Applying for Financial Aid

Presented by: Mrs. Girón

Types and sources of financial aid Required financial aid application forms Review Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the Cal Grant GPA Verification Form Answers to your individual questions What Will You Learn At This Workshop? 3

Types of Financial Aid Gift Aid - Grants or scholarships that do not need to be repaid Work - Money earned by the student as payment for a job on or off campus Loans - Borrowed money to be paid back, usually with interest 4

Sources of Financial Aid Federal government State government Colleges and universities Private agencies, companies, foundations, and parents’ employers 5

Cal Grants ( FAFSA and Dream Act) Cal Grant A Entitlement Awards – for high school seniors and recent high school grads with a Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 3.0, family income and assets below the state ceilings, who demonstrate financial need – awarded UC and Private Cal Grant B Entitlement Awards – for high school seniors and recent high school grads with a GPA of at least 2.0, who come from disadvantaged or low income families, whose family income and assets are below the state ceilings, and who demonstrate financial need – Cal State Cal Grant C Awards – for students from low income families pursuing vocational programs of study 6

7 To be eligible for a Cal Grant, the student must also: be a U.S. citizen, eligible noncitizen, or AB540 student (Deferred Action) be a California resident attend an accredited California college or university at least half-time in Eligibility for Cal Grants (FAFSA and Dream Act)

Possible Cal Grant A and Federal Pell Maximum Awards 8 If you qualify for Cal Grant, amounts vary depending on the school that you attend, your financial need, your year in college and your enrollment status (full or part-time) If you qualify for the Federal Pell Grant, amounts vary depending on your family contribution and your enrollment status (full or part-time) Other eligibility requirements may apply Cal Grant A (Up to $12,804) 1FAFSA or California Dream Act Application 2Your GPA 3Apply by March 2 Federal Pell Grant (up to $5,775) 1FAFSA only = Up to $18, 579 maximum annually * Check for eligible schools at: +

Residency and Cal Grant Eligibility for parents have been legal residents of California for one year immediately prior to September 20, 2015, or student has lived in California with other legal California residents, other than parents, for two years immediately prior to September 20, 2015, or parents who are active duty military, stationed in California at the time the student enrolls in college, or parents’ military home of record is California If unmarried and under 18 years of age, the student will be considered a legal resident of California if: If married or 18 years of age or older, the student establishes his/her own residence status. The student must be a legal resident of California for one year prior to September 20, 2015 Undocumented students who qualify for AB540 in-state tuition satisfy Cal Grant residency requirements / Colleges will as you to fill in a AB540 Affidavit 9

Cal Grant Application Requirements Check with your high school or college counselor for more details on how to file the Cal Grant GPA Verification Form, required of all students By March 2, 2016, complete and submit: Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) OR Cal Grant GPA Verification is submitted by LAUSD. The GPA Verification Form is only for community college students. 10 If eligible under AB540, students should complete the California Dream Act Application:

California Chafee Grant The California Chafee Grant program provides up to $5,000 annually to current and former foster youth for college or vocational training at any accredited college in the U.S., based on available funding To be eligible, foster youth must have been in California foster care on their 16 th birthday and not have reached their 22 nd birthday before July 1, 2016 Foster youth are encouraged to apply during their senior year of high school To apply, the foster youth must complete: FAFSA California Chafee Grant Program Application AB540 students may also be eligible To apply for a Chafee Grant, go to: 11

Types of Applications FAFSA  Cal Grant GPA Verification done by LAUSD  Other applications or forms as required by the college such as: 2015 federal tax returns (along with all schedules and W-2s) or other income documentation CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE Institutional Scholarship and/or Financial Aid Application 12 Undocumented student covered under AB540 should complete the California Dream Application

You are a U.S. citizen if you were born in the United States or are a U.S. national. Have a valid Social Security number (not including a work only Deferred Action Social Security Number) Qualify to obtain a college or career school education, either by having a high school diploma (including CAHSEE) Be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a regular student in an eligible degree or certificate program Be registered with Selective Service, if you are a male (you must register between the ages of 18 and 25) Be an eligible non-citizen: have a GREEN CARD (Form I-551, I-151, or I-551C)/ hold a valid non-immigrant visa (F,J,H,L,A,B,E, etc.) have an ARRIVAL-DEPARTURE RECORD (I-94) from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services must show one of the following: Refugee, Asylum Granted, Cuban-Haitian Entrant (Status Pending) / Parolee / have BATTERED IMMIGRANT STATUS / have a T-VISA, you are eligible if you have a T-visa or a parent with a T-1 visa. Who qualifies for FAFSA? 13

Who qualifies for the Dream Act ? 14 To qualify for California financial aid AB131, non-resident students, including undocumented students, must: Have attended a California high school for 3 or more full academic years between grades 9 through 12. They do not need to be consecutive years Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) students (hold Social Security card that is for work only) Have or will graduate from a California high school (including CAHSEE) Register or be currently enrolled at an accredited institution of higher education in California Not hold a valid non-immigrant visa (F,J,H,L,A,B,E, etc.) Demonstrate financial need and meet all other program requirements In the case of students without legal immigration status, fill out an affidavit stating that they have filed or will file an application to legalize their immigration status as soon as they are eligible to do so

FAFSA Information & Tips File early, but no later than March 2, 2016 It is highly advised that you apply by February 15 to give you time to open your Cal Grant Account Use estimated 2015 income information if taxes are not complete at time of FAFSA submission 15 Student and at least one parent whose information is reported must complete and sign the FAFSA

FAFSA on the Web (FOTW) Internet application used by students and parents to complete electronic FAFSA at: Sophisticated on-line edits and skip logic help avoid errors On-line help is available for each question Student and one custodial parent should get a federal FSA ID to sign FAFSA at: fsaid.ed.gov 16

FSA ID Needed to sign and access the FAFSA Both student and one parent need an FSA ID to sign the FAFSA electronically May be used to: Check on FAFSA status Verify and correct FAFSA data Add additional schools to receive FAFSA data Change home and addresses FSA ID will be generated only if a valid address is provided Federal PIN Apply for student and parent FSA ID at: fsaid.ed.gov 17

Another Useful Form - FAFSA on the Web Worksheet Though not a required form, the FAFSA on the Web Worksheet may: Help some students prepare to complete the FOTW Be used for the January 1, 2016 through June 30, 2017 federal aid application cycle 18

Before starting the FAFSA on the Web (FOTW), gather: Student driver’s license Student Alien Registration Card Student and Parent Social Security cards 2015 W-2 Forms and records of money earned and other taxable benefits 2014 federal income tax form (even if not yet completed) Records of untaxed income Current bank statements Business, farm, and other real estate records Records of stocks, bonds, and other investments Complete FOTW Worksheet (optional) Create a file for copies of all financial aid documents submitted Getting Ready 19

FAFSA on the Web (FOTW) The FAFSA on the Web may be used for the January 1, 2016 through June 30, 2017 federal student aid application cycle 20

Section 1 Section 1 –Student Demographics Section 2 Section 2 –School Selection Section 3 Section 3 –Dependency Status Section 4 Section 4 –Parent Demographics Section 5 Section 5 – Financial Information Section 6 Section 6 – Sign and Submit Section 7 Section 7 – Confirmation The FOTW A Seven-Section Online Form 21

Go to to complete and submit your application. For more information on federal student aid, visit You can also talk with your college’s financial aid office about other types of student aid that may be available 22

23 Contact the Financial Aid Office if there are circumstances which affect a family’s ability to pay for college such as: Loss or reduction in parent or student income or assets Death or serious illness Natural disasters affecting parent income or assets such as the recent California wind storms, wild fires, floods, or mudslides Unusual medical or dental expenses not covered by insurance Reduction in child support, Social Security benefits or other untaxed benefit Financial responsibility for elderly grandparents, or Any other unusual circumstances that affect a family’s ability to contribute to higher education Special Circumstances

24 Gather necessary documents ahead of time Complete a FAFSA on the Web available at: Allow ample time to complete the online FOTW application for submission by the deadline Check the FAFSA on the Web for accuracy prior to submission Save all work periodically Sign the application using student’s and one custodial parent’s FSA ID Print out a copy of the FAFSA before submitting data Keep a copy of the Submission Confirmation Page Application Filing Tips FAFSA on the Web

What Happens Next? 25 Students and the colleges the student listed receive Student Aid Report (SAR) from federal processor  Students who complete FAFSA and Cal Grant GPA Verification Form receive California Aid Report (CAR)  Students and families review SAR and CAR for important information and accuracy of data  Colleges match admission records with FAFSA and other required financial aid forms to determine aid eligibility  Colleges provide notices of financial aid eligibility to admitted students who have completed all required financial aid forms

26 After the student completes the FAFSA on the Web, a SAR will be sent to the student An electronic SAR Acknowledgment will be sent if student provides an address A paper SAR will be mailed if no student address is provided An electronic copy of the data will be sent to each college or university listed by the student in Section 2 Keep a copy of the SAR with other financial aid documents Student Aid Report (SAR)

27 Some students may be required to verify the information reported on the FAFSA If selected for verification, the tax information of federal tax filers will be verified through The IRS Date Retrieval Process, or IRS Tax transcripts if requested by the college or university Non-tax filers selected for verification may be asked to provide Signed statements confirming that they did not file a 2015 federal tax return and were not required by IRS to do so Copies of W-2s or other income documentation from each employer, if any income was earned from work All selected aid applicants will also be asked to verify certain demographic data listed such as Household size and number in college Child Support paid and SNAP, if reported on the FAFSA Federal Verification

28 By opening a WebGrants Account a student can: Check Cal Grant award status 24/7 Confirm student’s high school graduation as required Make changes to Cal Grant school choices View how much a Cal Grant is worth at different California colleges and universities View Cal Grant payment history Create a WebGrants account at: mycalgrantinfo.csac.ca.gov Check Your Cal Grant

29 Submit all required forms, including the FAFSA, by each college’s published deadlines (but no later than March 2) By March 2, submit a Cal Grant GPA Verification Form Highly recommended to submit by February 14 Keep a copy of all forms submitted Review the electronic Student Aid Report (SAR) Acknowledgement or the paper SAR sent to the student Review the California Aid Report (CAR) Watch for financial aid award notifications from colleges to which the student has been admitted Be sure to apply for financial aid this year and every year as soon as possible Summary of the Financial Aid Process

The FAFSA will open on October 1, 2016 and you will be using 2015 taxes Therefore you will be using most of the same information for two years Print a copy of your FAFSA summary after you submit your FAFSA and keep it in a safe place. Make sure you and your brothers and sisters are doing the FAFSA together, mistakes can be costly for the entire family Financial Aid

31 FAFSA on the Web – Live Help Phone FED-AID ( ) the U.S. Department of Education at: If You Need Help at Any Time FAFSA

Technical Help If you are having issues with your User ID or password please contact Application Help If you need assistance filling your CA Dream Act Application please contact CSAC Customer 32 If You Need Help Dream Act