Student Eligibility andThe Application Process
BILL MACK ILARIA PUENTEUT DALLAS UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON-
DOWNTOWN
Objective
Understand how to complete the FAFSA
Know the required elements of student eligibility for federal student financial aid.
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
Required for federal student aid programs Schools may not require an additional
application for federal aid programs Computes Expected Family Contribution Database matches confirm eligibility as an
eligible student
FAFSA
Multiple ways to complete the FAFSAOn the WebPaper FAFSAFAA AccessFAFSA on the Phone
FAFSA
FAFSA on the Web English or SpanishReal time submissionElectronic signaturesPop up helpPop up chat help
FAFSA
Skip logic
Edit Checks
On-line status update
FAFSA
Special Circumstances
Students may skip the parent questions if they feel they have a special circumstance
FAFSA
IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT)Pulls IRS tax return data into the FAFSACan be used for the correction processRelieves the student/parent from submitting
a tax return transcript for verificationNot available for everyone (i.e. amended
return)
FAFSA
Common MistakesForm is not signedWrong SSNWrong NameWrong Date of BirthPutting parent income information in student
section
FAFSA
How to sign the applicationPINPrinted Signature PageSign rejected paper Student Aid Report (SAR)School submits the signature through FAA
Access
FAFSA
Signing the application: Certifies the information is correct Gives ED authority to verify the information with other
agencies Agrees to provide the school with requested documents Certifies the student’s identity Acknowledges consequences of false information Agrees to certain application certification statements
Expected Family Contribution (EFC)
The amount a family can be reasonably be expected to contribute to a student’s annual cost of attendance.
The same at all schools Calculated using a congressionally mandated
formula
Student Eligibility
US Citizen or Eligible Non-Citizen If required, be registered for Selective Service Not be default on a federal debt Not have exceeded aggregate borrowing
limits Not owe Title IV Refund
Student Eligibility
Not have been convicted of selling or possessing drugs while receiving federal student aidSelf reported on the FAFSADatabase match with the Department of
Justice
Student Eligibility
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)Established by the individual schools2.0 by the beginning of the junior yearNo more than 150 percent of the program
length.
Institutional Eligibility
May not admit as a regular student those who do not have a high school diploma or its recognized equivalent and
Who are below the age of compulsory secondary school attendance in the student in which the school is located
CPS Database Matches
SSN (for the student and the parents) Department of Homeland Security
When the answer to the citizenship question is “eligible non-citizen” Selective Service
For males over the age of 18 National Student Loan Data Service
Defaults Overpayments Aggregate borrowing limits
CPS Database Matches
Department of DefenseTo identify students eligible for the
Iraq/Afghanistan Grant Department of Veteran Affairs
When the student claims on the FAFSA to be a veteran
Output
Student receives a Student Aid Report (SAR) eMail Paper
EFCComments (verification, database match
failures)Eligibility for Pell/Stafford Loan
Output
School receives a Institutional Student Information Report (ISIR) EFC Verification Code “C” Code Comment codes
Changes to the FAFSA
Corrections: Applicants may correct items entered incorrectly or originally estimated (Income, assets)
Updates: Year in school, Dependency Status (except for the student’s marital status)
Adjustments: Changes made by the school as the result of professional judgment (dependency, income, etc.)
Questions?