F ree A pplication for F ederal S tudent A id

1. Free Application for Federal Student Aid 2012-2013

2. Home Page IMPORTANT POINTS Ensure that students type in correct web address. There are fraudulent websites that will charge students to fill out the application. www.fafsa.gov For Documents Needed to fill out a FAFSA see Checklist Handout

3. Login IMPORTANT POINTS Students must enter correct information: first/last name, SSN, and DOB. Each undergoes a match with the Social Security Administration; if name or number is incorrect, it will come back flagged.

4. Login Confirmation IMPORTANT POINTS Student gets to confirm the information from previous page.

5. Get Started IMPORTANT POINTS Ensure that student starts correct FAFSA. Student completes 11-12 FAFSA using 2010 Tax Return if they will attend: FALL ‘11 SPRING ’12 SUMMER ’12 Student completes 12-13 FAFSA using 2011 Tax Return if they will attend: FALL ‘12 SPRING ’13 SUMMER ’13 NOTE: Some students will complete both. (ex. Student who wants to attend Summer ‘12 & wants to continue to Fall ‘12) START 2012-2013 FAFSA Between July 1, 2012 and June 30, 2013? START 2011-2012 FAFSA Between July 1, 2011 and June 30, 2012?

6. Password 2012--2013 IMPORTANT POINTS The password is not the same as a PIN. Passwords allow a student to re-enter their application if they have saved it.

7. Introduction Page 2012--2013 IMPORTANT POINTS Contains additional information for students/parents

8. Demographics IMPORTANT POINTS Student must indicate middle initial (if any). SSN, Name, DOB will go through a match with the Social Security Administration; if name or number is incorrect, it will come back flagged.

9. Eligibility IMPORTANT POINTS Citizenship question: Refer to citizenship handout Federal Regulation: ALL males must register with selective service to be eligible for Federal Aid. What degree or certificate will you be working on? Make sure it is either 1st Bachelors, Associates, or Certificate. Some students are tempted to indicate “Graduate or Professional Degree.” 1st Bachelor’s Degree before July 1, 2011: make sure student selects NO

10. High School IMPORTANT POINTS NEW, SMARTER search features! If a student misspells or uses abbreviations, it will give them Best Match results.

11. School Selection IMPORTANT POINTS NEW, SMARTER search features! If a student misspells or uses abbreviations, it will give them Best Match results.

12. Housing Plans IMPORTANT POINTS Housing plans previously were included with school selection; now it will be on an entirely separate page.

13. Dependency IMPORTANT POINTS Refer to the dependency handout Dependent student: one who answers NO to all questions Independent student: one who answers YES to at least one question CAREFUL: it does not just ask if the student has a child, it asks whether they are also supporting child MORE than 50% Legal dependents does not refer to someone claimed on a tax return Common law marriages do count Anything that states “as determined by a court” a student must have documentation for Students must have documentation for any of the last four conditions

14. Dependency Results IMPORTANT POINTS Students who answered NO to all questions, but have a special circumstance can indicate “I am unable to provide parental information” and can proceed without parental information Students who select that they are unable to provide parental information must follow up with institution to complete additional paperwork Not special circumstances: Parents refuse to provide info Parents are not contributing to student’s education Parents do not claim student on tax return Student demonstrates total self sufficiency

15. Parent Information IMPORTANT POINTS Refer to Parent Handout Parents’ marital status: Divorced: student will ONLY provide information for the parent who they lived with the most during the last 12 months Remarried: if a students biological parents are divorced, but their parent has married someone else. They will have to provide step-parents’ information. Parents without an SSN 000-00-0000 Household size: Dependent students: you, your parents (even if you do not live with them), siblings (under 24, who are not married, who do not have children they support, etc.), dependents your parents support more than 50% Independent student: you, your spouse (if any), children (under 24, who are not married, who do not have children they support, etc.), and any dependents you support more than 50% Do not include parents in # in college

16. Parent Tax Information IMPORTANT POINTS Already completed Will file: parent will give estimated tax information and must return to update once taxes have been filed Not going to file: some parents are not required to file if they do not meet the IRS requirement to do so.

17. IRS Data Retrieval IMPORTANT POINTS If student has selected “Already Completed”, it will expand to include these options. IRS Data Retrieval: New tool for students/ parents in which they will be able to transfer Tax Return information directly to their FAFSA through the IRS. We STRONGLY recommend students use the IRS data retrieval! It will ensure purity of information and will benefit a student who is subsequently selected for Verification.

18. Recently Filed Taxes IMPORTANT POINTS Recently filed taxes: message will read “If you filed your taxes electronically within the last 2 weeks or if you filed your taxes by mail within the last 8 weeks, your tax information may not be available.” Student may still attempt to use IRS data retrieval.

19. None of the Above IMPORTANT POINTS If they check “None of the Above,” they will be eligible for IRS Data Retrieval and a message will indicate accordingly. It will require a parent to enter their PIN.

20. Leaving FAFSA on the Web

21. Authorization Message

22. IRS Data Retrieval IMPORTANT POINTS Will give the option to “Transfer Now” or “Do Not Transfer.”

23. IRS Data Retrieval IMPORTANT POINTS If they check either of the 1st-4th boxes, they will not be eligible to use IRS data retrieval and a message will indicate accordingly. They will have to proceed to enter amounts manually.

24. Financial Information IMPORTANT POINTS Refer to Tax Form Reference Handout Dislocated worker someone who meets at least one of the following: is receiving unemployment benefits due to being laid off or losing a job and is unlikely to return to a previous occupation has been laid off or received a lay-off notice from a job was self-employed but is now unemployed due to economic conditions or natural disaster is a displaced homemaker. A displaced homemaker is generally a person who previously provided unpaid services to the family The majority of students in Hidalgo/Cameron county receive Free or Reduced Price Lunch.

25. Financial Informationcont. IMPORTANT POINTS Refer to Tax Form Reference Handout & W-2 Sample You can also refer to Help & Hints to know where to locate information Additional Financial Information & Untaxed Income: Parent will have to check the box and a section will appear prompting them to indicate amount. NOTE: the majority of this information can be found on the ITR, with the exception of some items (ex. Child support paid/received, Veterans non-education benefits) Tax-deferred Pensions and Savings Plans will be on W-2 codes D, E, F, G, H and S.

26. Student Tax Info IMPORTANT POINTS Note that it now goes back to asking about student information. Many students make the mistake of once again adding parents Tax Return information on their portion. If the student does this and is subsequently selected for verification, an institution will request the student to bring Verification of Non-filing from IRS to settle conflicting information.

27. Student Wages IMPORTANT POINTS Refer to sample W-2 form Students who worked will indicate their wages from their W-2 form here. If student did not work enter zero

28. Student Financial Info IMPORTANT POINTS Refer to Tax Form Reference handout & sample W-2 Form.

29. Sign & Submit IMPORTANT POINTS Are you a preparer? “A preparer is anyone who charges a fee for helping you fill out your FAFSA.” If a student has not already done so, they may apply for a PIN at this point. If they have forgotten their PIN they can also retrieve their PIN from this page.

30. Signature Page IMPORTANT POINTS If the student’s parents do not have SSN they will be unable to apply for a PIN would instead print a signature page. Signature page needs to be mailed to the address provided and will take more time to process.

31. Confirmation Page IMPORTANT POINTS EFC is used to determine the amount student qualified. Refer to EFC Table handout. Pell Grant Estimate is given. If the student did not qualify for the Pell Grant, you will only see an estimate for Direct Stafford Loan. Student has option of e-mailing the confirmation page to themselves to retain for record. 0 EMAIL THIS PAGE

32. QUESTIONS? Excellent Resource for Counselors/Mentors: www.fsa4counselors.ed.gov