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Session FF-04

The FAFSA is the Department of Education's free application for Title IV aid, collecting applicant information and determining student eligibility for financial aid. It is processed through the Central Processing System (CPS) and matches student information with various databases. Available in paper or electronic format.

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Session FF-04

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  1. Session FF-04 FAFSA Free Application for Federal Student Aid Yolanda Adams U.S. Department of Education

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. Methods For Filing FAFSA Student • Paper application/PDF application • FAFSA on the Web • Renewal FAFSA on the Web School • FAA Access to CPS on-line • Must have completed and signed copy of paper FAFSA

  6. www.fafsa.ed.gov

  7. www.pin.ed.gov

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

  9. FAFSA InstructionsAvailable online at http://studentaid.ed.gov/students/publications/completing_fafsa/2008_2009/index.html

  10. 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

  11. 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)

  12. 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

  13. FAFSA Sections • General Student Information • Student and Spouse Income & Assets • Dependency Status • Parent Information (parent of dependent student) • Household Size and Number in College (independent student only) • College Information • Signature Block

  14. 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

  15. Social Security Number Student 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

  16. 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

  17. 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

  18. Questions 24 & 25 • Parent’s education level requested because some states award aid to first generation college students • Answers not required for EFC processing

  19. Question 26 – Secondary School • Four choices • High school diploma • GED certificate • Home schooled • None of the above

  20. Question 32 - TEACH Grant Now on paper FAFSA and FOTW

  21. 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 requeststhat families “correct” information to reflect actual tax information

  22. Qualified Education Benefits Included 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

  23. 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

  24. 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

  25. 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

  26. Dependency Questions Step Three • 13 criteria set in the law • Student must be able to answer “yes” to at least one question to be independent

  27. Dependency Questions • Must be age 24 or older by December 31 of award year • 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 • Master’s or doctoral program

  28. Dependency Questions • Serving on active duty in U.S. armed forces for purposes other than training • Veteran of U.S. Armed forces • Served active duty for purpose other than training and discharged other than dishonorably • Database match with VA • Have children for whom provide more than 50% support and will continue throughout award year

  29. Dependency Questions • Have dependents other than children and spouse for whom provide more than 50% support and will continue throughout award year • At age 13 or older, were both parents deceased or was student in foster care or dependent/ward of the court • Emancipated minor as of date of application • In legal guardianship as of date of application

  30. Dependency Questions • Unaccompanied homeless youth on/after 7/1/08 by high school/school district • Unaccompanied homeless youth on/after 7/1/08 by emergency shelter program • 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

  31. Who Is A Parent? • Biological and adoptive • Stepparent currently married to above • Grandparents cannot be parents on the FAFSA unlessthey have legally adopted the student

  32. Questions 63-71 • Parent’s SSN, Name, and DOB • Would be used if IRS database match begins • At 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

  33. Federal Means-Tested Benefits Questions 77-81 & 98-102 • Additional criteria for simplified needs test and automatic zero EFC • Answering these questions will not affect receipt of these programs

  34. Dislocated Worker • Questions 85 & 103 • CCRAA added as another criteria for simplified needs test and automatic zero EFC • Definition in FAFSA instructions

  35. 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

  36. Yolanda Adams Training Officer 404-562-6291 yolanda.adams@ed.gov Contact Information Your feedback and comments are appreciated.

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