1 How to Complete FAFSA on the Web for the Academic Year

2 FAFSA on the Web This presentation has been created to provide you a step-by- step guide to FAFSA on the Web. Have questions? Call EAC’s Financial Aid Services Team

Go to

Request a PIN A Personal Identification Number is your key to fast FAFSA information. If you haven’t already, visit and request a PIN (both student and one parent should do this) before you ever begin the FAFSA process. You Choose: Display PIN on the screen in real time, Have it ed in real time, or Mailed to you. Use it to: Sign your FAFSA Check status of FAFSA Access your Student Aid Report (SAR) Make changes to your FAFSA More

Complete the Pre-Application Worksheet Before you begin completing your FAFSA on the Web, complete the FAFSA on the Web Worksheet. Filling out this worksheet will make completing your FAFSA on the Web quick and easy. The worksheet is available at

Worksheet A, B, C When completing the Pre-Application Worksheet, be sure to fill in Worksheets A, B, and C. Many of the items may not apply to you. It is still important to carefully review the worksheet. Several of the items on Worksheet A are taken directly from your tax return. Worksheet A and B information can be considered “additions” to your income information. Worksheet C information can be considered “subtractions” from your income information.

Items Needed to Complete FAFSA on the Web Parents’ and student’s 2008 income tax return Parents’ and student’s 2008 W-2 forms Current asset information (examples – checking accounts, savings account, investments, business and farm net worth) Cont.

Items Needed to Complete FAFSA on the Web Parents’ and student’s Social Security Number and driver’s license Parents’ and student’s PIN Completed Pre-Application Worksheets including worksheets A, B, and C

The First Steps to Completing FAFSA on the Web to Select Fill out a FAFSA Select FAFSA (or Spanish FAFSA) Select Next Review the Browser Requirements Select Next

Choosing to Sign Using Your PIN If you have a FAFSA PIN, choose to use it to sign your FAFSA electronically when prompted to do so. Doing so will reduce processing time from weeks to hours.

11 Fill Out a FAFSA This screen asks for your Social Security Number, first name, last name, and date of birth. You will then be asked to create a password. you can use this password to retrieve your saved FAFSA. Save your password in a safe place.

12 Introduction The following section is an introduction to FAFSA on the Web. Read it for information on the steps to completion, documents required, and security and privacy.

Step One: Info About the Student Enter your name exactly as it appears on your Social Security card. Double-check your Social Security Number to ensure its accuracy. The first questions are about you, the student. The questions are biographical and include name, address, date of birth, Social Security Number, etc., and includes several screens.

Step One: Info About the Student The next screen asks for your address. If you check your regularly, it’s a good idea to provide your address. It will make sure you receive your SAR (Student Aid Report – your FASFA results) in a fast, electronic format.

Step One: Info About the Student Enter your marital status as of today. Double-check your Social Security Number to ensure its accuracy. The next three screens ask for your citizenship status, marital status, and how long you have been a legal resident of your state.

16 Step One: Info About the Student Male students will receive an additional question regarding selective service status. If you are under 18, select “No.”

17 Step One: Info About the Student When entering your grade level information, keep in mind that you are considered a first year student even if you have completed some college courses while in high school. Be sure to indicate an interest in work study and student loans, even if you are unsure.

18 Step One: Info About the Student Student Drug Conviction Question DO NOT LEAVE THIS QUESTION BLANK A drug conviction does not necessarily make you ineligible for aid. If you have been convicted of committing a drug- related offense while receiving Title IV aid, go to The worksheet will help determine if your conviction affects your eligibility for financial aid.

Step Two: Student Status Were born before January 1, Will be working on a masters/doctorate in Are married The questions on the first screen in this section determine whether you are considered dependent or independent for financial aid purposes.

Step Two: Student Status Have children that receive more than half of their support from you Have dependents other than children/spouse who receive more than half of their support from you Are the child of deceased parents or are ward of the court (or were you a ward of the court until age 18) Are currently serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces for purposes other than training Are a veteran

Step Two: Student Status This section continues with questions about whether or not you have completed your 2008 tax return, and, if so, the type. If you are a dependent student, you will be asked about the status and type of your parents’ tax return and their income.

Step Three: Student’s Finances The next section deals with the student’s and, if married, the student’s spouse’s income and assets. Every student must complete this section. If the answer to a question is zero, or does not apply to you, enter “0” or leave the field blank. If you are now married (even if you were not in 2008) report both you and your spouse’s income and assets.

23 For answers to financial questions, use information from your actual tax return whenever possible. Step Three: Student Finances

24 Step Three: Student Finances The next three screens deal with the student version of Worksheets A, B, and C. You may have completed them earlier. If not, go to and complete them now.

25 Step Three: Student Finances The next questions ask about net worth of investments, business, and farm. Net worth means value minus debt. For example, if your business value totaled $200,000 and you have $100,000 of business debt, you would enter $100,000 net worth of business.

26 Step Three: Student Finances Note: You are not required to report business net worth unless your business employs over 100 people. Business value includes the market value of land, buildings, machinery, equipment, and inventory. Business debt means only those debts for which the business was used as collateral.

27 Step Three: Student’s Finances For your household size, include: Yourself (and your spouse, if you have one), and Your children if you will provide more than half of their support from July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010 Other people if they now live with you, and you will provide more than half of their support from July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010

Step Three: Student Finances Count yourself as a college student even if you will attend college less than half time in Include others only if they will attend at least half time in in a program that leads to a college degree or certificate.

Step Four: Parent Info Who is considered a parent? If your parents are both living and married to each other, answer the questions about them. (You will be providing information about two people.) If your parent is widowed or single, answer the questions about that parent. (You will be providing information about one person.)

Step Four: Parent Info If your parents are divorced or separated, answer the questions about the parent you lived with most during the last twelve months. If you did not live with one parent more, answer the questions about the parent who provided the most financial support during the most recent year you were supported by a parent. (You will be providing information about one person.)

Step Four: Parent Info If your (widowed or divorced) parent is remarried as of today, answer the questions about that parent and the person to whom your parent is married. (You will be providing information about two people.)

Step Four: Parent’s Info Answer parent marital status as of today. For parent financial information, go to the appropriate line of the tax return or TeleFile worksheet whenever possible. If any answer to the parental income and asset questions is zero, or does not apply to you, enter a “0.”

33 Step Four: Parent’s Info Enter parent names and Social Security Numbers exactly as they appear on the Social Security card(s).

Step Four: Parents’ Info Include in your parents’ household size: Yourself and your parents, and Your parents’ other children if Your parents provide more than half of their support from July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009, or The children would be considered dependent for financial aid purposes

35 Step Four: Parent’s Info Your parents’ number in college includes those that will be college students between July 1, 2009 and June 30, 2010, excluding your parents.

36 Step Four: Parent’s Info If your parent is a college student, please contact your Financial Aid Administrator (FAA). Through professional judgment, the FAA may be able to include your parent in the number in college.

37 Step Four: Parent’s Info The next questions deal with the parent section of Worksheets A, B, and C. you may have completed them earlier. If not, complete them now.

38 Step Four: Parent’s Info The next questions ask about net worth of investments, business, and farm. Net worth means value minus debt. For example, if your business value totaled $200,000 and you have $100,000 of business debt, you would enter $100,000 net worth of business.

39 Step Four: Parent’s Info Note: You are not required to report business net worth unless your business employs more than 100 people. Business value includes the market value of land, buildings, machinery, equipment, and inventory. Business debt means only those debts for which the business was used as collateral.

40 Step Four: Parent’s Info Net worth of investment farm does not include a farm that your family lives on and operates. Again, be sure you enter the net worth, which requires subtracting related debt from asset totals before entering an amount.

41 Step Five: Schools to Receive Results On this screen you will be asked to list the schools you are interested in attending. Each school will be verified. Complete your housing plan for each school you wish to list. When all schools have been added, select “Next.”

42 Step Five: Preparer Information If someone other than you, your spouse, or your parent(s) completed the FAFSA on your behalf, especially if the person charged a fee for assisting you, the law requires the preparer to complete the question on this screen.

Step Six: Review FAFSA Information Your information will be reviewed for potential errors or problems. Correct any mistakes that are pointed out. Print a copy of your FAFSA information for your records.

Step Seven: Signatures There are three ways you and your parent (if applicable) may provide your signatures: Electronically Sign (recommended) – using your PIN Print Signature Page and mail to Central Processing Center as directed Wait for SAR

Step Seven: Signatures By providing your signature (electronically or by paper) you certify that all of the information you provided is true and correct, that any money you receive will be used only for educational purposes, that you are not in default on a student loan, and that you do not own an overpayment on a Title IV grant or have made satisfactory repayment.

Step Seven: Signatures The Secretary of Education has the authority to verify reported income information with the IRS.

Step Seven: Signatures The processing of your application will be delayed if you and your parent, if applicable, do not sign it.

Step Eight: Submit Student’s FAFSA Read through the information provided and select “Submit My FAFSA Now.”

49 Step Nine: Finish On this screen, you will receive your confirmation number and Expected Family Contribution. If applicable, you must now return your Signature Page to complete the process.

50 Much of the information in this PowerPoint was taken from a Powerpoint posted on the EAC website - The use of this information in this PowerPoint is not an endorsement of any Education Assistance Agency.