HAPPY NATIONAL CAREER DEVELOPMENT MONTH!

November is National Career Development Month.  NCDM was designed to highlight the importance of life-long career development and the personal empowerment of all people.

Take time to focus on your career development by participating in the Career Development Webinar Series.  Read more about this on NOVA’s ELife blog at https://blogs.nvcc.edu/elife/2017/11/01/happy-national-career-development-month-4/.

Operation Game of Loans

You may have heard of companies saying they can help you by reducing or eliminating student loan debt.  These are often scams that may involve companies requesting an illegal advance fee of up to $1,500.  The company then provides very little (if any) assistance.  In fact, these companies do not do anything that you couldn’t do yourself for free by contacting your loan servicer or the U.S. Department of Education.

Fortunately, the FTC is going after these scammers in a new joint effort with state law enforcement agencies called, “Operation Game of Loans”.  You can read more about the operation here, including tips to avoid scams.

The Equifax Data Breach – What Should You Do?

As you may have heard, the credit reporting agency, Equifax, experienced a major data breach that exposed personal information of 143 million Americans this summer.  Hackers accessed names, social security numbers, birth dates, addresses and in some cases driver’s license numbers and credit card numbers.  So what should you do to protect yourself from identity theft and your information being misused?

Please review the guidance provided by the Federal Trade Commission on the Equifax data breach at https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2017/09/equifax-data-breach-what-do?utm_source=govdelivery and consider following the steps they recommend to protect yourself.

 

IRS Website Update

Attention Students:

The IRS website has been updated, now you can get various Form 1040-series transcript types online or by mail. If you need your prior year Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) to e-file, choose the tax return transcript type when making your request. If you only need to find out how much you owe or verify payments you made within the last 18 months, you can view your tax account.

You could do that by visiting IRS.gov

————Click on the box Get My Tax Record

Option 1: If you would like to retrieve it instantly online, pleasure make sure you have the necessary personal information/records. Login using your IRS Online ID, or Sign Up if you don’t have one.

Easy Access to a New Social Security Card

We have exciting news about a new online service that is available in your state! If you need a replacement Social Security card, you may be able to request it using your personal my Social Security account.

Avoid a trip to the office and waiting in line. Encourage your friends and family to find out whether they can take advantage of this service by visiting www.socialsecurity.gov/ssnumber. We continue to make this service available to other states. Check back often for states added.

Remember to use your account to check your Social Security Statement each year to verify your annual earnings and get an estimate of your future benefits. If you currently receive benefits, you can use your account to get a benefit verification letter, check your benefit and payment information, change your address and telephone number, start or change your direct deposit, or get a replacement SSA-1099 or SSA-1042S for your taxes.

We hope you take advantage of the many services available through your convenient, secure, and free my Social Security account at: www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount.

 

 

 

NOVA Partners with Inceptia for Default Prevention

You’re not alone when it comes to student loans. NOVA has partnered with Inceptia, a division of National Student Loan Program (NSLP), to provide you with FREE assistance on your Federal student loan obligations to ensure successful, and comfortable, loan repayment. Inceptia’s friendly customer representatives may reach out to you if your loan(s) become delinquent.

Inceptia is not a collection agency. We’ve partnered with them to help you explore a wide variety of possibilities such as alternative repayment plans, deferment, consolidation, discharge, forgiveness, and forbearance options. Inceptia will stay in touch with you via phone calls, letters, and/or emails to help you find answers to your questions and solutions to your issues.

When it’s time to start repaying your student loans, don’t get stressed. If you’re confused about repayment plans or feel your loans are too impossible to tackle, we’ve got the money knowledge and resources to help. Inceptia may contact you with information about loan repayment options. Until then, get some loan knowledge from the Knowl at MoneyKnowl.org.

The Financial Aid Greenback – Our Financial Aid Newsletter

Financial Aid Newsletter – GREENBACK_JUNE_17_FINAL

Check out the latest issue of Greenback, our Financial Aid newsletter. This issue: Financial Aid Verification Just Became Easier, Free Financial Coaching, Ineligible Classes, Cash Contest updates, and more. This newsletter is designed to help students and staff members stay up-to-date on the latest and greatest in the world of financial aid.

 

Win Free Textbooks for a Year!

College Avenue will be doing three random drawings this summer for $1,200 gift cards that can be used to buy textbooks.  You may enter the contest at https://www.collegeavestudentloans.com/promos/win-free-books-2017/.

By registering for the contest, you will be opting in to the College Avenue distribution list and you will likely receive emails periodically about paying for college and student loan products.  If you are thinking about borrowing a loan for school, only borrow what you absolutely need and can afford to repay!  You should also apply for federal student aid and consider federal student loans before private alternative loans.  Federal student loans usually have lower interest rates and better repayment terms than private student loans.  You may review NOVA’s guide to applying for financial aid at http://www.nvcc.edu/financialaid/apply/index.html.  Please contact the Support Center if you have any questions.

NOVA Financial Aid Information Blog