2. Beware of

3. Seven Steps for Filing the FAFSA
Step One: Student Demographics
Name, social security number, birth date, address, gender
Males MUST enroll in Selective Service in order to receive financial aid (For more information go to:
Step Two: School Selection
Enter FAFSA codes for colleges applied to – up to 10
Indicate housing status

4. Seven Steps for Filing the FAFSA
Step Three: Dependency Status
A student is generally dependent if under age 24:
A Student is independent in 2012/2013 if:
He/she is an orphan, foster youth, or ward/dependant of the court (or has been one of the three statues since turning 13 yrs old.
Married or separated but not divorced
A graduate or PhD student
Serving in the U.S. military or a veteran
Supporting children or other dependents
Has a court appointed legal guardian
Has been determined homeless or at risk of
being homeless

5. Seven Steps for Filing the FAFSA
An independent status means that parent income is not needed.
If a student is of none of the aforementioned statuses, his/her absolute inability to have contact with his/her biological parent will be considered on a case-by-case basis by his/her institution.

6. Seven Steps for Filing the FAFSA
Step Four: Parent Demographics
Name, social security numbers, birth dates
Marital status
If your parent does not have an SSN, enter 0’s or 9’s
Who count as a parent on the FAFSA?
Biological/adoptive parent
Foster parents, legal guardians, and other relatives are never counted as parents on the FAFSA

7. Seven Steps for Filing the FAFSA
Step Five: Financial Information
Use 2011 Tax returns (use 2010 if 2011 is not yet available)
If you have not filed, select “Will file”
IRS retrieval option: allows students and parent to link tax information to FAFSA and can be used for initial application and corrections.
Advantages of using IRS retrieval option:
Accuracy
Timeliness
Does not need additional verification by each college

8. Seven Steps for Filing the FAFSA

9. Seven Steps for Filing the FAFSA

10. Seven Steps for Filing the FAFSA

11. Seven Steps for Filing the FAFSA

12. Seven Steps for Filing the FAFSA
Step Six: Sign and Submit
Sign electronically with PIN
Print signature page
Process now without signature
Step Seven: Confirmation
Please read the entire confirmation page.
On the confirmation page of the FAFSA, you will find:
the link to the TAP application.
The Pell grant and direct loan estimate
The expected family contribution

13. Seven Steps for Filing the FAFSA