High School Counselors’ Workshop Looking toward 2017-2018

General Information Remind you – always seek good partners in the processes related to financial aid. Schools and seasoned professionals are available and should be willing to assist. View various websites – but be careful about those without the GOV prefix.

Cont. Several important websites includes: www.fafsa.gov (FAFSA) https://fafsa.ed.gov/FAFSA/app/f4cForm?execution=e1s1 (FAFSA4caster) www.studentaid.ed.gov (general) www.nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator (comparison tool) www.gafutures.org (HOPE/Zell) www.irs.gov (tax documents)

Basic FAFSA Information Student eligibility criteria must be met to receive federal student aid: Has registered with the Selective Service System (males) Maintains Satisfactory Academic Progress ( SAP) Is a US Citizen, a US national, or an eligible non- citizen Has not been found guilty of the sale or possession of illegal drugs while federal aid was being received

Cont. Has a valid Social Security Number Has a high school diploma or GED Signs a certification statement stating that: 1) not in default on a federal student loan and do not owe money on a federal student grant, and 2) Federal Student aid will only be used for educational purposes.

FAFSA Changes for 2017-2018 FAFSA opened October 1, 2016 for 2017-2018 Utilizes 2015 tax year data (prior-prior-year) Tax data for 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 should be the same (if filed for 16/17) If “circumstances beyond your control” occurred – the data still must be entered – but can be appealed. Only can be done by contacting the Financial Aid Office

Cont. Beginning with the 2017-2018 award year – and going forward – students may begin completing the FAFSA October 1st (three months earlier that before). “Prior-Prior-Year” tax data will be utilized. Example – the 2017-2018 FAFSA opened October 1, 2016 and will utilize the 2015 tax data.

IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT) The IRS DRT allows applicants who have already filed their federal income tax returns to prefill the answers to some questions on the FAFSA. This is done by “transferring” data from their federal income tax returns directly into the FAFSA.

Cont. This process saves the family time in completing the FAFSA. It also reduces the likelihood that you will complete the FAFSA incorrectly. It diminishes the possibility that your FAFSA will be selected for an audit – called “Verification.”

Who May or May not use the DRT To be eligible to use the IRS DRT – Must have a valid Social Security number Must have a FSA ID# (akin to a PIN #) Cannot file as married filing separately Cannot have a change in marital status after the end of the tax year Cannot file an amended federal income tax return Cannot list a different home address on the FAFSA and federal income tax return Cannot file a foreign income tax return instead of or in addition to the U.S. federal income tax return

DRT for 2017-2018 – and 2018-2019 On March 30, 2017 – the IRS and FSA announced the DRT for use in the FAFSA – would be offline until extra security protections can be added. According to information received – there may have been a security breach that occurred months prior to March 30th – that may have jeopardized personal information.

Cont. The IRS DRT will not be available for the 2017- 2018 FAFSA cycle going forward. We are being told – it will be reopened Oct. 1, 2017 for the 2018-2019 FAFSA cycle.

FAFSA for 2017-2018 – and tax data Can a student choose to report 2016 information if the family’s income dropped significantly since filing the 2015 taxes? NO – The 2015 tax information MUST be used. If the family’s situation changed drastically – and occurred because of a mitigating circumstance – then file using the 2015 tax data – then immediately contact the Financial Aid Office for additional assistance.

Cont. Does the student report 2015 tax and income information on the 2017-2018 FAFSA now – and then update it once the 2016 taxes are filed? NO – do not update after filing the 2016 tax form. The 2017-2018 FAFSA is very specific – you must use 2015 tax information.

Cont. What if my parent’s (or my)martial status has changed since we filed 2015 taxes? How do we supply tax and income information on the 2017- 2018 FAFSA? The FAFSA asks for marital status – “as of today” (the day filing). So if the student or parent is married now but wasn’t in 2015 – the spouse’s income will need to be added. Similarly – if the student or parent filed 2015 taxes as married – but are no longer married – the spouse’s income will need to be subtracted.

Cont. If the student or parent was married when filing 2015 taxes – then got divorced – and is now married to someone else – there’s a bit more math to do: Subtract the ex’s income Then add the new spouse’s income

Appeals We are finding many individuals are “selecting” which year they wish to report. This is NOT allowed by the US Dept. of ED. There is basically no option regarding which tax year information to use – you must use 2015 tax data.

Cont. Appealing to change the 2015 tax data to 2016 tax data – must be because of circumstances beyond the student/parent’s control, i.e., job loss, death of parent, etc. The appeal process is part of standard “Professional Judgment” processes. Simply appealing doesn’t assume approval.

Living with Different Parent If the student lived with one parent (in a divorced situation) – and then decides because of receiving more financial aid they wish to include(“live with”) the “other” parent – this is NOT allowed. Being “creative” is not an option when filing the FAFSA. If a situation occurred where the student needs to leave one household for the other – then an appeal should be completed.

FAFSA for 2018-2019 Guardianship Changed the instructions to say – “The definition of legal guardianship does NOT include your parents, even if they were appointed by a court. You are also not considered a legal guardian of yourself.”

Cont. Emancipated Minor Changed instructions to say, “Answer YES if you can provide a copy of a court’s decision that as of today you are an emancipated minor or are in legal guardianship.” Same applies – “….immediately before you reached the age of being an adult in your state.” Remember – the court must be located in the state of legal residence at the time the court’s decision was issued.

Cont. Homeless “Homeless means lacking fixed, regular and adequate housing. You may be homeless if you are living in shelters, parks, motels, hotels, public spaces, camping grounds, cars, abandoned buildings, or temporarily living with other people because you have nowhere else to go. Also, if you are living in any of these situations and fleeing an abusive parent, you may be considered homeless even if your parent would otherwise provide a place to live.”

Cont. Unaccompanied Youth “Means you are not living in the physical custody of your parent or guardianship.” Under section 480 of the Higher Education Act of 1965. 20 U.S.C. § 1087vv – these students are independent of parental information. A liaison, director of Runaway and Homeless Youth, director of HUD-funded shelter or transitional program – can write a letter to the financial aid office verifying the student’s status.

HOPE and STEM Beginning with Fall term 2017, specific degree- level science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) courses will be weighted in the college GPA calculation for the HOPE Scholarship and Zell Miller Scholarship. Only grades of B, C, and D will have .5 added to the grade.

HOPE and STEM For the course to be weighted, the course must be taken at a HOPE and Zell Miller Scholarship eligible postsecondary institution A course directory of which classes will receive the weight is posted on Gafutures.org. Not all STEM courses will receive the weight (majority of the course are 1000 and 2000 level courses). Courses must have been taken in the Fall 2017 semester or later.

Questions