1. 2018-2019 FAFSA ® What You Need to Know

2. Today’s Topics ABOUT US/ MYTHS FSA ID FINANCIAL AID PROGRAMS
FAFSA® APPLICATION PROCESS
TOOLS & RESOURCES
Q&A 2

3. About Us

4. Mission
Federal Student Aid, a part of the U.S. Department of Education, is the largest provider of student financial aid in the nation. At the office of Federal Student Aid, our 1,200 employees help make college education possible for every dedicated mind by providing more than $150 billion in federal grants, loans, and work-study funds each year to more than 13 million students paying for college or career school. We are proud to sponsor millions of American minds pursuing their educational dreams.   4

5. Myths About Financial Aid5

6. Myths About Financial Aid
“...the form is too hard to fill out.”
Reality: The FAFSA is easier than ever, especially if you fill it out online at 6

7. Myths About Financial Aid
“…my parents make too much money, so I won’t qualify for aid.”
Reality: There is no income cutoff to qualify for federal student aid. 7

8. Myths About Financial Aid
“only students with good grades get financial aid.” Reality: While in high school, your grades are not a factor in qualifying for federal aid, however, once in college you will have to maintain a certain GPA to receive aid. 8

9. FSA ID

10. What is it?
The FSA ID is a username and password students use to log in to certain U.S. Department of Education websites, including fafsa.gov. They’ll use it every year to fill our a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form.
Talking point: The FSA ID is your legal signature and shouldn’t be created or used by anyone other than you—not even your parent, your child, a school official, or a loan company representative. 10

11. How Do You Get One? Visit StudentAid.gov/fsaid to create an FSA ID.
Note: An address and mobile phone number cannot be used with more than one FSA ID. If a student shares an address with someone else, like their parent, then only one of them will be able to use that address to create an FSA ID. This also applies to a mobile phone number. 11

12. YouTube Videos: FSA ID 12

13. What if You’re Experiencing Issues?
Talking point: You should always try and sign with the FSA ID if you’re able. It makes the process go much faster. However, if you experience issues with the FSA ID and need to get your FAFSA submitted, you can follow this process.
How to Submit the FAFSA Without an FSA ID
Note: We must receive your signature page within 14 days of you submitting the FAFSA online.
Otherwise, your signature will be processed as a correction. 13

14. Types of Aid

15. THINK ABOUT ACCESSING $$
There is more than $150 billion available in federal aid to help students pay for college. 15

16. Max Pell Award $5,920 16

17. 2017-18 Interest Rates Sub./Unsub. = 4.45% Perkins = 5.00%
PLUS Loan = 7.00% 17

18. Work-Study
Provides part-time jobs for undergraduate and graduate students with financial need, allowing them to earn money to help pay education expenses. 18

19. 19

20. FAFSA®: Applying for Aid

21. Complete Your FAFSA
The FAFSA is available at 21

22. 22

23. Must complete the FAFSA every year to receive federal student aid
FAFSA Overview
Must complete the FAFSA every year to receive federal student aid
Both the student and the parent need an FSA ID
Students are encouraged to file their FAFSA beginning October 1 of their senior year in high school
Loans must be repaid
Loan AMOUNT VARIES!!
Perkins Loan
CAMPUS-BASED AID!!!
Low Interest Loan (5%) for UNDERGRAD & GRAD STUDENTS
Subsidized Loan that is paid back to the SCHOOL
Your INSTITUTION IS YOUR LENDER!!!
Amount YOU received based on WHEN YOU APPLY, FINANCIAL NEED, FUNDING LEVEL OF THE SCHOOL!!
GRACE PERIOD: 9 MONTHS after you COMPLETE SCHOOL!! 23 23 15

24. Basic Eligibility Requirements
Students must have:
A high school diploma, GED certificate, or completed homeschooling.
A Social Security Number (with limited exceptions)
U.S. citizenship or be an eligible non-citizen
Registered with the Selective Service (Males)
Students also need to:
Be enrolled or accepted for enrollment in an eligible program
Be pursuing a degree, certificate, or credential
Maintain ‘Satisfactory Academic Progress’ 24 24 15

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26. 26

27. Dependency Status
A student's dependency status is determined by a set of FAFSA questions (preview the questions in the fact sheet Am I Dependent or Independent, which you can download below).
A dependent student does not meet any of the criteria for an independent student and must report information about his/her parent(s) on the FAFSA form.
An independent student is one of the following:
at least 24 years old;
married;
a graduate or professional student;
a veteran or a member of the armed forces;
an orphan or a ward of the court;
someone with legal dependents other than a spouse;
an emancipated minor; or
someone who is homeless at risk of being homeless. 27

28. Dependency Status
Am I Dependent or Independent? Description: Worksheet to help students determine their dependency status when filling out the FAFSA. Resource Type: Handouts Also Available in: Spanish Related: FAFSA Dependency Status Graphic, FAFSA: Determining Dependency Status Video, Who Is My ''Parent'' When I Fill Out the FAFSA? 28

29. Special Circumstances
In situations such as the ones below, a student may be able to submit a FAFSA form without parent information despite being considered a dependent student:
The student’s parents are incarcerated.
The student left home due to an abusive family environment.
The student does not know where their parents are and are unable to contact them (and the student has not been adopted).
The student is older than 21 but not yet 24, is unaccompanied, and is either homeless or self-supporting and at risk of being homeless. 29

30. Special Circumstances
The student should contact the financial aid administrator at the college he or she plans to attend to discuss special circumstances that might affect his or her dependency status.
For details about what types of circumstances might result in a dependency override, and for information about how you can support a student who has special circumstances, see Part 2 of the Counselors and Mentors Handbook on Federal Student Aid. 30

31. After the FAFSA Submission
Remind students to check their s and regular mail for SAR
Update and make corrections to FAFSA if necessary
Be proactive and follow-up with the schools for award letter
Still look for scholarships
Aid is contingent upon filling out the FAFS. Need to fill 31

32. What To Expect
Student reviews award package; compares to other award letters; student determines which college to attend
College reviews info and assembles award package for the student
Student completes the FAFSA and signs with FSA ID
FAFSA is processed by FSA; Student receives a SAR; College receives information if listed on the FAFSA
Once you complete the FAFSA you are provided a student aid report (SAR). The SAR will contain your EFC (expected family contribution), which is the number that's used to determine your eligibility for federal student aid. This number results from the financial information you provide in your FAFSA. In addition to the financial info you provide on the FAFSA, you can also list up to 10 schools. Once your FAFSA is complete, the information is sent off the schools you listed and then you will receive an award letter from the schools. 32

33. 33

34. Helpful Hints
Dependent students are only eligible for unsubsidized loans without parent information on the FAFSA
FAFSA is used for more than just federal aid
Undocumented parents can use in place of SSN
Aid is contingent upon filling out the FAFS. Need to fill 34

35. FAFSA 35

36. Enhancements 36

37. Benefits of FAFSA Changes
Benefit #1: Alignment
Many college application deadlines occur in the fall
Alignment of FAFSA availability = less confusion
Benefit #2: Certainty
No need to estimate tax information
IRS Data Retrieval Tool available at launch
Earlier receipt of Expected Family Contribution (helps with assessing net costs)
Benefit #3: Less Pressure
More time before (most) state and school financial deadlines
More time to compare schools offers before College Signing Day
Recent research and the Department of Education’s own data suggest that implementing an earlier start date and using earlier income information will benefit students.
[Reason 1: Alignment]
This is a benefit of the earlier launch date.
For some students, the traditional FAFSA application cycle is not aligned with college admissions application deadlines, which typically occur in the fall prior to the FAFSA launch. The new financial aid application process will be more aligned with the college admission process for those students.
[Reason 2: Certainty]
This is a benefit of the FAFSA asking for earlier income information.
Many deadlines for state aid are as early as March. If the FAFSA asks for information about tax forms that aren’t due until April 15, applicants have to estimate income or taxes paid in order to meet those state deadlines.
Many students and parents mistakenly think they are not able to file a FAFSA until they file their tax return. This may cause students to miss certain federal, state, and/or institutional financial aid deadlines.
As a result of the change to requiring earlier tax information, more students and families will be able to complete FAFSAs using data imported electronically from the IRS, rather than submitting applications with estimates that may need correcting later.
Students also will have information about their Expected Family Contributions earlier, helping them as they’re going through the college application and selection process.
[Reason 3: Less Pressure]
This is a benefit of both the early launch and earlier tax info being required.
Students and parents will have more time to explore and understand financial aid options and apply for aid before state and school deadlines.
Note: some deadlines for first come, first served aid will change from “as soon as possible after January 1” to “as soon as possible after October 1,” so it’s important for students to be aware of both state and school deadlines and fill out the FAFSA accordingly.
If a student fills out the FAFSA earlier and gets aid offers from schools earlier, he or she will have more time to compare schools before committing to one.
(And of course there’s less pressure on an applicant when he or she can use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool because taxes were filed long before the FAFSA was launched. The applicant will not have to take the time to estimate tax info and then go back to the FAFSA later to correct entries once taxes are filed. Fewer steps; less pressure!) 37

38. Tools & Resources

39. College Navigator
There are a number of free college search tools on the web. The U.S. Department of Education's tool, College Navigator, allows students to search for schools by location, degrees offered, programs/majors, tuition and fees, setting, size, and much more. The search results for each school will give them a wide range of information such as:
estimated student expenses,
types of financial aid provided,
admissions requirements,
accreditation, and
graduation rates. 39

40. FAFSA®
If you need to start at the beginning and learn what the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form is, or if you're already somewhat familiar with it but want the full details of the process laid out for you, refer to Parts 2 and 3 of the Counselors and Mentors Handbook on Federal Student Aid. The handbook is a comprehensive counselor-focused resource for information about federal student aid and the FAFSA process.
Send your students to StudentAid.gov/fafsa for an introduction to the application and tips on how to fill it out.
Talking point: Remind students that the FAFSA form is a free application and is found at fafsa.gov. 40

41. FAFSA® Demonstration Site
A demonstration site is available so you can increase your own understanding of fafsa.gov and show it to students before they apply. At the demo site, you can complete a sample FAFSA form, make corrections, or check the status of the application. However, when you choose "submit," the information is not actually submitted. The site is purely a learning tool.
Access the FAFSA demo site, enter the user name eddemo and the password fafsatest, and you're all set. The site displays both the English and Spanish versions of fafsa.gov. The demo site is updated in September each year to show the upcoming year's application. 41

42. StudentAid.gov
StudentAid.gov is a site for students and parents. It provides detailed information about the FAFSA, the FSA ID, the IRS Data Retrieval Tool, student dependency status, reporting parent information, and what happens after the FAFSA is submitted. 42

43. Financial Aid Toolkit
The Financial Aid Toolkit, at FinancialAidToolkit.ed.gov, is a site specifically designed for you, the school counselor or college access mentor. The toolkit consolidates FSA resources into a searchable online database intended for use by organizations and individuals who interact with, support, or counsel students and families on making financial preparations for postsecondary education. 43

44. Publications
Our order site, FSAPubs.gov, gives you access to a wide range of Federal Student Aid publications and resources for you and the students you serve.
Order Federal Student Aid Publications
Learn how to order free materials so you can help your students learn about federal student aid for college or career school. 44

45. YouTube
Subscribe to our YouTube channel, and get notifications when new videos are available.
Our YouTube channel offers a number of videos on a variety of college-prep and financial aid topics. Explore how to use Federal Student Aid's YouTube channel to supplement the information you provide to your students. 45

46. Facebook
First, find Federal Student Aid at
With more than 340,000 “likes,” our page is the place to go on Facebook for federal student aid information. Learn how to use Federal Student Aid's Facebook page to enhance your outreach. 46

47. Twitter
Even if you don't have a Twitter account, you can still find us and see what we're saying at
Federal Student Aid regularly posts information on Twitter about the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) and financial aid in general. Find out how to use Federal Student Aid's Twitter feed to reach your own students. 47

48. Webinars
Want to chat with a live expert? Periodically, Federal Student aid hosts webinars on a variety of different topics. We also encourage you to spread the word to parents and students. See the list below for our summer 2017 schedule. Register now, seats are limited!
Note: To find archived webinars for counselors and mentors, visit our Search Tools and Resources page. 48

49. Partner s
We consider school counselors, college access organization staff, and other mentors to be our partners in educating students about applying for and receiving federal student aid to help make their college dreams a reality. Several times a year, we our partners with updates about our products and services, reminders about upcoming professional development opportunities, tips for outreach to students, and more. Sign up to receive our partner s.
Note: The s we send are intended to keep counselors and mentors up to date; they do not contain information for students or parents. Please send students and parents to StudentAid.gov for information about federal student aid.
sample 49

50. Federal Student Aid Information Center
Got a question? The Federal Student Aid Information Center can help. Search our site or review our frequently asked questions. You can also contact us by , chat, or phone. 50

51. FAFSA Scenarios What would you do?51
What would you do? 51

52. Scenarios
“I am a student and my parents are divorced. Do both of my parents need to complete the FAFSA?”
Answer: If your parents are divorced or separated and don’t live together, the parent with whom you lived more during the past 12 months should be the only one to complete the FAFSA. 52

53. Scenarios
“I am a dependent student and I have lived with my grandmother since I was a little child. Should I include her financial information when filling out the FAFSA?”
Answer: No. The FAFSA only ask for information
from the student and a parent only. If you do not
have parental information, you may be able to
file under “special circumstances”. Talk to
your local financial aid administrator. 53

54. Questions?

55. Quiz Time

56. Test Your Knowledge: Quiz Time
What does FAFSA stand for?
Answer: Free Application For Federal Student Aid
2) When is the form available and what grade level should fill out the form?
Answer: Beginning October 1 – H.S. Senior Year
3) What website do you go to complete the FAFSA?
Answer:
4) Name three types of federal financial aid programs ?
Answer: Pell, SEOG, TEACH (Grants); Sub./Unsub./PLUS (Loans);
Federal Work Study (Wk. Program)
5) What’s the difference between subsidized and unsubsidized loans?
Answer: The Interest Factor 56

57. Test Your Knowledge: Quiz Time
6) How many schools can you put on the form at once?
Answer: Up to 10 Schools
7) Do I need an FSA ID or PIN to sign the FAFSA form?
Answer: An FSA ID must be used to sign the FAFSA
8) Whose information should be provided on the FAFSA?
Answer: Student Information and Parent Information
9) What is the website (URL) where one can find additional information about the entire financial aid life cycle?
Answer:
10) What is the phone number to call for further assistance regarding the FAFSA, FSA ID, and other related questions?
Answer: FedAid ( ) 57