid documents.
If your first appeal is rejected, you will have to wait and reapply for NSFAS funding the following year provided you meet the qualified criteria.
READ ALSO: How To Upload NSFAS Supporting Documents
How Do You Know If Your NSFAS Appeal Is Successful?
If your NSFAS appeal has been successful,your NSFAS portal status will be updated to reflect approval. Here is how to check and understand the outcome.
- Log in to myNSFAS portal: use your ID number and password to log in.
- Check your application status : After logging in, look for “Tracking Fund Progress” or “Application Status”. If your appeal is successful, your status will show “Approved”, “Funding Eligible”, “Awaiting Registration”
3.Check For Notification: NSFAS may also send an email to update you on the outcome of your appeal. Make sure your contact details are correct and up to date .
Usually, the appeal outcomes can take a couple of weeks depending on the volume of the appeal.
If the appeal has been longer than 30 days then you should consider contacting NSFAS directly.
What Does It Mean When An Appeal Is Submitted?
If your NSFAS appeal is marked as submitted, it means that
- You have finished and submitted your appeal application to NSFAS.
- The appeal is now under review by the NSFAS but a decision has not yet been made.
- You may still need to wait for updates.
After that the NSFAS will evaluate your appeal based on :
- Based on the reason you were initially rejected or denied
- Based on the supporting documents you provided. eg. medical report, death certificates etc.
After that, you should monitor your NSFAS portal often for status updates. Also ensure all required documents are uploaded correctly. Relax,appeals can take several weeks to process .
If your status changes from submitted to :
- In Progress which means your appeal is actively being evaluated.
- Approved which means your funding will be approved.
- Unsuccessful which means your appeal was denied.
What To Write When Appealing For NSFAS?
When writing an appeal letter, your aim is to explain to them clearly and honestly why you believe your funding should be restored or approved. Your appeal must include the following:
- A formal and respectful tone .
- A clear explanation of your situation being it financial difficulties or academic difficulties.
- Supporting documents being medical certificates,academic transcripts or death certificates.
- A commitment to improve and change your circumstances.
When writing an appeal, be honest and keep it professional. Keep it to one page if possible.
Attach all important documents before you submit your appeal.
READ ALSO: How Much Is NSFAS Allowance Per Month
Conclusion
To conclude on everything written above, NSFAS appeal is a great opportunity for students whose applications were rejected. The NSFAS appeal gives students a second chance to plead with the NSFAS to rethink and consider them and award them with the financial assistance they need to further their education. If you are considering your education and do not have the financial capability to do so, you can always apply to the NSFAS for assistance. Although there are chances that you will not be accepted into the scheme at the first try, you can always appeal by writing to the board to reconsider you and help you back into the scheme. The scheme allows students the second chance to get the funding the so much need.