21-22 FAFSA Training Binder - Madison Wisconsin PD by WHEFGet2College

2021-2022 get2college.org

FAFSA FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID Step-By-Step training on completing the FAFSA & MAAPP for Mississippi students

Jackson Southaven Ocean Springs

FAFSA Rules: 1. 2. 3.

FAFSA Completion Across Mississippi: 1. FAFSA Volunteer Program: With your help with are continuing to grow our FAFSA Volunteer network across the state to support high school student’s efforts to correctly file their FAFSA and State Financial Aid applications. Thank you for being a key part of this and helping the students of Mississippi! 2. College Countdown MS: Get2College is an integral player in College Countdown MS, which is the Mississippi partner of the national initiatives: Application Days- American College Application Campaign (ACAC), FAFSA Days- National College Attainment Network (NCAN), and College Signing Days- Better Make Room. These partnerships allow us to strengthen and expand our outreach efforts to achieve greater impact. 3. Community College Partnerships: Many of the community colleges across the state have all agreed to cover 100% of the FAFSA days at the high schools in their districts. These community colleges are: Northeast MS, Itawamba, Holmes, East MS, Jones County JC, Co-Lin, Pearl River, Southwest, MS Delta and Meridian. For these colleges, the high school counselors will schedule directly with those community college financial aid office and volunteers will be deployed from there. If you are interested in volunteering in any of these community college regions please let the Director of Financial Aid know (you can mention that Get2College sent you from training). 4.

Get2College Corps: Get2College and Phi Theta Kappa are partnering to provide PTK students a scholarship opportunity of $5,000 to be a part of the Get2College Corp program. The focus of the Get2College Corp will initially be FAFSA completion efforts. These students will support the FAFSA completion efforts across the state.

5. NEXT4YOU State-Wide Campaign: 6. FAFSA Counselor Toolkits: With the transition of scaling the FAFSA services with partners and volunteers across Mississippi, we have seen the demand for FAFSA filing events grow significantly. We have developed a FAFSA Counselor Toolkit that all schools who register with College Countdown MS will receive. This toolkit provides them the materials for promotion, planning, organizing, and execution of a FAFSA event.

___________________________________ ___________________________________ FSA ID

___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ FSA ID

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Creating and Using the FSA ID What’s an FSA ID? The FSA ID is a username and password you use to log in to the U.S. Department of Education websites, including studentaid.gov. 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. You’ll use your FSA ID every year you fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form and for the lifetime of your federal student loans.

How do I get an FSA ID? Visit StudentAid.gov to create an FSA ID. You’ll need your Social Security number, full name, and date of birth. You’ll also need to create a memorable username and password, and provide answers to some challenge questions so you can retrieve your account information if you forget it. We will need to provide a mobile phone number or email address when you make your FSA ID. You will need immediate access to the provided mobile phone number and/or email address. The verified mobile phone number and/or email will make it easier to unlock your account, retrieve your forgotten username, or reset your forgotten password. Important: An email address and mobile phone number cannot be used with more than one FSA ID. If you share an email address with someone else, then only one of you will be able to use that email address to create an FSA ID. This applies to your mobile phone number too.

FSA ID Tips •

One of your parents might need an FSA ID as well. If you need to provide information about your parents on the FAFSA® form, one of your parents will have to sign the form. Your parent can create an FSA ID and then sign the FAFSA form electronically using that FSA ID. Remember: You should create your own FSA ID and your parent should create his or her own FSA ID. Also, make sure to use the correct FSA ID when signing the FAFSA form electronically.

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When you first create your FSA ID, all you’ll be able to use your FSA ID for is to complete, sign, and submit an original (first-time) FAFSA form. You’ll have to wait one to three days for your information to be confirmed by the Social Security Administration (SSA) before you can use your FSA ID for other actions, such as submitting a Renewal FAFSA form or signing a Master Promissory Note. If you provided an email address, then you’ll receive an email letting you know that your information was successfully matched with the SSA and you can use your FSA ID for all of its purposes.

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If you forget your FSA ID username and password, look for links, such as “Forgot My Username” and “Forgot My Password,” at the log-in pages of our websites. These links will direct you to web pages where you can request a secure code to be texted to your verified mobile phone number or emailed to your verified email address. The secure code will allow you to retrieve your username or reset your password. You can also retrieve your username or reset your password by successfully answering your challenge questions.

Source: StudentAid.gov/resources

What is an FSA ID? o o o

An FSA ID is a username and password that you must use to log in to certain U.S. Department of Education (ED) websites (studentaid.gov). The FSA ID identifies you as someone who has the right to access your own personal information on ED websites. Parents and students have a separate FSA ID in order to sign dependent students FAFSA electronically. If parent has more than one child attending college, they will use the same FSA ID to sign all applications (including their own). NOTE: Each FSA ID must have separate mobile phone number or e-mail address.

How is an FSA ID Created? 1. Enter log-in information- unique username, password, and verify that at least 13 years old. 2. Enter personal information- Social Security Number, legal name, and date of birth. 3. Enter contact information- email address (if have immediate access), mailing address, and cell phone number (with immediate access) 4. Answer Security questions- for security purposes provide answers to four challenge questions from the drop down options and record on the Financial Aid Datasheets. 5. Submit FSA ID Information- agree to the terms and conditions. 6. Verify cell phone number- NOTE: by verifying the cell phone number, it can be used to retrieve forgotten user name and password in the future. 7. Verify email address- NOTE: by verifying your email address, you can use your email address as your username when logging into certain ED websites, verification also allows you to retrieve your username or reset your password without answering challenge questions.

What if I forgot my FSA ID username or password? o o o

Verified cell phone number via text: use cell phone number to retrieve a secure code to retrieve username and password. Verified email: use email address in place of your username OR send secure code to email to retrieve username and create new password. Non-Verified Email: successfully answer two challenge questions (may require 30-minute delay).

What do I do if I get a message saying my FSA ID is locked? o

An FSA ID is locked after three unsuccessful authentication attempts. There are two possible solutions. You can either have a secure code sent to your e-mail address or you can answer your challenge questions.

If you have received the message, "Your FSA ID is locked. To unlock it, use one of the following options," start with these two steps, and then choose one of the options described below.

1. Click on the black "Log In" button at the top of this page and select "Create or retrieve your FSA ID now." 2. Once you have attempted to log in, you will be taken to a page that says, "Your FSA ID is locked." You will be given two options to unlock your FSA ID—e-mail or challenge questions.

o If neither option works you will need to call Federal Student Aid for assistance 1800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243). What if my FSA ID was lost or stolen? o

If your FSA ID is lost or stolen, you must update your username and password by selecting "Edit My FSA ID" from the log-in page. Contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243) if you are concerned that your FSA ID has been misused.

DEPENDENT OR INDEPENDENT

FAFSA Dependency – Is the student dependent or independent? Students are either dependent or independent. • If dependent, they use parental info and student info. • If independent, only the student info will be used. Questions on the FAFSA: Answer YES and you are independent •

Were you born before January 1, 1999?

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As of today, are you married? (Also answer “Yes” if you are separated but not divorced.)

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At the beginning of the 2022-2023 school year, will you be working on a master’s or doctorate program (such as an MA, MBA, MD, JD, PhD, EdD, graduate certificate, etc.)?

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Are you currently serving on active duty in the US Armed Forces for purposes other than training?

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Are you a veteran of the US Armed Forces?

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Do you now have or will you have children who will receive more than half of their support from you between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023?

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Do you have dependents (other than your children or spouse) who live with you and who receive more than half of their support from you, now and through June 30, 2023?

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At any time since you turned age 13, were both of your parents deceased, were you in foster care or were you a dependent or ward of the court?

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As determined by a court in your state of legal residence, are you or were you an emancipated minor?

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Does someone other than your parent or stepparent have legal guardianship of you, as determined by a court in your state of legal residence?

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At any time on or after July 1, 2021, did your high school or school district homeless liaison determine that you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless or were self-supporting and at risk of being homeless?

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At any time on or after July 1, 2021, did the director of an emergency shelter or transitional housing program funded by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development determine that you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless or were self-supporting and at risk of being homeless?

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At any time on or after July 1, 2021, did the director of a runaway or homeless youth basic center or transitional living program determine that you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless or were self-supporting and at risk of being homeless?

If the student answered NO to every question, then they are dependent and required to use parent information. PARENT is not grandmother, not aunt, not legal guardian.

WHOSE INFORMATION DO YOU USE?

Whose information do you use? PARENTS ARE MARRIED TO ONE ANOTHER: If student’s parents are married, you use both parents’ information (even if they filed separately) PARENTS NOT MARRIED: Here are the only 3 points you need to know if your parents are not married to each other.

1. If student’s parents are divorced or separated, answer the questions about the parent the student lived with more during the past 12 months. 2. If the student did not live with one parent more than the other, give answers about the parent who provided more financial support during the past 12 months 3. If the student did not live with either parent during the last year, give answers about the parent who provided more financial support during the most recent year that the student actually received support from a parent.

If the parent you identify (from above scenarios) is remarried as of today, answer the questions about that parent and student’s stepparent. TIPS: •

Answer all the questions, even if student do not live with their legal parents

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Never use anyone’s info other than a parent EVER!

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Grandparents, foster parents, legal guardians, widowed stepparents, aunts, uncles and siblings are not considered parents on the FAFSA unless they have legally adopted the student.

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If student’s legal parents are married to each other, separated, divorced or never married AND LIVE TOGETHER, answer the questions about both of them.

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Determining whose info to use, it does not matter who claims the student on the tax return.

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The questions are “As of today are your parent married, remarried, divorced, separated, etc.” SO IF the parent is married, then you answer married or remarried, REGARDLESS of when they married or how they filed their taxes.

Who does and does not count as a parent on the FAFSA? If the applicant answers “No” to questions 47–57, then he or she is dependent and must report parental information in Step 4 on the FAFSA. In most cases it’s clear who the parents are but not always. ✔ Biological, adoptive, and stepparents A parent is a biological or adoptive parent or a person that the state has determined to be a parent (for example, when a state allows another person’s name to be listed as a parent on a birth certificate). A stepparent is considered a parent if married to a biological or adoptive parent and if the student counts in their household size. Biological and adoptive (whether of the opposite or same sex) parents who are unmarried and living together give that as their status in Question 58, and both report their information on the FAFSA. See DCL GEN-13-12. However, a stepparent who did not adopt the student cannot be the sole parent for determining dependency status. If the other parent dies, the student is still a dependent of the remaining biological parent, not the stepparent. If no biological parent remains, the student answers “Yes” to Question 52 and is independent. ✕ Foster parents, legal guardians, and relatives A foster parent or a legal guardian is not treated as a parent for FSA purposes. If at any time since the age of 13 both of the student’s parents were dead (and he or she did not have an adoptive parent) or the student was in foster care, he or she is independent. If the student is now, or was when he or she became an adult, an emancipated minor or in legal guardianship (see the exception under Question 54), he is independent. If a student is living with his or her grandparents or other relatives, their data should not be reported on the FAFSA as parental data unless they have adopted the student. Any cash support from persons other than the student’s parents should be reported as untaxed income, as discussed in Step 2. The school may also consider other kinds of support as part of the student’s financial resources and use professional judgment to include the support under the item for student’s untaxed income (see Chapter 5 on professional judgment).

Source: FSA Handbook 21-22

HOW MANY IN THE HOUSEHOLD?

WHO IS INCLUDED IN THE HOUSEHOLD? You count in the household: •

Yourself (student you are assisting) – even if you do not live with parents

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Your parents (step-parent included if parent remarried)

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Your parents’ other children (even if they do not live with your parents if (a) your parents provide more than half of their support between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023 or (b) the children could answer “no” to every dependency question.

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Other people if they now live with your parents, your parents provide more than half of their support and your parents will continue to provide more than half of their support between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023.

Other sources of support for children and other household members If the student is receiving support to raise her child, is the child still considered a legal dependent? If one or both of the student’s parents are directly or indirectly providing more than 50% support in cash or other assistance to the child, then the student would answer “No” to the FAFSA question about legal dependents. “Indirect support” to the child includes support that a parent gives to the student on behalf of the child. If the student is living with a parent who is paying for most of the household expenses, the parent would usually be considered the primary source of support to the child, and the student would answer “No” to the question about legal dependents. However, there may be some cases where the student can demonstrate that she provides more than half of her child’s support even while living at home, in which case she would answer “Yes” to the question about legal dependents. When the student receives money for the child from any source other than her parents, she may count it as part of her support to the child. Sources include child support and government programs, such as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly the federal Food Stamp Program), that provide benefits for dependent children. So a student may be considered independent when the benefit she receives is the primary support for her child. For example, if a student who lives alone with her child receives cash from her boyfriend that amounts to more than 50% support for her child, then she would be able to count the child as a dependent and in her household size, and she would be independent. If the boyfriend is the father of the child and a student himself, then he would also be able to count the child as a dependent and in his household size, and he would be independent too.

Source: FSA Handbook 21-22

Reporting information in cases of death, separation, divorce, and remarriage Death of a parent If one, but not both, of the student’s parents has died, the student answers the parental questions about the surviving biological or adoptive parent and does not report any financial information for the deceased parent. If both her parents are dead when she fills out the FAFSA, she must answer “Yes” to Question 52, making her independent. Remember that an adoptive parent counts as a parent, but a legal guardian doesn’t. If the surviving parent dies after the FAFSA has been filed, the student must update her dependency status and report income and assets as an independent student. Stepparent A stepparent is treated like a biological parent if the stepparent has legally adopted the student or if the stepparent is married, as of the date of application, to a student’s biological or adoptive parent whose information will be reported on the FAFSA. There are no exceptions. A prenuptial agreement does not exempt the stepparent from providing information required of a parent on the FAFSA. The stepparent’s income information for the entire base year, 2020, must be reported even if the parent and stepparent were not married until after 2020. See above for how to fill out the parent questions when the stepparent’s spouse (the biological parent) dies; if the stepparent has not adopted the student, he would no longer provide parental information as before, but any financial support he gives to the student would be counted as untaxed income. Divorce of the student’s parents If the student’s parents are divorced, he should report the information of the parent with whom he lived longer during the 12 months prior to the date he completes the application, regardless of which parent claimed him as an exemption for tax purposes. If the student lived equally with each parent or didn’t live with either one, then he should provide the information for the parent from whom he received more financial support or the one from whom he received more support the last calendar year for which it was given. Note that it is not typical that a student will live with or receive support from both parents exactly equally. Usually you can determine that the student lived with one of the parents more than half the year or that he received more than half support from one of the parents. Example: Marta is 22 and doesn’t meet any of the independence criteria. Her parents divorced recently, and she hasn’t lived with them since she was 18. Also, neither parent provided support in the past year. The last time she received support from her parents was when she lived with them and they were still married. Because her father’s income was larger and he contributed more money to the overall household expenses, Marta determines that the last time she received support, most of it was from her father. She provides his data on the FAFSA. If biological or adoptive parents who are divorced still live together, their status is unmarried and living together and both would report their information on the FAFSA; see page 28. If one or both of them have married someone else and all live in the same household (and presumably the student lived with both parents an equal amount of time), the parent and stepparent, if applicable, who provided more support in the previous year would include their information on the FAFSA. Schools may use PJ to account for the other

parent’s financial contribution that is not already properly counted as child support on line 44c or money received on line 44i of the 2022–2023 FAFSA. Separation of the student’s parents or the student and spouse A couple need not be legally separated to be considered separated—they may deem themselves informally separated when one of the partners has left the household for an indefinite period and the marriage is severed. For a dependent student, use the rules for divorce to determine which parent’s information to report. While a married couple that lives together can’t be informally separated, in some states they can be legally separated. If their state allows this, and if they are still living together and are legally separated, then that is their status on the FAFSA unless they are the parents of a dependent student, in which case their status is unmarried and living together and both would report their information. Common-law marriage If a couple lives together and has not been formally married but meets the criteria in their state for a common-law marriage, they should be reported as married on the FAFSA. If the state doesn’t consider their situation to be a common-law marriage, then they aren’t married; a dependent student would follow the rules for divorce to determine which parent’s information to report. Check with the appropriate state agency concerning the definition of a common-law marriage.

Source: FSA Handbook 20-21

IRS DATA RETRIEVAL (IRS DRT)

IRS Data Retrieval (IRS DRT) • Based on your answers to questions, you will be able to use or note to use IRS DRT (You cannot use it if your marital status changed after Dec 31, 2020 or are married filing separately) • If you can use IRS Data Retrieval, use it!

These fields are pre-filled based on the FAFSA response

These fields much match the 1040 form exactly.

OTHER INCOME AND ASSETS

Assets: As of today, what is your parents’ total current balance of cash, savings, and checking accounts?

As of today, what is the net worth of your parents’ investments, including real estate? Don’t include the home in which your parents live.

As of today, what is the net worth of your parents’ current businesses and/or investment farms? Don’t include a family farm or family business with 100 or fewer full-time or fulltime equivalent employees.

Excluded assets—the following are NOT reported on the FAFSA: ➔ Possessions such as a car, a stereo, clothes, or furniture. ➔ A family's principal place of residence, even if it is part of a business. ➔ A family farm (including equipment, livestock, etc.) if: • it is the principal place of residence for the applicant and his family (spouse or, for dependent students, parents), and • the applicant (or parents of a dependent student) materially participated in the farming operation. ➔ Family-owned and controlled small businesses (which can include farms) that have 100 or fewer full-time or fulltime equivalent employees. “Family-owned and controlled” means that more than 50% of the business is owned by persons who are directly related or are or were related by marriage. (Family members do not have to be counted in the household size for this question.) ➔ Retirement plans and whole life insurance. The value of retirement plans—401(k) plans, pension funds, annuities, non-education IRAs, Keogh plans, etc.—is not counted as an asset, but distributions do count as income; they appear in the AGI if taxable and in questions 44 and 92 if untaxed. Similarly, the cash value or equity of a whole life insurance policy isn’t reported as an asset, but an insurance settlement does count as income. The full amount of the distribution is reported, whether it was a lump sum or annual distribution, and it will count as taxable or untaxed income, as appropriate. An exception to reporting pension distributions is when they are rolled over into another retirement plan in the same tax year. ➔ Excluded assets for Native American students. The law (see HEA Sec. 479C) excludes reporting any income and asset of $2,000 or less per individual payment (any amount over $2,000 is reported as untaxed income) received under the Per Capita Act or the Indian Tribal Judgment Funds Use or Distribution Act. It also excludes any income received under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act or the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act. Per capita distributions or the proceeds received from the Land Buy-Back Program for Tribal Nations—a tribal purchase of fractionated lands as a result of the Cobell settlement under the Claims Resolution Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 1305)—should also be excluded. Simplified needs test The law provides a “simplified EFC” calculation for a student who meets certain income and tax filing requirements. If the applicant is eligible based on the information on the FAFSA, the CPS will automatically exclude assets from the EFC calculation. However, some states and schools require this information for their own aid programs.

Source: FSA Handbook 21-22

Ownership of an asset and reporting on the FAFSA: Part ownership of asset If the parent or student has only part ownership of an asset, the student should report only the owned part. Generally the value of an asset and debts against it should be divided equally by the number of people who share ownership unless the share of the asset is determined by the amount invested or the terms of the arrangement specify some other means of division.

Contested ownership Assets shouldn’t be reported if the ownership is being contested. For instance, if the parents are separated and can’t sell or borrow against jointly owned property because it’s being contested, the parent reporting FAFSA information would not list any net worth for the property. However, if the ownership of the property is not being contested, the parent would report the property as an asset. If ownership of an asset is resolved after the initial application is filed, the student can’t update this information.

Lien against, and imminent foreclosure of, an asset If there’s a lien against the asset, the net value of the asset is determined by subtracting from its total value any associated debt as well as the amount of the lien. If foreclosure of an asset is imminent, the net value of the asset would still be reported until the party making the foreclosure completes legal action to take possession of the asset. If the status of the property changes after the application is filed, the student can’t update the asset information. Similarly for a business or investment farm, the current net worth (the current market value minus the debt owed on it) is reported for land, buildings, machinery, equipment, livestock, and inventories. Business or farm debt means only those debts for which the business or farm was used as collateral.

Rental properties Rental properties are an asset. A unit within a family home that has its own entrance, kitchen, and bath (therefore a rented bedroom would not count) and that is rented to someone other than a family member counts as an asset. To calculate its net value, multiply the net value of the entire structure by the fraction the rented space represents. Similarly, if a family owned a 10-unit apartment building and lived in one of the apartments, 9/10 or 90% of the net value of the building would be an asset. At times a student or parent will claim rental property as a business. Generally, it must be reported as real estate instead. A rental property would have to be part of a formally recognized business to be reported as such, and it usually would provide additional services like regular cleaning, linen, or maid service.

UGMA and UTMA accounts The Uniform Gifts and Uniform Transfers to Minors Acts (UGMA and UTMA) allow the establishment of an account for gifts of cash and financial assets for a minor without the expense of creating a trust. Because the minor is the owner of the account, it counts as his asset on the FAFSA, not the asset of the custodian, who is often the parent.

Source: FSA Handbook 21-22

Reporting trust funds Trust funds in the name of a student, spouse, or parent should be reported as that person’s asset on the application, generally even if the beneficiary’s access to the trust is restricted. If the settlor of a trust has voluntarily placed restrictions on its use, then the student should report its present value as an asset, as discussed below. If a trust has been restricted by court order, however, the student should not report it. An example of such a restricted trust is one set up by court order to pay for future surgery for the victim of a car accident. How the trust must be reported depends on whether the student (or dependent student’s parent) receives or will receive the interest income, the trust principal, or both. In the case of a divorce or separation where the trust is owned jointly and ownership is not being contested, the property and the debt are equally divided between the owners for reporting purposes unless the terms of the trust specify some other method of division. Interest only If a student, spouse, or parent receives only the interest from the trust, any interest received in the base year must be reported as income. If the interest accumulates and is not paid out, the recipient must report an asset value for the interest she will receive. The trust officer can usually calculate the value of the interest the person will receive while the trust exists. This value represents the amount a third person would be willing to pay for the interest income.

Principal only The person who will receive only the trust principal must report as an asset the present value of his right to that principal. For example, if a $10,000 principal reverts to a dependent student’s parents when the trust ends in 10 years and the student is receiving the interest, he would report the interest he received as income and report as a parental asset the present value of his parents’ rights to the principal. The present value of the principal can be calculated by the trust officer; it’s the amount that a third person would pay for the right to receive the principal 10 years from now—basically, the amount that one would have to deposit now to receive $10,000 in 10 years.

Both principal and interest If a student, spouse, or parent receives both the interest and the principal from the trust, the student should report the present value of both interest and principal, as described in the discussion of principal only. If the trust is set up so that the interest accumulates within the trust until it ends, the beneficiary should report as an asset the present value of the interest and principal that she is expected to receive when the trust ends.

Source: FSA Handbook 21-22

2022-2023 FAFSA on the Web home page (www.studentid.gov).

To begin a new FAFSA select the “New to the FAFSA process” Start Here button.

There are three options to login to the FAFSA“I am the students” OR “I am a parent filling out a FAFSA form for a student” OR “I am a parent, preparer, or student from a Freely Associated State Always select to log in with the students FSA ID. The FSA ID serves at the digital signature for the student and will be required to submit the FAFSA. Easiest to begin by logging in. YOU ARE NOT A PREPARER—You are not getting paid directly by the student to complete their FAFSA.

2022-2023 “Login” page with Enter students FSA ID option selected. To create the students FSA ID you can select the “Create an FSA ID” link and the FSA ID page will open in a separate tab. NOTE: if doing a renewal or if the student has already created their FSA ID or VERIFIED their email address can be used to log in with instead of their username. Reminder: While the e-mail address for FSA ID is optional, if the user does want to include an e-mail address, it can be used only once with an FSA ID. If users share an e-mail address, only one user may link the e-mail address to an FSA ID.

The “Accept” will be automatically highlighted, go ahead and accept. There is no need to read through the disclaimer with the student/parent. You can briefly summarize that this FAFSA form and IRS DRT is for the use for U.S. Department of Education only and not for commercial or third party.

The 2022-2023 FAFSA cover August 2022-July 2023 school year and opens October 1, 2021 2021-2022 FAFSA covers the August 2021- July 2022 school year. TIP: It may be helpful to take a moment here and explain to the student/parent that they will be completing the 2022-2023 FAFSA for the school year beginning in August 2022. If they plan to take summer classes and use financial aid they can complete the 2021-2022 FAFSA (with 2019 tax information) for Summer 2022 classes.

The “Save Key” allows an applicant to save his/her FAFSA application and return at a later time to complete and submit the application. The application is saved for 45 days or until the student submits his/her application for processing. Once the FAFSA has been submitted a new save key will be created each time logging in for corrections. TIP: Keep the save key simple, such as: the current year (2021), students first name, a simple word, etc.

2022-2023 “Introduction Page”, there is no need to read through the instructions just simply click the “Next” button.

Because the FAFSA was signed in using the FSA ID some of the information will be pre-populated: Last name, First name, Social Security Number, Date of birth, Permanent mailing address, City, State, Zip You will need to fill in the highlighted sections: Middle Initial (if they have one, or if they have two middle names the first of those)

Their telephone number (this can be student or parent, just the best contact number- where someone will pick up)

Because the FAFSA was signed in using the FSA ID some of the information will be pre-populated Permanent mailing address, City, State, Zip, Email (if provided when FSA ID was created)

If they have lived in Mississippi for at least 5 years (don’t assume this, ask to confirm). U.S. Citizenship (there are options if the student has a green card or permanent resident select “No, but I am an eligible noncitizen”).

If no, then confirm the state of their current legal residence and if they became and resident before a certain year.

For the state of Mississippi this will always pull up at the top of the page when you select CONTINUE. All that the notice is telling you is that you will be able to link directly to the state financial aid application.

High School Completion Status (typically answers you will see will be (1) High School diploma, (2) Homeschooled, (3) GED. Degree or Certificate working on (Typically will be bachelor’s degree but if student plans on attending community college can select Associate degree- general education/transfer program). NOTE: The answer to this section is not critical if the student doesn’t know their definite plans default answer is “1st Bachelors degree”. First bachelor’s degree before 2022-2023 school year? (When you select the Degree or Certificate working on as “1st Bachelors degree” this question will automatically select no, but if select anything other than “1st Bachelors degree” you will need to select No). College Grade level 2022-2023 school year (For seniors this answer will be “Never attended college/ 1st Year” even if the students have been dual enrolled that doesn’t count on the FAFSA or state aid as enrolled in college. For this purpose they mean- First Time, Full Time) (For renewals it the years they have been in college not the hours standing, ie- 3rd year NOT if Sophomore or Junior) Interested in work study (Ask the student “Are you interested in being considered for a job on campus?”. The default answer is Yes).

Indicate Gender (this is what they were born as not as what they identify with) Selective Service System (This is for males 18 or older, it is registering with the draft. If student hasn’t registered they can go ahead and register through the FAFSA. They will no receive state aid if they haven’t registered.) As of July 2021 students are not required to register with Selective Service to receive Federal Aid.

TIP: YOU DON’T HAVE TO PUT IN STUDENTS DRIVERS LICENSE NUMBER. SKIP THIS.

Foster Youth or were you at any time in the foster care system? (Ask “Have you ever been in foster care?” indicate the appropriate answer here) Highest school completed by Parents (This is the only question that is required to be answered about biological parents, regardless of which parent will be using financial info OR if the student is independent. Key to this question is the completed piece- need to ask “What is the highest education your biological parents COMPLETED” some college but no certificate/degree/etc doesn’t count, but a short certificate program does.)

On this page you will need to type in the name of the high school the student graduate from, city and state. Click the search button. TIP: You don’t have to type out the whole school name ie- Murrah rather than ‘Murrah High School”

After clicking search, a list of the high schools will come up. Make sure the click the circle next to the high school. This will validate the high school information for the FAFSA and State Financial Aid. When you click continue it will populate all of the schools information in the high school page.

This notice will confirm that the high school information has been validated.

“School Selection” page. You can add up to 10 colleges to send the FAFSA to. It does not matter the order that they are listed because the school will receive the FAFSA independent of each other (meaning that the colleges won’t know where else the FAFSA was sent). There are two ways to select the colleges (1) by state and school name OR (2) federal school code- in the FAFSA training binder there is a cheat sheet for federal school codes commonly used in Mississippi. TIP: A good counseling piece here is to encourage the student to send the FAFSA to all the colleges that (A) the student has applied to, or (b) considering applying to (you may need to have a quick conversation with the student if they haven’t applied anywhere about the important of applying to at least 3 colleges, and depending on the time of the year the urgency to complete those applications).

Once you have put in either the school name or the federal code and clicked SEARCH the matching school will appear and you will need to click the check mark next to the school name. TIP: You will repeat the school search process for each college the student would like to send the FAFSA to, and add each school. The list on the right will continue to show the added schools.

The default answer for housing plans for the student is: “On Campus”. Make sure to ask the student for each college their housing plans (options are On Campus- on campus student housing, With Parent- this can also be with other family not JUST parent, Off Campus- this is in their own apartment not with family). Colleges use this to anticipate the number of students planning to live on campus. TIP: There may need to be some counseling done here to remind the student that this is not their housing application with the college, that still needs to be done through the college with deposit paid to confirm their on campus housing.

This the beginning of the independent student question. The first two questions (age of 24 or older and seeking masters degree) may not show up based off prior information put in on the FAFSA. All of these questions have to be answered in order to move forward on the FAFSA. Below is suggested dialog for this section: “These are the independent questions, what that means is that we are going to go through these questions and just make sure the student can’t say yes to any of these questions. If at any point the student can say yes to these questions make sure to let me know that so we can put the correct answer. If we do say yes to any of these then we only use the students financial information, if we say no to all of them then we are required to use parent information.” Option dialog: “I am going to phrase these are if they are not true, because for many high school seniors they aren’t true, but make sure and stop if it is true for you” YOU CAN READ THE QUESTIONS AS THEY ARE ON THE FAFSA OR USE THE PARAPHRASING BELOW- WHATEVER YOU ARE MOST COMFORTABLE WITH! • “Are you married as of today?”

“As of July 1, 2022 will you/do you have any children or dependents that receive more than half of their support from you?”

• • •

“Are you active duty military?” “Are you a veteran of the US Armed Forces?” “At any time since the age 13: (A) Are both your parents deceased? (B) Have you been in foster care? (C) Have you been a ward of the court?” (this question actually asks 3 things so make sure to check all three, if they can say “yes” to any of them they say “yes” to the whole question) • •

Are you an emancipated minor?” (In Mississippi no college acknowledges emancipated minor for financial aid purposes) “Have you ever been in a legal guardianship at any point in your life?” ((1) must be legal guardianship other an a parent and (2) make sure if they say yes to this point to emphasize the GUARDIANSHIP and not custody, colleges may ask for the copy of the court papers stating guardianship to confirm- at a later date)

•

“Are you at risk of being homeless?” (This is unaccompanied homeless- can’t be in shelter with a parent. There are two more questions that come up if you say yes to this question that further confirm the students homeless status)

This page only displays if the applicant has been determined to be dependent. Only a quick explanation is needed here: “Because we said no to all the independent questions, this is saying that we will provide parent information” Note: IF you run into an extreme and rare situation where the student absolutely can’t provide parent info they can select the “I am unable to provide parental information” BUT this will not allow the student to complete the FAFSA and will go straight to professional judgement for the student. This is the LAST RESORT!!!

This page will help the student determine whose parental information to use based on who the live with or life experiences.

For Married/Remarried, Divorced/Separated, or Widowed you must input a date with month and year. Marriage or divorce/separation date (it can be a very educated guestimate- school may ask but typically doesn’t for documentation of this)

Based on the marital status response, that determines the next questions that are asked and needing to be complete. First Parent (It doesn’t matter which parent is which. Also this may be a stepparent, and that is correct, it’s the parent that the student lives with 50% or more and their current spouse. NEVER MATTERS WHO CLAIMS STUDENT ON TAXES) Parent Email (This isn’t required, by adding e-mail allows parent to be in the loop for FAFSA info)

Parent two’s information.

Lived in MS for 5 years (again, confirm this question with the family, don’t assume).

Household Size (This is the total number that live under the roof + any sibling that receives MAJORITY support from parents-regardless of age. You can review the household size rules if you need in the FAFSA binder) Number in College (Remember, its for the 2022-2023 school year, so if any siblings are currently in college but (A) will graduate or (B) not enrolling in the 2022-2023 year don’t count. Also parents in college DO NOT COUNT in this number)

This is the page that will determine if the parents filed taxes for the 2020 year (MAKE NOTE IT IS 2020 TAXESNOW IT IS ALWAYS 2 YEAR OLD TAX INFO) TIP: This is a great point to ask (if the parent filed taxes) if they brought their 2020 taxes with them, and to flip to the 1040 for the information needed the next few pages. Parents’ Tax Filing Status (This is found at the top of the 1040 form, just above the contact information) This page determines if the parents tax information will be able to be linked over from the IRS website. If you are able to do this for the student DO IT! This validates the tax information and eliminates the potential for tax information verification. NOTE: Amended tax return filtering question was removed from this page. In addition, parents who filed amended tax returns will now be eligible to use the IRS DRT. However, because the IRS is unable to transmit amended tax information, data transferred from the IRS into fafsa.gov will be the original tax information. Clicking the Proceed to the IRS site.

Once click the PROCEED TO THE IRS button this screen will prompt you to input the PARENTS FSA ID. If you did not create an FSA ID for the parent at the beginning of the appointment then you can create on here (“Create an FSA ID” will allow to be completed in a separate window without losing spot on the FAFSA). Parent 1 or Parent 2 depends on which parent you put in first or second on the previous page. TIP: Use FSA ID username OR email OR cell phone number.

Warning text appears as the 2022-2023IRS DRT site is displayed. Click OK. NOTE: This will be in the window of the FAFSA but that is ok, it will allow you to Return to FAFSA at same point left off.

The First Name, Last Name, Social Security Number, Date of Birth, and Filing Status is already pre-filled based on the information that was already completed on the FAFSA. Even though the fields at the top are pre-filled based on FAFSA responses, the first name, last name, date of birth, and the filing status can be updated on this page. The Social Security Number cannot be updated. TIP: DOUBLE CHECK THAT THE NAME, and FILING STATUS MATCH THE 1040!!!

Only fill in the required information, directly from the 1040 and EXACTLY how it is on the 1040. IE- if the address is abbreviated (St or Ave), or if the numbers are incorrect (1243 instead of 1234), or is the spacing is incorrect (North Side Dr instead of Northside Dr)---- Match all of these things exactly how it appears on the 1040 regardless if it is incorrect. NOTE: PO Box→ You have to pay attention how the PO Box number is listed on the 1040, could be on the street address line or could be the number in just the PO Box, Box. TIP: The IRS site only gives you 3 times to match the information, after the 3rd incorrect time it locks out that parent for 24 hours. Very important to get the information directly from the 1040. TIP: If the student/parent doesn’t have their 1040 with them, attempting to get the information correct may be the only option, but know that needs to be done within three tries. Can manually enter the information if necessary, and at a later point if need be. NOTE: The IRS DRT will not work for parents who have previously had their identity stolen. Their tax information will have to be manually entered in the FAFSA

You will get this screen if you have a match. However, you might have a message that says either ‘tax return may have been recently filed’ or it may say the address may be incorrect. The user can check the “Transfer My Tax Information…” box and click “Transfer Now” to carry this data back into the FAFSA. The applicant or parent is also notified on the IRS page that the information will not display on the IRS page or on the fafsa.gov site.

IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO TRANSFER FROM IRS: To manually input the taxes the FAFSA will guide you on which line to input. There is only 1 type of income tax returns: 1040 Parent’s adjusted gross income: For form 1040 this is line 11.

IF YOU TRANSFER FROM IRS: A new alert message has been added to indicate that the IRS Data was successfully transferred and will be identified as “Transferred from the IRS”. The entry boxes that contain IRS Data have been replaced with the “Transferred from the IRS” label. This data cannot be changed.

For parents who are married, they will be required to manually enter their income earned from work. Make sure to know which is Parent 1 (mom or dad) and Parent 2 (mom or dad) For parents who are divorced/separated, widowed, or never married, you will have to manually enter the income earned from work for just that parent. TIP: This information isn’t found on the 1040, if the student/parent has their Mississippi Tax returns with them, it is broken down on the first page (first line of the breakdown). Also can be found on the W2 for the parent(s).

NOTE: YOU MAY SEE THIS QUESTION NEXT, DEPENDING ON HOUSEHOLD INCOME AMOUNT:

Dislocated Worker: This is defined as receiving unemployment, NOT if on disability. Further explanation of who qualifies can be found on the Help and Hints box on the right, if they have specific questions. Best way to ask this question “Are either of the parents receiving unemployment?”

Federal Benefit Programs: If ANYONE in the family received any of these benefits in 2020 OR 2021 click the check mark next to those benefits. Note: SSI → benefits for those 65 or older, blind or disabled Free or Reduced Lunch→ Even if the student doesn’t eat lunch at the high school, or is on early release- if they qualified for free or reduced lunch in 2020 or 2021 click yes!

IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO TRANSFER FROM IRS: You will have to manually input this information for the appropriate line on the 1040 form. The instruction box for the question will tell you which line on the tax return to input.

IF YOU TRANSFER FROM IRS: This box will be title “Transferred from the IRS” label. This data cannot be changed.

IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO TRANSFER FROM IRS: You will have to manually input this information for the appropriate line on the 1040, and Schedule 1. 2 or 3 forms. The instruction box for the question will tell you which line on the tax return or the W2 to input.

IF YOU TRANSFER FROM IRS: This box will be title “Transferred from the IRS” label. This data cannot be changed.

NOTE: If the parent’s don’t have any of these then keep them as 0.

One of the most common things that does not transfer (because not reported to IRS) is child support paid. Asking “Do either parent pay child support”. This is for the 2020 year. (Received child support is on the next page.) TIP: This is the amount ACTUALLY paid, not just what is court ordered to pay.

NOTE: If the parents don’t have any of these then keep them as 0.

One of the most common things that does not transfer (because not reported to IRS) is child support RECEIVED. Asking “Do either parent receive child support”. This is for the 2020 year. NOTE: If you do know where to find this or want more information click the ? and Helpful Hints will come up with more information

NOTE: If the parents don’t have any of these then keep them as 0.

Parents Assets (If you get the option to skip→ ALWAYS SKIP! There is skip logic built in to make it easier.) (If gives the statement “As of today, do your parents assets exceed $_______ “ then the assets considered for the FAFSA need to be explained and the question answered) Assets for the FAFSA are NOT: home & land the home that the family lives on, retirement savings (401k, IRA), cars/boats/etc.) Assets for the FAFSA are: (1) amount in cash, savings, and checking (as of today) (2) 529 college savings plan (total amount for all children), stock market investments outside of retirement (money market funds, mutual funds, CDs, stocks, stock options, bonds, other securities), property (land, or houses) aside from their main residence regardless if owned in partnership (ie- with siblings), trust funds, UGMA accounts, UTMA accounts (3) business or farm value IF have over 100 employees THIS IS THE LAST QUESTION ABOUT PARENT INFORMATION!

On to STUDENT information. Make sure you are asking if the student filed in 2020, for seniors most did not since it was 2 years ago and much younger. If student did file taxes, fill in information from 1040 and link to IRS, just like the parents.

“Leaving FAFSA on the Web” page, displayed when the student is going to the IRS Web site. In this case, the FSA ID for the student was entered when logging into their FAFSA, so it is not requested on this page.

Warning text appears as the 2022-2023 IRS DRT site is displayed.

Even though the fields at the top are pre-filled based on FAFSA responses, the first name, last name, date of birth and the filing status can be updated on this page. The Social Security Number cannot be updated. Same as parent: Only fill in the required information, directly from the 1040 and EXACTLY how it is on the 1040. IE- if the address is abbreviated (St or Ave), or if the numbers are incorrect (1243 instead of 1234), or is the spacing is incorrect (North Side Dr instead of Northside Dr)---- Match all of these things exactly how it appears on the 1040 regardless if it is incorrect. NOTE: PO Box→ You have to pay attention how the PO Box number is listed on the 1040, could be on the street address line or could be the number in just the PO Box, Box. TIP: The IRS site only gives you 3 times to match the information, after the 3rd incorrect time it locks out that parent for 24 hours. Very important to get the information directly from the 1040. TIP: If the student/parent doesn’t have their 1040 with them, attempting to get the information correct may be the only option, but know that needs to be done within three tries. Can manually enter the information if necessary, and at a later point if need be.

The user can check the “Transfer My Tax Information…” box and click “Transfer Now” to carry this data back into the FAFSA.

IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO TRANSFER FROM IRS: To manually input the taxes the FAFSA will guide you on which line to input. There is only 1 type of income tax returns: 1040 Student’s adjusted gross income: For form 1040 this is line 11.

IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO TRANSFER FROM IRS: If IRS DRT is NOT used then manually inputting from the 1040 will be required and the line number for the appropriate 1040 will be listed.

The same financial information has to be answered for the student as the parent. If you transfer from IRS DRT most of these will be answered except child support paid and received.

NOTE: IF THE STUDENT DOESN’T HAVE ANY OF THE ITEMS LEAVE AS 0.

The same financial information has to be answered for the student as the parent. If you transfer from IRS DRT most of these will be answered except child support paid and received.

NOTE: IF THE STUDENT DOESN’T HAVE ANY OF THE ITEMS LEAVE AS 0.

Student Assets (If you get the option to skip→ ALWAYS SKIP! There is skip logic built in to make it easier.) If don’t get the assets skip option then the follow asset question for the student has to be answered about the students money: (1) amount in cash, savings, and checking (as of today) (2) 529 college savings plan (total amount for all children), stock market investments outside of retirement (money market funds, mutual funds, CDs, stocks, stock options, bonds, other securities), property (land, or houses) aside from their main residence regardless if owned in partnership (ie- with siblings), trust funds, UGMA accounts, UTMA accounts (3) business or farm value IF have over 100 employees

THIS IS THE LAST QUESTION ON THE FAFSA!

You are NOT a preparer- unless you are being paid directly from the student to complete the FAFSA then you are NOT a preparer.

This is the top half of the 2022-2023 “FAFSA Summary” page, where all the information put into the FAFSA can be reviewed before submitting. Scroll down through all the information to the CONTINUE button.

In order to submit the FAFSA there must be signatures for both the student AND the parent. This can be a virtual signature with their FSA ID.

Make sure to agree to the terms.

Then input the FSA ID and click the “Sign The FAFSA” box to complete the signature.

Print this page for the student/parent to keep that their FAFSA has been completed. There will be a box at the top that is the hyper-link to complete the Mississippi Financial Aid application. The other box is to transfer over parent information to other siblings. Things to highlight on confirmation page: (1) Takes 3-5 business days for the FAFSA to process, let the student know they will get emails confirming their FAFSA processed or letting them know if there were any issues. (2) Point out the schools listed showing this is where the FAFSA was sent to, this list can be updated if need be. (3) Show the EFC, and explain briefly what EFC stands for and how financial aid offices use this information (4) Pell Grant/ Direct Loan Estimates, make sure to show the estimated amounts but remind the student/parent that it is up to the colleges to award this information to the students account and they need to be checking it regularly. TIP: ALWAYS LINK TO THE STATE FINANCIAL AID APPLICATION FROM THE FAFSA. ALWAYS DO THE STATE FINANCIAL AID APPLICATION EVEN IF PLANNING TO GO TO COMMUNITY COLLEGE!!!!

FEDERAL SCHOOL CODES

FAFSA Day Tips for Volunteer Partners Logistics of Day: Preparation o Wear your First U Hafta FAFSA or your college apparel and nametag. o Arrive 30 minutes in advance of the first appointment. o Set up your FAFSA station (typical setting-computer lab, library, offices) a reasonable distance away from each other to provide as much privacy as possible. o Ensure internet setting/computer passwords are working properly for the FAFSA website (https//fafsa.gov). Introduction o When client first joins you, introduce yourself and your school or organization and state that you are a FAFSA completion volunteer partner. o You might start by asking where the student is interested in enrolling and making sure they have completed the application process. o Explain why you are there today-to assist in completing the FAFSA and briefly explain what the FAFSA is and what the FAFSA does. o Key: make sure to clarify what the FAFSA does NOT do-“The FAFSA does not award aid! The FAFSA simply gives the school the necessary information to award federal aid (such as Pell Grant and student loans) and the school may also use the FAFSA information for awarding need-based aid from their own school funds.” o Be clear with the student that the school’s financial aid office makes the award and there may be additional information requested later and they should be proactive in following up with the school’s financial aid office/checking online account to be sure the school has everything they need. End of Event

Appointment Conclusion o Print the confirmation for the applicant. Point out Pell Estimate and/or EFC and/or estimated loan eligibility. Write at the top that FAFSA needs to be renewed every year after Oct. 1. DO NOT close the confirmation page until you have linked the State Aid Application AND linked to another sibling FAFSA (if applicable). o Key: make sure that the student knows that it takes 3-5 days for the FAFSA to process and that there may be more steps such as verification (give them brief example of what they may be asked for during verification), receive their SAR, and get their award notification (let them know this may be in different mediums such as online account, mail, etc.).

FAFSA Form Completion Tips GENERAL TIPS - Anywhere on the FAFSA that you are given the option to skip a section (such as providing parents’ data when student is independent or skipping assets)-choose yes to skip. Skip logic is built into the FAFSA for ease. - If completing the FAFSA for two siblings, use the option on the first confirmation page (blue hyperlinked) to start a new FAFSA for the sibling carrying over parent information. FSA ID • Begin with the FSA ID- document all the information on the FAFSA datasheet (yourself or the student) for future use o Username o Password o Answers to the 4 security questions o Email to which the info is attached o Cell phone number • Email address is required to create an FSA ID, and it must be verified immediately. • Cell phone number is required to create an FSA ID, and immediate access is required. This aids in retrieving forgotten username or password information • FSA ID’s cannot share the same email address. Only 1 email per 1 FSA ID. • When you provide an email address and cell phone number you will have to verify the email and cell phone number immediately. STUDENT DEMOGRAPHICS • Email address“Do you have an email address that you check often?” Many times students/parents have an email but don’t check it so we ask them NOT to list that email since they will receive important information via email e-mail from the FAFSA. • High School completed by Parent 1 and Parent 2 “Do either of your biological parents have a degree?” Many students say my parents went to college but that doesn’t mean they completed college. This can be any degree or credential. These are the only two questions on the FAFSA where it is asking about birth parent or adoptive parents not the parents for which you will provide information on later for financials. • Drivers License – not required for the FAFSA portion DEPENDENCY QUESTIONS • Explain the dependency section broadly “This section we will review a series of questions the will indicate if you are considered an independent in terms of the FAFSA- if you can say yes to any of these you are, if you say no to all of them you are considered a dependent student.”

• • •

Read the dependency questions to the student/parent. If a student can answer yes = independent student and only use their tax information. If the student is a dependent, they will use parent(s) information (student + parent info). THERE IS NEVER A TIME THAT A STUDENT USES GRANDMOTHER, AUNT, FRIEND INFORMATION (even if they claim student, or are their legal guardian, or even if student lives with them).

PARENT DEOMGRAPHICS • “Parent” is defined as the parent with whom the student lives the most (51% of the time or more) & provides the most financial support during the 12 months preceding the FAFSA submission date (regardless of who claims the student). • If the primary parent is married/remarried at the time the FAFSA is completed, income must be used for both parents (biological/adoptive parents OR parent/stepparent) regardless of their tax filing. HOUSEHOLD SIZE • Student is always included in the total number. • Household size made up of- student, parents (as defined earlier), parents’ other children (if parent will provide more than half support from July 1, 2022-June 30, 2023 OR child considered dependent student- don’t have to reside in household to be counted), if student is pregnant with child and parent supporting over 51% as of July 1, 2022-June 30, 2023. • Graduate students can be counted in household if parent provides more than half their support. • The parent does not have to claim the child on tax returns to be counted as a member of the household. • Foster children are not counted in the household. • Unborn children can be counted if they will receive more than half the parents support from birth through end of the academic year. • Other people (aunts, grandparents, uncles, etc.) should be counted only if they live with the student’s parents and will continue to from July 1, 2022-June 2023, AND students’ parents provide more than half of financial support. PARENT FINANCIALS • Use the parent(s) financial information for 2020. This is the Prior Prior Year (PPY) change. IRS DATA RETRIEVAL • Always use when you can. • If have the tax return make sure that during the DRT process you record the name, filing status, and address exactly as it is written on the tax return even if it is incorrect. (Tax preparers may misspell a name or put the wrong street number and you must put the wrong info as well to retrieve data.) CONFIRMATION PAGE o Print the confirmation for the applicant. o Point out Pell Estimate and/or EFC and/or estimated loan eligibility.

o Write at the top that FAFSA needs to be renewed every year after Oct. 1 o DO NOT close the confirmation page until you have linked the State Aid Application AND linked to another sibling’s FAFSA (if applicable). STATE APPLICATION • By completing FAFSA first you can link to the state aid application which will pre-populate information (blue hyperlink at the top of the confirmation page). • Make sure that you have the students self-identify if they are HELP eligible (or if they could be HELP eligible by March 31). • One parent’s driver’s license number is needed for the MS application. You never need student’s driver’s license number. • FERPA Page: you will need last 4 digits of parents SSN. • Once the state aid application is complete, the student will receive an email with a username assigned and link to set password for their MS Financial Aid Application. Take the time to set the password and change the username to match the FSA ID and record on the Financial Aid datasheet.

Updates: If A Student’s Situation Has Changed Most information cannot be updated because it must be accurate as of the day you originally signed your FAFSA. For example, if you spent some of your savings after filing the FAFSA, you may not update your information to show a change in that amount. You should speak to the financial aid office at the school you plan to attend if there will be a significant change in your or your parent’s income for the present year or if your family has other circumstances that cannot be reported on the FAFSA. You may update your mailing address, email address, and other contact information if it has changed. There are certain items that you must update: •

•

You must update anything that changes your dependency status (for instance, you are now pregnant or are now in legal guardianship) except a change in your marital status. If your marital status changes, you must speak to the financial aid office to determine whether you may update the FAFSA. If (and only if) you are selected for verification, you must update your FAFSA if there is a change in the number of family members in your parents’ household or in your household. If the number of family members changes as a result of a change in your (the student’s) marital status, you must speak to the financial aid office at the school you plan to attend to determine whether you may update the FAFSA. If (and only if) you are selected for verification, you must update your FAFSA if there is a change in the number of people in your parents’ household who are in college or the number of people in your household who are in college. If the number of people in college changes as a result of a change in your (the student’s) marital status, you must speak to the financial aid office at the school you plan to attend to determine whether you may update the FAFSA.

Glossary Dependency Status The determination of a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) applicant as dependent or independent. Dependent Student A student who does not meet any of the criteria for an independent student. An independent student is one of the following: at least 24 years old, married, a graduate or professional student, a veteran, a member of the armed forces, an orphan, a ward of the court, someone with legal dependents other than a spouse, an emancipated minor or someone who is homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Emancipated Minor An individual (under the age of 18) who has legally been determined to be an adult by a court in his or her state of legal residence. FAFSA Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The FREE application used to apply for federal student aid, such as federal grants, loans, and work-study. Federal Student Aid Financial aid from the federal government to help you pay for education expenses at an eligible college or career school. Grants, loans and work-study are types of federal student aid. You must complete the FAFSA to apply for this aid. Foster Care A temporary living arrangement for dependent children when their parent(s) or another relative cannot take care of them. FSA ID The FSA ID is a username and password combination that serves as a student’s or parent’s identifier to allow access to personal information in various U.S. Department of Education systems and acts as a digital signature on some online forms. Unaccompanied Minor An individual that is under 18 and not living or accompanied with a parent or legal guardian. Homeless An individual is considered homeless if he or she lacks fixed, regular and adequate housing. You may be homeless if you are living in a shelter, park, motel or car, or temporarily living with other people because you have nowhere else to go. Also, if you are living in any of these situations and fleeing an abusive parent you may be considered homeless when completing your FAFSA even if your parent would provide support and a place to live. Independent Student An independent student is one of the following: at least 24 years old, married, a graduate or professional student, a veteran, a member of the armed forces, an orphan, a ward of the court, or someone with legal dependents other than a spouse, an emancipated minor or someone who is homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Get additional information to determine your dependency status. Legal Guardianship A relationship created by court order, through which the court appoints an individual other than a minor's parent to take care of the minor. A legal guardian is not considered a parent on the student's FAFSA. In fact, a student in legal guardianship does not need to report parent information on the FAFSA because he or she is considered an independent student.