FAFSA - Frequently Asking Questions

The FAFSA application form is completed in order to apply for financial aid and is free. Many families actually qualify for state aid and mistakenly think they don't. In addition, there are a few sources of aid such as unsubsidized Stafford and PLUS loans that are available regardless of need. So apply for financial aid as you may well be eligible for some kind of aid.

The FAFSA form costs nothing, so there is no good excuse for not applying. You may well be pleased with the result of applying. You can apply for financial aid any time after January to actually receive funds, but, you must be admitted and enrolled at a university.

How do I obtain a copy of FAFSA?
You can try your guidance counselor, the financial aid office at your local college and the public library has copies. You can also call 1-800-4-FED-AID. An online version of FAFSA is also available at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov.

Photocopies of the FAFSA are not acceptable, only the original FAFSA form produced by the US Department of Education is acceptable. Photocopies, reproductions, facsimiles and electronic versions are all not acceptable. (See DCL GEN-95-21.)

Send in the form as soon as possible after January 1. Most states require the FAFSA to be submitted by March and some even as early as early or mid-February. You do not need to wait until your taxes are done. although it is better to do them reasonably early. Estimates of your income are sufficient, so long as they are reasonably accurate. You will have an opportunity to correct any errors later.

If you've sent in your FAFSA over four weeks ago but haven't heard anything the following applies:

You should have received a Student Aid Report (SAR). If it hasn't been received then call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-4-FED-AID (toll free) or 1-319-337-5665. You will be required to submit a Social Security number and date of birth as verification

You can also write to:
Federal Student Aid Programs
PO Box 4038
Washington, DC 52243-4038
to find out whether your FAFSA has been processed or to request a duplicate copy of your SAR.

Born on January 1 and 24 years of age
If you were born on January 1, and will be 24 years old, then you should answer "no" to the FAFSA question "Were you born before January 1, ..." to qualify as an independent student?

If you check yes, your SAR will be flagged for verification. Most financial aid administrators will use their own workaday understanding whether or not to override the default dependency determination for a student born on January 1 for independent student status.

You will need to reapply every year for FAFSA
Most financial aid offices require that you apply for financial aid every year. Look for your “Renewal Application” which contains previous information you’ve submitted for FAFSA. Note that with new members of your family studying you may well have a different financial aid circumstances. You must of course, make satisfactory academic progress ie earn minimum number of credits and gain minimum GPA.

Applying for need-based aid such as Pell Grant and other types of need based aid programs

Submit a FAFSA. Tick the boxes such as: student employment, student loans and parent loans; it does not commit you to accepting these types of aid. Later you can accept or decline each part of your package.