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| Student
Financial Aid |
FAFSA: Frequently Asked Questions |
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What is the FAFSA? The FAFSA (Free Application for
Federal Student Aid) is a federal form you must fill out to
qualify for most student financial aid.
I didn't submit my FAFSA in January and it's now April.
Are there any penalties for waiting so long to submit my FAFSA?
Ideally, you should complete a FAFSA as soon as possible
after January 1. Most schools' deadlines are well in advance
of the corresponding state and federal deadlines. And many colleges
award aid on a first-come, first-served basis.
Do I need a Social Security Number to apply for federal student
financial aid? You must have a Social Security number
(SSN) to be eligible for federal student financial aid. If you
submit a FAFSA without an SSN, your FAFSA will be returned to
you unprocessed.
Is it better to wait until the income tax forms have been completed
before submitting the FAFSA? No. Submit the FAFSA as
soon as possible after January 1. Do not wait until your taxes
are done. Although it is better to do your taxes early, it is
okay to use estimates of your income, so long as they aren't
far off from the actual values. Keep in mind that if you wait
too long, you may miss state aid deadlines. Most states require
the FAFSA to be submitted by March 1, and some even as early
as early or mid-February.
Should I use my dad’s tax and salary info if my
parents are divorced?
MAYBE. The form should be completed with information
from the parent with whom you lived for the majority of
time during the past 12 months.
Do I have to submit a new FAFSA every year? If
you applied for aid last year, you may not have to complete
an entire FAFSA, but can instead use a Renewal FAFSA. If you
receive a Renewal FAFSA, you're only required to provide new
financial data and non- financial information. You can leave
information that has not changed from the prior year.
What is a PIN used for? You can do the following
with your PIN: Electronically sign a FAFSA. Use Renewal FAFSA
on the Web to reapply for financial aid, if you applied last
year. Make Corrections on the Web to an existing FAFSA. Check
the status of your FAFSA and view an electronic copy of your
Student Aid Report (SAR). Print a copy of your SAR online. Access
National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) information if you
have received any previous financial aid.
Who is eligible for a PIN? Anyone who has a
Social Security Number and is a US Citizen or eligible Non-Citizen
may apply for a PIN.
You can apply for a PIN by going to the
Department of Education's PIN Web site and select PIN
Request and Information > Apply for PIN.
It takes approximately 1-3 days to get a PIN, if you have a
valid and current e-mail address. If you do not have an e-mail
address, your PIN will be sent via regular postal mail. It takes
about 7-10 days to receive it by mail.
I'm not sure if I want to take out a student loan. What
should I enter for the question asking if I am interested in
student loans? Answer "yes" so you do not limit your
options. Most students do take out the student loans that are
included in their financial aid award but you are not obligated
to accept any aid listed in your award letter. You can always
decline loans if you decide that you do not want them.
What if I live with someone other than my parents? What
do I have to report? You must report any cash support
given by this person as untaxed income but should not report
in-kind support (such as food).
Why must I report the highest school level my parents
completed? Some states and schools make money available
to support students who are first-generation college students.
It also serves statistical purposes. If you don't know the answer,
select "Other/unknown."
If I'm in the National Guard or Reserves, am I considered
a veteran for purposes of filling out the FAFSA? You
are considered a veteran if you engaged in active service in
the US Armed Forces and were released under a condition other
than dishonorable. There is no minimum time you have to have
served, but it does have to be active service. If you are currently
serving and will continue to be on active duty past June 30,
you are not a veteran. Members of the National Guard or Reserves
are not considered members of the Armed Forces, nor is training
considered active military duty. On the other hand, members
of the National Guard and Reserves who serve on active duty
for non-training purposes are veterans, even if they remain
reservists throughout their active duty service. If you answer
"Yes" to the veteran status question on the FAFSA, the Department
of Veterans Affairs will be contacted for verification.
What should I do if the parent with whom I live is remarried
and the stepparent refuses to supply information? If
you are a dependent student and your parent is remarried, the
stepparent's information must be included. By signing the FAFSA
you agree to submit information verifying the accuracy of your
completed form if requested. There are penalties for giving
false or misleading information.
If I (the student) am separated but filed a joint tax
return, how is the information reported? You should
give only your portion of the exemptions, income, and taxes
paid.
Who qualifies to be counted in the number in college?
Any person—not including parents—who is counted in
the household and will be attending any term of the academic
year at least half time. The enrolled family member must attend
an eligible program at an eligible institution. You (the student)
need not be enrolled half time, however, to be counted in the
number in college. To be counted in the number in college, the
person must also be working toward a degree or certificate leading
to a recognized education credential at a postsecondary school
eligible to participate in federal student aid programs.
On my SAR there's a "*" after the EFC figure under the
date. What does that mean? Your FAFSA has been flagged
for verification. You will need to supply documentation for
the financial information on the FAFSA. This process is used
to make sure the information student report is accurate. Verification
prevents ineligible students from receiving aid by reporting
false information and ensures that eligible students receive
all the aid for which they are qualified.
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