Session #31

FAFSAFree Application for Federal Student Aid

Angela SmithBob Tschinkel

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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 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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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 FAFSAStudent• Paper 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.fafsa.ed.gov

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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/

index.html

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FOTW Worksheet • Recommended for applicants using

FAFSA on the Web (FOTW)• Paper worksheet that follows web

version of FAFSA• FAFSA Worksheets A, B, C are

included in FOTW Worksheet

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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 Sections1. General Student Information2. Student/Spouse Income and Assets3. Student Dependency Status4. Parent Information (dependent

student only)5. Household Size and Number in

College (independent student only)6. School Information7. Signature Requirements

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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 enters SSN and first two letters of last name that match what’s 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 - #16

• Marital status at time of application remains for entire award year

• May not change marital status once application is filed

– No change to dependency status or household size

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Questions 29 & 30• 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 31 - 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 32b & 76b• Reported estimated income

information – tax return not yet filed• Estimated information not

automatically conflicting information After April 15 of award year, CPS

requests that families “correct” information to reflect actual tax information

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Questions 44 & 88• Qualified education benefits 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 is owner of the account or plan

Never considered an asset of a dependent student

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

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Family Ownership of Small Business

Asset Questions 45 and 89• 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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Dependency QuestionsStep Three• 8 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 Questions48. Must be age 24 or older by

December 31 of award year49. Enrolled in a master’s, doctorate, or

graduate certificate program 50. Married as of date of application

Common law marriage in states where recognized

Same-sex marriages are not recognized for Title IV purposes

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Dependency Questions51. Have children for whom provide

more than 50% support52. Have dependents other than

children and spouse for whom provide more than 50% support

How do you measure 50%?

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Dependency Questions53. Both parents deceased OR ward of

court at age 1854. Serving on active duty in U.S. armed

forces for purposes other than training

55. Veteran of U.S. Armed forces Served active duty for purpose other

than training and discharged other than dishonorably

Database match with VA

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Who Is A Parent?• Biological and adoptive• Stepparent currently married to

above• Legal guardians cannot be parents

on the FAFSA• Grandparents cannot be parents on

the FAFSA unless they have legally adopted the student

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Questions 55-62• 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

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Federal Means-Tested BenefitsQuestions 71-75 & 92-96• Additional criteria for simplified

needs test and automatic zero EFC• Is not conflicting information if

reports these but does not report corresponding income on Worksheets A

• Answering these questions will not affect receipt of these programs

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EXERCISEFAFSA QUESTIONS

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Resources • 2007-2008 FSA Handbook,

Application and Verification Guide (AVG), Chapters 1 & 2

• 2007-2008 FAFSA & instruction booklet

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Contacts

Bob Tschinkel• Phone: (646) 428-3757 • Email: robert.tschinkel@ed.gov

We appreciate your feedback and comments.We can be reached at:

Angela Smith• Phone: (312) 730-1552 • Email: angela.smith@ed.gov

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Please provide any comments regarding this training or the trainers

to:

Jo Ann BorelTitle IV Training Supervisor

joann.borel@ed.gov202-377-3930