Session FF-04

FAFSAFree Application for Federal Student Aid

Yolanda AdamsU.S. Department of Education

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What Is The FAFSA?

• Department of Education’s free application for Title IV aid– Collects applicant information

required by statute – Processed by Department’s Central

Processing System (CPS)• All students must complete unless

parent PLUS loan is only aid requested

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Central Processing System (CPS)

• Processes the FAFSA for use in determining student eligibility– Edits data for errors– Calculates expected family

contribution (EFC)– Sends output documents

•Paper or electronic output to students•Electronic file to schools

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Central Processing System (CPS)

• Matches student information with other databases Social Security Administration Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Selective Service Department of Veterans Affairs Department of Justice National Student Loan Data System

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Methods For Filing FAFSA

Student• Paper application/PDF application• FAFSA on the Web• Renewal FAFSA on the WebSchool• FAA Access to CPS on-line

Must have completed and signed copy of paper FAFSA

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www.pin.ed.gov

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www.fafsa.ed.gov/FOTWWebApp/faa/faa.jsp

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FAFSA Instructions

Available online at

http://studentaid.ed.gov/students/publications/completing_fafsa/

2008_2009/index.html

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Paper FAFSA• Schools may receive limited number of

paper applications• Students may order paper FAFSA by calling

1-800-4FEDAID• Students and schools may print PDF FAFSA

http://www.federalstudentaid.ed.gov/• PDF version is official application for

submission to CPS• PDF version is acceptable as documentation

for applications submitted via FAA Access to CPS

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FOTW Worksheet

• Paper worksheet that follows web version of FAFSA

• Cannot be used as official application for submission to CPS

• Recommended for applicants using FAFSA on the Web (FOTW)

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CPS Web Applications Demo http://fafsademo.test.ed.gov

– User ID – eddemo– Password - fafsatest

• Demos both FAFSA on the Web and FAA Access to CPS on-line

• Ideal for new staff, demonstrations, or practice

• Demo student information is preloaded

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FAFSA Sections

1. General Student Information2. Student and Spouse Income & Assets3. Dependency Status 4. Parent Information (parent of

dependent student)5. Household Size and Number in

College (independent student only)6. College Information7. Signature Block

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FAFSA Data

• Income is “base year” – calendar year prior to award year

• Marital status, household size and assets are reported as of date of application

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Social Security NumberStudent enters incorrect SSN• Must correct SSN in question 8

– CPS identifier will carry original SSN– COD will carry corrected SSN

• Student SSN and first two letters of last name match application already in CPS database– If SSN entered incorrectly, must file new FAFSA– If SSN entered correctly, must file “correction

application”Call 703-284-5666

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Student’s Marital Status

• Question 16• Marital status at time of application

remains for entire award year• May not change marital status once

application is filed

– May not change dependency status or household size because of change to student’s marital status

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Question 23 - Drug Conviction• An applicant loses eligibility for

Title IV aid if was convicted for a drug-related offense that occurred while enrolled and receiving Title IV aid –Date of ineligibility begins on date of conviction

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Questions 24 & 25

• Parent’s education level requested because some states award aid to first generation college students

• Answers not required for EFC processing

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Question 26 – Secondary School• Four choices

–High school diploma–GED certificate–Home schooled–None of the above

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Question 32 - TEACH Grant

Now on paper FAFSA and FOTW

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Questions 33b & 82b

• Reported estimated income information – tax return not yet completed

• Estimated information is not automatically conflicting information

After April 15 prior to start of award year, CPS requests that families “correct” information to reflect actual tax information

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Qualified Education BenefitsIncluded in asset questions 42 & 92• Include Coverdell savings accounts, state

prepaid tuition plans and 529 prepaid and savings plans All are included in assets on FAFSA Report as asset of dependent student’s

parent if parent or dependent student is owner of the account or plan

Report as asset of independent student if student/spouse owns the account/plan

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Family Ownership of Small Business

Asset Questions 43 and 93–Exclude from assets on FAFSA any part of a family owned and controlled business with no more than 100 FT employees or FTE’s

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Worksheet C

• Separate worksheet has been eliminated

• Information from Worksheet C is now reported in questions 46 a-e & 94 a-e

• Includes combat pay or special combat pay

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Untaxed Income• Worksheets A & B are eliminated• Income now reported in questions 47 a-j &

95 a-i• CCRAA excluded from untaxed income

– Additional child tax credits claimed– Welfare benefits – Earned Income Credit– Special Fuel Tax Credit– Foreign Income Exclusion– Untaxed Social Security Benefits

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Dependency QuestionsStep Three• 13 criteria set in the law• Student must be able to answer

“yes” to at least one question to be independent

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Dependency Questions

48. Must be age 24 or older by December 31 of award year

49. Married as of date of application Common law marriage in states where

recognized Same-sex marriages are not

recognized for Title IV purposes Separated not divorced answers yes

50. Master’s or doctoral program

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Dependency Questions51. Serving on active duty in U.S. armed

forces for purposes other than training52. Veteran of U.S. Armed forces

Served active duty for purpose other than training and discharged other than dishonorably

Database match with VA53. Have children for whom provide more

than 50% support and will continue throughout award year

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Dependency Questions54. Have dependents other than children and

spouse for whom provide more than 50% support and will continue throughout award year

55. At age 13 or older, were both parents deceased or was student in foster care or dependent/ward of the court

56. Emancipated minor as of date of application

57. In legal guardianship as of date of application

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Dependency Questions58. Unaccompanied homeless youth on/after

7/1/08 by high school/school district 59. Unaccompanied homeless youth on/after

7/1/08 by emergency shelter program60. Unaccompanied youth who is homeless or

self-supporting and at risk of being homeless on/after 7/1/08 by director of runaway or homeless youth basic center of transitional living program

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Who Is A Parent?

• Biological and adoptive• Stepparent currently married to

above• Grandparents cannot be parents

on the FAFSA unless they have legally adopted the student

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Questions 63-71

• Parent’s SSN, Name, and DOBWould be used if IRS database

match beginsAt least one parent’s data must

match Social Security administration database

Parent without SSN must enter all zeroes in SSN field

• Parent’s e-mail address

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Federal Means-Tested BenefitsQuestions 77-81 & 98-102• Additional criteria for simplified

needs test and automatic zero EFC

• Answering these questions will not affect receipt of these programs

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Dislocated Worker

• Questions 85 & 103• CCRAA added as another criteria

for simplified needs test and automatic zero EFC–Definition in FAFSA instructions

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Step Seven – Signature Certification by student, spouse, and parent

– To use funds for educational purposes– Student not in default or overpayment– Student will not receive Pell at more than

one school concurrently– Agree to provide information to verify

accuracy of application, including confirmation from IRS

– Privacy of PIN– Criminal offense to provide false or

misleading information

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Contact Information

Yolanda AdamsTraining Officer404-562-6291yolanda.adams@ed.gov

Your feedback and comments are appreciated.