National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators Presents … © 2014 NASFAA What You Need to Know About Financial Aid

© 2014 NASFAA Slide 2 Topics We Will Discuss Tonight The Financial Aid Process Categories, types, and sources of financial aid Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Special Circumstances

© 2014 NASFAA Slide 3 What is Financial Aid? Financial aid consists of funds provided to students and families to help pay for postsecondary educational expenses. Most financial aid is awarded to help a student and family meet their financial need.

© 2014 NASFAA Slide 4 Financial Need Cost of Attendance – Expected Family Contribution = Financial Need

© 2014 NASFAA Slide 5 Cost of Attendance Direct costs (tuition, room, board, fees) Indirect costs (books, supplies, transportation, miscellaneous) Varies widely from college to college

© 2014 NASFAA Slide 6 Expected Family Contribution (EFC) Amount family can reasonably be expected to contribute toward the student’s education for that year. Remains constant regardless of college Calculated using data from a federal application form (FAFSA) and a federal formula

© 2014 NASFAA Slide 7 Categories of Financial Aid Need-based aid Non-need-based aid

© 2014 NASFAA Slide 8 Gift Aid Money that does not have to be paid back Scholarships: Generally awarded on the basis of merit, skill, or unique characteristic Grants: Generally awarded based on financial need

© 2014 NASFAA Slide 9 Primary Sources of Gift Aid Federal government States Colleges and universities Private sources Civic organizations and churches Employers

© 2014 NASFAA Slide 10 Federal Student Aid Programs Federal Pell Grant Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) Federal Work-Study (FWS) Subsidized and Unsubsidized Federal Direct Student Loans (Direct Loans) Parent (PLUS) Loans

© 2014 NASFAA Slide 11 State of Kansas Programs 1. Kansas Comprehensive Grant (available only at 4-year schools) 2. Kansas State Scholarship (top 20-40% of designated state scholar graduates who complete Kansas Scholars Curriculum) 3. Kansas Ethnic Minority Scholarship 4. Kansas Teacher Service Scholarship 5. Kansas Nursing Scholarship 6. Vocational Educational Scholarship (CC’s or Tech Colleges) 7. Kansas National Guard Educational Assistance 8. Kansas Military Service Scholarship (public institutions only)

© 2014 NASFAA Slide 12 States You can apply for State of Kansas Student Aid 1 of 2 ways: 1. Complete the online form at sfa.kansasregents.org OR 2. Print, complete and mail the State of Kansas Student Aid Application. There is a $12 processing fee for state scholarships. Kansas Comprehensive Grant application is the FAFSA

© 2014 NASFAA Slide 13

© 2014 NASFAA Slide 14 Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID The FSA ID (username and password) replaces the PIN for students, parents and borrowers accessing Federal Student Aid systems. studentaid.ed.gov/fsaid Provides more secure access to user information Links to PIN information during registration Offers self–service capability (name change)

© 2014 NASFAA Slide 15 Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID Linked to an address. Use an that is easily accessible during setup. If user currently has a PIN, FSA ID can link PIN information to FSA ID. Requires five challenge questions (for added security). FSA ID may be established prior to completing FAFSA or is available for creation from FAFSA site.

© 2014 NASFAA Slide 16 FSA ID Tips Access your account before starting to create an FSA ID. Create the FSA ID before starting a FAFSA. Have list of common (challenge) questions available. Have list of suggestions for “additions” to usernames Middle Initial or Name Graduation year Last four digits of phone number House number

© 2014 NASFAA Slide 17 FAFSA on the Web (FOTW) Website: –17 FAFSA on the Web available January 1, 2016 Most colleges set FAFSA filing deadlines

© 2014 NASFAA Slide 18 FAFSA on the Web Good reasons to file electronically: Online help available Built-in edits to prevent errors Skip-logic allows student and/or parent to skip unnecessary questions Option to use Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Data Retrieval Tool to import tax data

© 2014 NASFAA Slide 19 General Student Information Gender/Selective Service registration Citizenship status Marital status High school completion/degree sought Drug convictions Level of parents’ school completion

© 2014 NASFAA Slide 20 Student Eligibility

© 2014 NASFAA Slide 21

© 2014 NASFAA Slide 22 Parent Demographics Marital Status Name/SSN/DOB Household Size Number in College

© 2014 NASFAA Slide 23 IRS Data Retrieval Tool While completing FOTW, applicant may submit real-time request to IRS for tax data IRS will authenticate taxpayer’s identity If match found, IRS sends real-time results to applicant in new browser window Applicant chooses whether or not to transfer data to FOTW

© 2014 NASFAA Slide 24 IRS Data Retrieval Tool Available early February 2016 for 2016–17 processing cycle May be used after taxes completed if using estimated tax information for FAFSA Participation is voluntary May reduce documents needed by financial aid office

© 2014 NASFAA Slide 25 IRS Data Retrieval Tool Some will be unable to use IRS DRT Examples include: – Filed an amended tax return – No Social Security Number (SSN) was entered – Student or parent married but filed separately

© 2014 NASFAA Slide 26 IRS Data Retrieval Tool These fields are pre-filled based on FAFSA responses

© 2014 NASFAA Slide 27 IRS Data Retrieval Tool

© 2014 NASFAA Slide 28 Additional Financial Information Reporting Income Earned from Work Federal Benefit Programs Assets Child Support Received/Paid Contributions to Tax-Deferred Savings Plans Retirement/Pension Distributions

© 2014 NASFAA Slide 29 Signatures Required – Student – One parent (dependent students) Format for submitting signatures – Electronic using FSA ID – Signature page

© 2014 NASFAA Slide 30 Frequent FAFSA Errors Social Security Numbers Divorced/remarried parental information Income earned by parents/stepparents Untaxed income U.S. income taxes paid Household size Number of household members in college Real estate and investment net worth Signatures

© 2014 NASFAA Slide 31 FAFSA on the Web Assistance Online help at fafsa.gov (includes online chat with FAFSA experts) Federal Student Aid Hotline ( ) Peak Season Hours: Monday-Friday 7 am till 11 pm Saturday 8 am till 7 pm Sunday 12 pm till 6 pm Your college’s Financial Aid Office KASFAA’s FAFSA Completion Website ( available in January.

© 2014 NASFAA Slide 32 Prior-Prior Year for FAFSA – Available January 1, 2016 Use 2015 taxes FAFSA – Available October 2016 Use 2015 taxes AGAIN Possibly know complete aid package prior to January 1 st. More time to make college decisions. Prior-prior year data helps avoid costly delays and errors especially when using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT).

© 2014 NASFAA Slide 33 Special Circumstances Cannot be documented using FAFSA Send written explanation and documentation to financial aid office at each college College will review and request additional information if necessary Decisions are final and cannot be appealed to U.S. Department of Education

© 2014 NASFAA Slide 34 Special Circumstances Change in employment status Unusual medical expenses not covered by insurance Change in parent marital status Unusual dependent care expenses Student cannot obtain parental information Parent(s) attending college