The agency says it resumed fraud checks after discovering funds went to ineligible or deceased recipients.
The U.S. Department of Education has uncovered nearly $90 million in federal student aid that was disbursed to people who were not eligible, including thousands of deceased individuals, it said on Wednesday.
The agency released the findings on May 28 as part of a broader effort to restore oversight tools and reduce fraud in federal student aid programs. Officials said the improper payments occurred over the past three years and were tied in part to lapses in verification systems that had been paused.
“From start to finish—filling out the FAFSA [Free Application for Federal Student Aid] form to loan repayment—the American taxpayer underwrites federal student aid programs,” Education Secretary Linda McMahon said in a statement. “We are committed to protecting and responsibly investing their hard-earned dollars.”
According to the department, more than $30 million went to recipients who were listed as deceased. A cross-check with the Social Security Death Index flagged the error. Officials said they have strengthened real-time data-sharing with the Social Security Administration to help prevent similar mistakes in the future.
Other cases involved identity fraud and immigration-related ineligibility. In March, the department resumed flagging suspicious FAFSA applications using data models designed to catch inconsistencies or signs of identity misuse. A recent review found that nearly $40 million in Direct Loans and $6 million in Pell Grants were issued to people who did not qualify.
Officials said individuals granted immigration parole status—temporary permission to remain in the country—are not immediately eligible for aid. To better identify these cases, the department said it has received updated data from the Department of Homeland Security.
An additional $10 million in improper Direct Loan payments was linked to a pause in a system known as the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) post-screening. The NSLDS process alerts financial aid offices when a student has reached federal limits or had a change in eligibility. That tool was restored earlier this year, the department said.
The department added that many of the protections and processes being resumed were in place before the COVID-19 pandemic but had been delayed or deprioritized in recent years.
By Chase Smith
