applying for financial aid 2011-2012 applying for financial aid 2011-2012

Applying for Applying for Financial Aid Financial Aid 2011-20122011-2012

What Will You Learn Today?What Will You Learn Today?

• Types and sources of financial aid

• Required financial aid application forms

• How to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the Cal Grant GPA Verification Form

• Answers to your individual questions

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Types of Financial Aid Types of Financial Aid

• Gift Aid - Grants or scholarships that do not need to be repaid

• Work - Money earned by the student as payment for a job on or off campus

• Loans - Borrowed money to be paid back, usually with interest

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Sources of Financial AidSources of Financial Aid

• Federal government

• State government

• Colleges and universities

• Private agencies, companies, foundations, and parents’ employers

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Cal GrantsCal Grants

• Cal Grant A Entitlement Awards – for high school seniors and recent high school grads with a Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 3.0, family income and assets below the state ceilings, who demonstrate financial need

• Cal Grant B Entitlement Awards – for high school seniors and recent high school grads with a GPA of at least 2.0, who come from disadvantaged or low income families, whose family income and assets are below the state ceilings, and who demonstrate financial need

• Cal Grant C Awards - for students from low income families pursuing vocational programs of study

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Eligibility for Cal GrantsEligibility for Cal Grants

• To be eligible for a Cal Grant, the student must also:

• be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen

• be a California resident

• attend an accredited California college or university in at least half-time in 2011-12

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Residency and Cal Grant Residency and Cal Grant Eligibility for 2011-2012Eligibility for 2011-2012

• parents have been legal residents of California for one year immediately prior to September 20, 2011, or

• student has lived in California with other legal California residents, other than parents, for two years immediately prior to September 20, 2011, or

• parents who are active duty military, stationed in California at the time the student enrolls in college, or parents’ military home of record is California

• If unmarried and under 18 years of age, the student will be considered a legal resident of California if:

• If married or 18 years of age or older, the student establishes his/her own residence status. The student must be a legal resident of California for one year prior to September 20, 2011

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2011-2012 Cal Grant 2011-2012 Cal Grant Application RequirementsApplication Requirements

Check with your high school or college counselor for more details on how to file the Cal Grant GPA

Verification Form

• By March 2, 2011, complete and submit:

Free Application for Federal Student Aid

(FAFSA)

Cal Grant GPA

Verification Form

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California Chafee GrantCalifornia Chafee GrantCalifornia Chafee GrantCalifornia Chafee Grant• The California Chafee Grant program provides up to $5,000 annually to current and former foster youth for college or vocational training at any accredited college in the U.S. based on available funding

• To be eligible, foster youth must have been in California foster care on their 16th birthday and not have reached their 22nd birthday before July 1, 2011

• Foster youth are encouraged to apply during their senior year of high school

• To apply, the foster youth must complete:• 2011-2012 FAFSA• California Chafee Grant Program Application

To learn more about the Chafee Grant, go to:

www.chafee.csac.ca.gov

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Types of ApplicationsTypes of Applications

• FAFSA

• Cal Grant GPA Verification Form

• Other applications or forms as required by the college such as:

• 2010 federal tax returns (along with all schedules and W-2s) or other income documentation

• CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE • Institutional Scholarship and/or

Financial Aid Application

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FAFSA Information & TipsFAFSA Information & Tips• File early, but no later

than March 2, 2011

• Use estimated 2010 income information if taxes are not complete at time of FAFSA submission

• Student and at least one parent whose information is reported must complete and sign the FAFSA

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FAFSA on the Web FAFSA on the Web

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• Internet application used by students and parents to complete electronic FAFSA at:

www.fafsa.gov

• Sophisticated on-line edits and skip logic so that errors are less likely to be made

• On-line help is available for each question

• Student and one custodial parent should get a federal PIN at:

www.pin.ed.gov

Federal PIN Federal PIN

• PIN (Personal Identification Number) serves as the electronic signature on ED documents

• Both student and one parent need PINs to sign the FAFSA electronically

• May be used to:• Check on FAFSA status• Verify and correct FAFSA data• Add additional schools to receive

FAFSA data• Change home and e-mail addresses

• If an e-mail address is provided, PIN will be e-mailed to the PIN applicant within minutes

Apply for student and parent PINs at:

www.pin.ed.gov

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Getting ReadyGetting Ready• Before starting the FAFSA, gather:

• Student driver’s license • Student Alien Registration Card• Student and Parent

Social Security cards

2010 W-2 Forms and records of money earned and other taxable benefits

2010 federal income tax form (even if not yet completed)

Records of untaxed income

Current bank statements

Business, farm, and other real estate records

Records of stocks, bonds, and other investments

Create a file for copies of all financial aid documents submitted

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FAFSA on the Web FAFSA on the Web WorksheetWorksheet

The 2011-2012 FAFSA on the Web Worksheet may be used for the January 1, 2011 through June 30, 2012 federal aid application cycle

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The FOTW WorksheetThe FOTW WorksheetA Four Section FormA Four Section FormThe FOTW WorksheetThe FOTW WorksheetA Four Section FormA Four Section Form

Section 1 – is about the studentSection 2 – determines student

dependency statusSection 3 – collects parental

information for dependent students

Section 4 – collects student finances and information about the independent student

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Section 1Section 1(page 2)(page 2)

STUDENT INFORMATIONSTUDENT INFORMATION



Section 1Section 1Student NameStudent Name

• The FOTW will ask for the student’s last name, first name, and middle initial

• Make sure to report the student’s name exactly as it appears on the student’s Social Security card

JONES SUSAN

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Double check the student’s Social Security Number when entering it on the FOTW. Both student name and Social Security Number will be compared through a database match.

123 – 45 – 6789

Section 1 Section 1 Student Social Security NumberStudent Social Security Number

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Section 1 Section 1 Citizenship StatusCitizenship Status

• If U.S. citizen, status will be confirmed by Social Security match

• If eligible noncitizen, status will be confirmed by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) match. This includes:

• U.S. permanent residents with I-551

• Conditional permanent residents with I-551C

• Eligible noncitizens with I-94

• If neither a citizen or eligible noncitizen, the student is ineligible for federal/state aid, but might still be eligible for institutional funds

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Section 1 Section 1 Alien Registration NumberAlien Registration Number

If eligible noncitizen, write in the student’s eight- or nine-digit Alien Registration Number (ARN)

• Precede an eight-digit ARN with a zero

• Copy of the student’s Permanent Registration Card might be requested by the financial aid office

9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

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Section 1 Section 1 Undocumented StudentsUndocumented Students

• if the student is applying to any California public college or university, check to see if he/she might be eligible for in-state tuition/fee costs

• check with colleges and universities to see if institutional financial aid is available

• apply for all private scholarships for which the student may be eligible

• watch for changes in federal and state laws regarding the eligibility of undocumented or under-documented students

• start inquiring in elementary, middle or high school to see if it is possible for younger students to become permanent residents

For more information and a list of scholarships, go tohttp://www.maldef.org/leadership/scholarships/2010_Scholarship_List.pdf

www.latinocollegedollars.org www.finaid.org/otheraid/undocumented.phtml

NOTE: if the student is undocumented

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Section 1Section 1Student Marital StatusStudent Marital Status

• The student should check his or her marital status as of the date the FAFSA on the Web is submitted

• If the student is married or remarried, he or she will be asked to provide information about his or her spouse

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Section 1Section 1 Selective Service RegistrationSelective Service Registration

• Male students who are between the ages of 18 and 25 years must be registered with Selective Service to receive federal and state aid

• Answer “Register me” only if you are male, aged 18-25, and have not yet registered.

• The student may also register by going to:

www.sss.gov

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Section 1Section 1Student Aid Eligibility Drug ConvictionsStudent Aid Eligibility Drug Convictions

• If the student has never attended college since high school, check “I have never attended college”

• If the student has attended college since high school but never received federal student grants, loans, or work-study, check “I have never received federal student aid”

• If the student has received federal student aid and has never had a drug conviction, check “I have never had a drug conviction”

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Section 1Section 1 Student Aid Eligibility Drug ConvictionsStudent Aid Eligibility Drug Convictions

• If the student was convicted of the possession or sale of illegal drugs while receiving federal student aid, the student will be asked to complete more questions about the drug offense

• Simply having a drug conviction does not mean that the student will be ineligible for federal and/or state student aid

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Section 1Section 1 Parents’ Educational LevelParents’ Educational Level

Indicate highest level of schooling completed by the student’s biological or adoptive parents (for state award purposes only)

• Use birth parents or adoptive parents - not stepparents or foster parents

• This definition of parent is unique to these two questions

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• Residency relates to the student’s permanent home state• if the student is dependent, the state of legal residence is

usually the state in which the custodial parent(s) lives

• State of legal residence is also used• to determine eligibility for state grants • in the need calculation to determine the appropriate

allowance for state and other taxes paid by that state’s residents

An important question NOT on the Worksheet:

Section 1Section 1 Student State of Legal ResidenceStudent State of Legal Residence

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Section 1Section 1 High School Completion StatusHigh School Completion Status

High School Completion Status

When the student begins college in the 2011-2012 school year, what will be the student’s high school completion status?

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


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Section 1Section 1 Grade Level in 2011-2012Grade Level in 2011-2012

Grade Level in 2011-2012

When the student begins the 2011-2012 school year, what will be his/her grade level?

• Never attended college/1st year• Attended college before/1st year• 2nd year/sophomore• 3rd year/junior• 4th year/senior• 5th year/other undergraduate• 1st year graduate/professional• Continuing graduate/professional or beyond


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Section 1 Section 1 High School QuestionHigh School Question


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High School Question

• Enter the name, city and state location of the school the student attends

• Mark “Confirm” to retrieve the high school information

• The student will select the school attended from the list provided

• If no matches are found, the student should select “Next” to save the search information and continue with the FOTW application

Section 1Section 1 Degree or Certificate ObjectiveDegree or Certificate Objective

Degree or CertificateIn the 2011-2012 school year, what degree or certificate will you, the student, be working on?

•Some options are: - 1st bachelor’s degree - Associate degree (occupational or technical program) - Associate degree (general education or transfer program)

- Graduate or professional degree


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Section 1Section 1School SelectionSchool Selection

• FAFSA on the Web allows the student to list up to 10 colleges/universities that will receive his/her student and parent information

• The student should list first the California school he/she is most likely to attend

• The student may re-order his/her school choices

• Then list other schools to which the student is applying for admission

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• While in the School Selection Section, the student will be asked to enter the federal school code for each school to which he/she wants information sent

• If the student does not know the federal school code, enter the state in which the college/university is located and search for the federal school code by the college/university name


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• List a California college or university (for Cal Grant consideration)

• Then list those schools with the earliest financial aid deadlines, regardless of whether they are in-state or out-of-state

• If the student is applying to more than ten schools, wait for the processed Student Aid Report (SAR) and add additional schools via the Web or by phone using the student PIN

Strategies for Listing Colleges

NOTE: Each UC and CSU campus must be listed separately

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• The student will be asked to select the housing plan that best describes the type of housing the student expects to have while attending each listed school

• The choices for housing are:• On Campus • With Parent• Off Campus

• The student’s choice of housing may affect the amount of financial aid for which he/she is eligible. It is usually more expensive to live on or off campus than with parents or relatives

• Remember, selecting the On Campus housing option is not an application for On Campus housing. Check with the colleges/ universities for housing information when you apply for admission

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STUDENT DEPENDENCY STUDENT DEPENDENCY STATUSSTATUS


STUDENT DEPENDENCY STUDENT DEPENDENCY STATUSSTATUS

Section 2Section 2

Determination of Student Dependency StatusDetermination of Student Dependency Status

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Section 2Section 2

Determination of Student Dependency StatusDetermination of Student Dependency Status

• If the student checks none of the boxes about Dependency Status, the student will be asked to go to Section 3. For FAFSA filing purposes, the student is considered a dependent student and will be required to provide parental information

• If any one of the items in this section applies to the student, he/she should mark the appropriate box, skip Section 3, and go to Section 4. The student is considered an independent student for FAFSA filing purposes and is NOT required to provide parental information

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PARENTPARENTINFORMATIONINFORMATION

Section 3Section 3Parent InformationParent Information

See Page 3 of FAFSA on the Web Worksheet about who is considered a parent

– Biological or adoptive parent(s)

– In case of divorce or separation, provide information about the parent and/or stepparent the student lived with more in the last 12 months

– Stepparent (regardless of any prenuptial agreements)

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Section 3 Section 3 Who is Not a ParentWho is Not a Parent

• Do not provide information on:– Foster parents or legal guardians

• If the student is in foster care or has a legal guardian, he/she is automatically considered an independent student

– Grandparents or other relatives are not considered parents unless they have adopted the student• In this case, the student must attempt to get

biological parental information

• Colleges may use Professional Judgment to allow the student to file as independent

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0

12,356

Section 3Section 3Parent InformationParent Information

• If the answer to any question is zero or the question does not apply, enter 0:

• Report whole dollar figures:

• Recommendation: If your parents have not filed their 2010 federal tax return, use W-2 forms and/or other employment records - such as final 2010 pay check stubs - to estimate total income

• Remember, rather than miss any filing deadline, use estimated 2010 income information

(no cents)

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Section 3 Section 3 Parent InformationParent Information

• If the student is providing father’s/stepfather’s and/or mother’s/stepmother’s information, the student will need those parents’:

• Social Security Numbers• Names• Dates of birth

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Section 3Section 3 Parent Dislocated WorkerParent Dislocated Worker

• The student will be asked to check if the father/stepfather and/or mother/stepmother is a dislocated worker

• A person may be considered a dislocated worker if he or she:• 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

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Section 3Section 3 Parents’ Tax Return Filing Status for 2010Parents’ Tax Return Filing Status for 2010

• The student will be asked to provide information about parent tax filing status for 2010:• If his/her parents have completed a 2010 federal income tax

return, mark the first box• If they have not as yet filed, but plan to file a 2010 federal

income tax return, mark the second box• If the have not, nor will not, file a 2010 federal in tax return and

are not required to do so, mark the third box

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Section 3Section 3 Parent 2010 Adjusted Gross IncomeParent 2010 Adjusted Gross Income

Reminder: If the answer is zero or the question does not apply, enter 0

• If the student’s parents have not yet filed their 2010 federal tax return, use estimated 2010 information for this question. (Do not skip this question)

• If the student’s parents have completed their 2010 federal tax return, use actual 2010 tax return information to complete this item

$$$$$$

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Section 3Section 3 Money Earned from Work by Parent(s) in 2010Money Earned from Work by Parent(s) in 2010

Use W-2 forms and other records to determine all income in 2010 earned from work (including business income earned from self-employment) for father/stepfather and/or mother/stepmother

$$$,$$$

$$$,$$$

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Section 3Section 3 Parents’ Household 2009 or 2010 Benefits ReceivedParents’ Household 2009 or 2010 Benefits Received

Indicate if the student, his/her parents, or anyone in the parents’ household received benefits in 2009 or 2010 from any of the federal programs listed• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)• Food Stamps• Free or Reduced Price School Lunch• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)• Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC)

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Section 3Section 3 2010 Additional Financial Information2010 Additional Financial Information

The student will be asked to report if his or her parents received or paid any of the following items in 2010 (check all that apply)

• America Opportunity, Hope or Lifetime Learning tax credits• Child support paid• Taxable earnings from work-study, assistantships, or fellowships• Taxable grant and scholarship aid reported to the IRS• Combat pay or special combat pay• Cooperative education program earnings

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Section 3Section 3 2010 Parent Untaxed Income2010 Parent Untaxed Income

• The student will be asked to report if his or her parents had any untaxed income in 2010. Check all that apply. Some examples of the most common items are:

• Payments to tax-deferred pension and savings plans such as 401K, IRA deductions, and payments to self-employed SEP and Keogh

• Child support received• Tax exempt interest income• Housing, food and other living allowances paid to members of the

military and clergy

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Section 3Section 3 Parent Asset InformationParent Asset Information

NOTE: Some financial aid offices may request supporting documentation for the answers to these questions

Parents may be asked to report their assets. If so:

• List the net value of your parents’ assets as of the day you complete the FAFSA

• If net worth is one million dollars or more, enter

• If net worth is zero, enter 0

999,999

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0

999,99

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Section 3Section 3 Parent Cash, Savings, and CheckingParent Cash, Savings, and Checking

• Some parents may be asked to report the current balances of their cash, savings, and checking accounts as of the day they complete the FAFSA

• They may also be asked to provide information about the net value of their investments such as real estate, rental property, money market and mutual funds, stocks, bonds and other securities

• In addition, they may be asked questions about the net value of their businesses and investment farms

• They should not include the home in which they live, the value of life insurance and retirement plans, or the value of a family-owned and controlled small business

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Section 3 Section 3 IRS Data RetrievalIRS Data Retrieval

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An important question NOT on the Worksheet

• If you are filing the FOTW after 1/30/2011, you will find a

question in the parent section that asks:

For 2010, have your parents completed their IRS income tax return?

• If parent(s) answer “Already completed,” they will be given the option to transfer their 2010 income tax information directly from IRS records

• If you are filing the FAFSA within 6-8 weeks of having filed your tax return, you should ignore this question and use your actual 2010 IRS tax return to complete the FOTW so you do not miss any important financial aid deadlines.

Section 3 Section 3 Parent E-Mail AddressParent E-Mail Address

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• Provide a parent e-mail address that will be valid at least until the student starts college

• If a parent provides an e-mail address, the FAFSA processor will let them know the student’s FAFSA has been processed


Section 3Section 3 Parent Household SizeParent Household Size

• Include in the parents’ household:• the student• parent(s)• parents’ other dependent children, if

the parents provide more than half their support or the children could answer “no” to every question in Section 2, regardless of where they live

• other people, if they now live with the parents and will continue to do so from 7/1/11 through 6/30/12, and if the parents provide more than half their support now, and will continue to provide support from 7/1/11 through 6/30/12


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Section 3Section 3 College Students in the Parent HouseholdCollege Students in the Parent Household

NOTE: Some financial aid offices will require proof that other family members are attending college

• Always include the student even if he/she will attend college less than half-time in 2011-2012

• Include other household members only if they will attend at least half-time in 2011-2012 in a program that leads to a college degree or certificate

• Never include the parents


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Section 3Section 3Parents’ 2010 U.S. Income TaxesParents’ 2010 U.S. Income Taxes

• What was the amount parents paid in U.S. income tax for 2010?

– Use U.S. income tax paid (or to be paid)

• not the amount withheld from parents’ paychecks


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Section 3Section 3Parents’ 2010 Tax ExemptionsParents’ 2010 Tax Exemptions

• Enter the parents’ tax exemptions for 2010 • Be sure to include all persons being

claimed on the parents’ 2010 federal tax return, regardless of whether they are included in the parents’ household size question


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Section 4Section 4Student InformationStudent Information

• Questions in Section 4 are identical to the parent financial questions we covered in Section 3• If the student is single, ignore

references to “spouse”

• If the student is married, also report spouse’s income and assets

• The questions in Section 4 ask:

• Which 2010 federal tax return the student filed or will file• The student’s 2010 Adjusted Gross Income, if filing a tax

return, and earnings from work as well as untaxed income and assets

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Section 4 Section 4 Student Dislocated WorkerStudent Dislocated Worker

A person may be considered a dislocated worker if he/she:• 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

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Section 4 Section 4 Student Information (Independent Students)Student Information (Independent Students)

There are questions in Section 4 that the student will be asked only if he/she checked at least one response in Section 2 – Student Dependency Status

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Section 4 Section 4 Student Benefits (Independent Students) Student Benefits (Independent Students)

Indicate if the student, his/her spouse, or anyone in the student’s household received benefits in 2009 or 2010 from any of the federal programs listed

• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)• Food Stamps• Free or Reduced Price School Lunch• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)• Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC)

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Section 4 - Student Household Size Section 4 - Student Household Size (Independent Students) (Independent Students)

Student Household SizeInclude in student’s household:

• the student and the student’s spouse.(if married)• the student’s dependent children, if the student

provides more than half their support• other people, if they now live with

the student and will continue to do so from 7/1/11 through 6/30/12, and if the student provides more than half their support now, and will continue to provide that level of support from 7/1/11 through 6/30/12


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Section 4 - Student Number in CollegeSection 4 - Student Number in College(Independent Students)(Independent Students)

Student Number in College

• Count the student even if the student will attend college less than half-time in 2011-2012

• Include others only if they will attend at least half-time in 2011-2012 in a program that leads to a college degree or certificate


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DO NOT MAIL THIS WORKSHEETGo to www.fafsa.gov to complete and submit your application.

For more information on federal student aid,

visit www.FederalStudentAid.ed.gov.

You can also talk with your college’s financial aid office

about other types of student aid that may be available

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Special CircumstancesSpecial Circumstances• Contact the Financial Aid Office if there are

circumstances which affect a family’s ability to pay for college such as:

– Loss or reduction in parent or student income or assets

– Death or serious illness

– Natural disasters affecting parent income or assets such as the recent California wild fires, floods, or mudslides

– Unusual medical or dental expenses not covered by insurance

– Reduction in child support, Social Security benefits or other untaxed benefit

– Financial responsibility for elderly grandparents, or

– Any other unusual circumstances that affect a family’s ability to contribute to higher education

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Application Filing TipsApplication Filing TipsFAFSA on The WebFAFSA on The Web

• Gather necessary documents ahead of time

• Complete a FAFSA on the Web Worksheet available at: www.fafsa.gov

• Allow ample time to complete the online FOTW application for submission by the deadline

• Check the FAFSA on the Web for accuracy prior to submission

• Save all work periodically

• Sign the application using student’s and one custodial parent’s PINs

• Print out a copy of the FAFSA before submitting data

• Keep a copy of the Submission Confirmation Page

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What Happens Next? What Happens Next?

Students and the colleges the student listed receive Student Aid Report (SAR) from federal processor

Students who complete FAFSA and Cal Grant GPA Verification

Form receive California Aid Report (CAR)

Students and families review SAR and CAR for important

information and accuracy of data

Colleges match admission records with FAFSA and other

required financial aid forms to determine aid eligibility

Colleges mail notices of financial aid eligibility to admitted students who have completed all required financial aid forms

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Student Aid Report (SAR)Student Aid Report (SAR)

• After the student completes the FAFSA on the Web, a SAR will be sent to the student – An electronic SAR Acknowledgment

will be sent if student provides an email address

– A paper SAR will be mailed if no student e-mail address is provided

• An electronic copy of the data will be sent to each college or university listed by the student in Section 1

• Keep a copy of the SAR with other financial aid documents

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Check Your Cal GrantCheck Your Cal Grant

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Open a WebGrants Account and you can: - Check your Cal Grant award status 24/7

- Make changes to your Cal Grant school choices - View how much a Cal Grant is worth at different California colleges and

universities - See your Cal Grant payment history

Sign up at: webgrants4students.org

Summary of the Summary of the Financial Aid ProcessFinancial Aid Process

• Submit all required forms, including the FAFSA, by each college’s published deadlines (but no later than

March 2)

• By March 2, submit a Cal Grant GPA Verification Form• Keep a copy of all forms submitted

• Review the electronic Student Aid Report (SAR) Acknowledgement or the paper SAR sent to the student

• Review the California Aid Report (CAR)

• Watch for financial aid award notifications from colleges to which the student has been admitted

• Be sure to apply for financial aid this year and every year as soon as possible after January 1 to receive the best financial aid award possible

• ASK QUESTIONS!

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If You Need Help At Any TimeIf You Need Help At Any Time

• FAFSA on the Web – Live Help

• Phone 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243)

• E-mail the U.S. Department of Education at: [email protected]

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Questions and Questions and AnswersAnswers

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applying for financial aid 2011-2012 applying for financial aid 2011-2012

Documents