[ctcLinkfinaidsupport] WCG CEMLI Update for Aid Year 2026 now in production!!

[Deborah Englehardt]

Good afternoon, FA! 😊

Last night an update to the WCG CEMLI went into production for Aid Year 2026 WCG packaging!!

In the past, when calculating Median Family Income (MFI), including income offsets in WCG income was optional. However, effective 2025-26, including income offsets in WGG income is required.

WSAC sent an email on 1/24/2025 regarding this change.
"The reason for this change is to reduce confusion for students regarding how they may qualify for WCG at one college but not at the college across the street because one college uses the offsets and the other does not.  This will provide an equitable experience for the student regarding how their MFI is calculated.  If there appears to be conflicting data in these items, you will need to follow your standard process for resolving conflicting information."

To adapt to this new requirement, the WCG CEMLI has been updated to include the following allowable income offsets for Aid Year 2025-2026
·        Taxable earnings from need-based employment programs such as Federal Work Study and need-based employment portions of fellowships or assistantships
·        Taxable student grant and scholarship aid reported to the IRS in the Adjusted Gross Income.  This includes AmeriCorps benefits as well as grant and scholarship portions of fellowships and assistantships
·        Education tax credits under the American Opportunity and Lifetime Learning tax credits.

Student Example 1
Dependent student. Has income offsets totaling $7134 ($2500 education credits, $1500 grants & scholarships, and $3134 parents' FWS earnings)

Before – WCG Income totals $97365
[cid:image005.jpg at 01DBBF49.D4E92A90]

After – WCG Income totals $90231 ($97365 – $7134)
[cid:image006.jpg at 01DBBF49.D4E92A90]

In some instances, you may see that WCG Income may be negative.

Student Example 2
Independent student. Has income offsets totaling $19717 (grants & scholarships). Note the offset is the same amount as the WCG Income.

Before – WCG Income totals $19717
[cid:image008.jpg at 01DBBF49.D4E92A90]


Expectation of After – WCG Income totals $0 ($19717 – $19717)

Actual After – WCG Income totals $-19717
[cid:image010.jpg at 01DBBF49.D4E92A90]
Reason: If WCG Income amount is equal to the Income offset amount, an Income of zero will calculate, which will then cycle back through the WCG CEMLI SQL. The offset is subtracted again, resulting in a Calculated Negative MFI. This is a very small population of students & does not impact the WCG eligibility calculation. The calculated negative MFI would result in the same MFI % as a zero MFI, resulting in the same award amount.

We’re not requiring colleges to run Recalculating Eligibility Process (WCG and CBS Processing Business Process Guide | 9.2 FA - Financial Aid Business Process Guides | ctcLink Reference Center<https://ctclinkreferencecenter.ctclink.us/m/92436/l/798586-wcg-and-cbs-processing-business-process-guide>) at this time since colleges will need to run it when WSAC announces the award amounts for 2025-2026. However, if you’d like to run the recalculation process to update the WCG Income values, you may. 😊

Thank you!

[Compass]Deborah Englehardt
Senior Functional Analyst, Campus Solutions (Financial Aid)
Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges
1500 Jefferson Street SE
Olympia, WA 98501
denglehardt at sbctc.edu<mailto:denglehardt at sbctc.edu> • O: 360-704-3979
sbctc.edu<https://www.sbctc.edu/> • Twitter: @SBCTCWashington<https://twitter.com/SBCTCWashington> • Facebook: @WASBCTC<https://www.facebook.com/wasbctc/>



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