FAFSA 201: Corrections, Special Circumstances, and Next Steps Revised 9/2013 Understanding the FAFSA FAFSA Filing FAFSA 101 Corrections Special Circumstances Next Steps FAFSA 201 Filing a Renewal FAFSA FAFSA 301

Financial Aid Overview Paying for College Family Financing =

Agenda AFTER THE FAFSAMaking Updates and CorrectionsIRS Data Retrieval (tax update)VerificationCommon MistakesSPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCESDependencySpecial Financial CircumstancesAppeal ProcessUndocumented Students NEXT STEPS

Making Updates and Corrections

Log-in Screen

Welcome Screen

Correction Entry

List of Changes

No Changes to Make

Making Updates and Corrections

Agenda AFTER THE FAFSAMaking Updates and CorrectionsIRS Data Retrieval (tax update)VerificationCommon MistakesSPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCESDependencySpecial Financial CircumstancesAppeal ProcessUndocumented Students NEXT STEPS

Filing FAFSA With Tax Estimates FAFSA communication IRS Data Retrieval Tool option is preferred reminder to update FAFSA with filed tax information IRS DRT available the 1 st Sunday in Feb

IRS Data Retrieval Tool 1-2 weeks 6-8 weeks

IRS DRT Eligibility

IRS Data Retrieval

Transferred IRS Data

What if the DRT isn’t used? Required to provide an official IRS tax transcript Return Transcript: Initial filing Account Transcript: Amendments/adjustments Most Likely Selected for Verification Contact college financial aid office Requesting Tax Transcripts (800)

Agenda AFTER THE FAFSAMaking Updates and CorrectionsIRS Data Retrieval (tax update)VerificationCommon MistakesSPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCESDependencySpecial Financial CircumstancesAppeal ProcessUndocumented Students NEXT STEPS

Verification +30% Verification Processed by college(s), not DoE Household Info # in household # in college Financial Info IRS DRT= don’t have to verify financials NO IRS DRT= provide tax transcript Non-tax filers= W-2s + signed statement Public Assistance Child Support

Required Documentation

Agenda AFTER THE FAFSAMaking Updates and CorrectionsIRS Data Retrieval (tax update)VerificationCommon MistakesSPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCESDependencySpecial Financial CircumstancesAppeal ProcessUndocumented Students NEXT STEPS

Common Mistakes Forgetting PINWrong SSN Did not use legal name Submitting FAFSA without PIN’s Forgetting to mail signature page Filling out the FAFSA for the previous year Incorrect parent income information Updating tax status Not Completing FAFSA Not checking

Agenda AFTER THE FAFSAMaking Updates and CorrectionsIRS Data Retrieval (tax update)VerificationCommon MistakesSPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCESDependencySpecial Financial CircumstancesAppeal ProcessUndocumented Students NEXT STEPS

Dependency Questions  Emancipated Minor  Legal Guardianship  Homelessness  Independent students who are determined dependent by DOE

Emancipated Minor/Legal Guardianship? YESNO *you can provide a copy of a court’s decision that you ARE or WERE immediately before you reached adulthood in your state. *you are still a minor and the court decision is no longer in effect *the court decision was not in effect when you became an adult. *you simply don’t live at home *you claim yourself as your own guardian *your parent is your legal guardian

Homeless Youth Determination Lacking regular or fixed housing Lacking adequate housing Homelessness High School/School District Homeless Liaison director of a runaway or homeless youth center Determined by

Independent, But Determined Dependent Fleeing abusive situation Not in contact with parents (at least 6 months) Independent College’s financial aid department 3rd-party verification Determined by NOT INDEPENDENT: If parents simply refuse to help pay for college or give student information

Independent Students

What is a Special Circumstance?

No Special Circumstance + No Parent Info

Agenda AFTER THE FAFSAMaking Updates and CorrectionsIRS Data Retrieval (tax update)VerificationCommon MistakesSPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCESDependencySpecial Financial CircumstancesAppeal ProcessUndocumented Students NEXT STEPS

Special Financial Circumstances Student or parent recently lost his or her job Family has unusually large uninsured medical bills or nursing home expenses Family is paying unusually high elementary or secondary school tuition or dependent care expenses Legal Separation or divorce after filing FAFSA Death of a parent or spouse after filing FAFSA

Agenda AFTER THE FAFSAMaking Updates and CorrectionsIRS Data Retrieval (tax update)VerificationCommon MistakesSPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCESDependencySpecial Financial CircumstancesAppeal ProcessUndocumented Students NEXT STEPS

Appeal Process Contact Financial Aid Office Ask about appeal process Share personal situation Required documents Timeline Start as soon as possible! Begins after college acceptance Schools not required to accept appeals It can take several weeks

Agenda AFTER THE FAFSAMaking Updates and CorrectionsIRS Data Retrieval (tax update)VerificationCommon MistakesSPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCESDependencySpecial Financial CircumstancesAppeal ProcessUndocumented Students NEXT STEPS

Undocumented Students  Work  Part-time enrollment  Save  Scholarships  HB 1079  Community College TheWashBoard.org LatinoCollegeDollars.org Scholarshipsa-z.org CollegeSuccessFoundation.org Campanaquetzal.org Maldef.org ca-core.org Salef.org scholarshipsforhispanics.org migrant.net/migrant/scholarships.htm

Agenda AFTER THE FAFSAMaking Updates and CorrectionsIRS Data Retrieval (tax update)VerificationCommon MistakesSPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCESDependencySpecial Financial CircumstancesAppeal ProcessUndocumented Students NEXT STEPS

Financial Aid OverviewFinancial Aid Process Overview

Who You Gonna Call?  Contact FAFSA  PIN issues  Understanding FAFSA questions  Submission issues  Contact Financial Aid Office  Deadlines  Required documentation  ?’s about scholarships and student aid  How/where to submit required info  When $ will be received  Additional available funds

Resources s  Financial Aid Office  FAFSA:  fafsa.gov  College Goal Sunday (collegegoalsundaywa.org)  Federal student aid:  studentaid.ed.gov  College Bound:  wsac.wa.gov  USA Funds online presentations:  usafunds.webex.com Participate in *Understanding & Comparing Financial Aid Packages *Scholarship Strategies *Student Loans 101: Know Before You Borrow

A nonprofit corporation, USA Funds ® works to enhance postsecondary education preparedness, access and success by providing and supporting financial and other valued services.