FAFSA FAQ

The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is a federal form used to determine your eligibility for:

Federal programs, like Pell Grants, Perkins loans, Stafford loans, and work-study.
Pennsylvania state programs, like the State Grant, state work-study, and educational loans.
School programs, like private grants and need-based scholarships.

The only way to find out if you qualify for “free money” awards like grants, scholarships, and reduced-cost federal student loans is to complete and submit the FAFSA.

The information you provide on your FAFSA is used to determine your eligibility for aid via federal student financial assistance programs.

Many states and schools also use the FAFSA data to award student aid.

Regardless of how you apply, the FAFSA is free.

How do I apply?

Recommended method: Apply online (English or Spanish) at FAFSA on the Web.

If you prefer not to apply online, you can download a paper application (English or Spanish) or call 1-800-433-3243.

What do I need to complete the FAFSA?

Before you begin the FAFSA, gather the following paperwork:

	Dependent Students	Independent Students (Am I independent?)
Personal	Your and your parents’ Social Security Numbers (can be found on Social Security card) Your and your parents’ driver’s license (if any) Your and your parents’ alien registration number or permanent residence card (if you are not a U.S. citizen)	Your Social Security Number (can be found on Social Security card) Your driver’s license (if any) Your alien registration number or permanent residence card (if you are not a U.S. citizen)
Income	Your (if you had taxable income) and your parents’ W-2 Forms and other records of money earned Your (if you had untaxable income) and your parents’ untaxed income records - Social Security, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, welfare, or veterans benefits records	Your (and your spouse’s, if you are married) W-2 Forms and other records of money earned Your (and your spouse’s, if you are married) untaxed income records - Social Security, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, welfare, or veterans benefits records
Tax	Your (if you were required to file) and your parents’ 2007 Federal Income Tax Return IRS Form 1040, 1040A, 1040EZ, Foreign tax return, or Tax return for Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia or Palau	Your (and your spouse’s, if you are married) 2007 Federal Income Tax Return IRS Form 1040, 1040A, 1040EZ, Foreign tax return, or Tax return for Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia or Palau
Assets	Your and your parents’ most recent bank statements Your and your parents’ most recent business and investment mortgage information, business and farm records, stock, bond, and other investment records, as applicable	Your (and your spouse’s, if you are married) most recent bank statements Your (and your spouse’s, if you are married) most recent business and investment mortgage information, business and farm records, stock, bond, and other investment records, as applicable

Am I independent?

For the 2008-2009 academic year, you are considered an independent student if you answer “yes” to one of the following:

Were you born before January 1, 1985?
Are you married as of the day you apply (or separated but not divorced)?
Are you/will you be enrolled in a master’s or doctorate program (beyond a bachelor’s degree) at the beginning of the 2008-2009 school year?
Do you have children who receive more than half their support from you?
Do you have dependents (other than your children or spouse) who live with you and who receive more than half their support from you and will continue to receive more than half their support from you through June 30, 2009?
Are both your parents are deceased, or are you/were you (until age 18) a ward/dependent of the court?
Are you a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces? (A “veteran” includes students who attended a U.S. service academy and who were released under a condition other than dishonorable. For more detail on who is considered a veteran, see the explanatory notes on the FAFSA available at the FAFSA website ).
Are you currently serving on active duty in the Armed Forces for other than training purposes?

Where can I get help filling out the FAFSA?

Personal Help

Visit your schools' financial aid websites or contact the Financial Aid Offices.
Visit www.fafsa.ed.gov.
Call the Federal Student Aid Information Center (FSAIC) toll-free:
- 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243)
- (TTY 1-800-730-8913)

Online Tools & Resources

FAFSA on the Web is the U.S. Department of Education’s comprehensive FAFSA site.
FAFSA Worksheet provides all questions in the order that they appear on the FAFSA.
FAFSA4caster is an early FAFSA planning resource.
collegeCalendar helps you know what to do and when to pay for school.
EducationPlanner.org offers more information on planning and paying for college.

Why fill out the FAFSA online?

Built-in help guides you through the application process.
Errors are detected before you submit your application.
Access worksheets that automatically calculate and enter information for you.
Your application is processed in less than a week, compared to two to four weeks for a paper application.
The schools you list on the FAFSA will receive your processed information faster.

What is a PIN and why do I need one?

The PIN is your Personal Identification Number. It enables you to access your federal financial aid information online.

Each year that you apply for financial aid, you can use your PIN to access and electronically sign your FAFSA. If you are a dependent student, both you and your parent require a PIN.

To obtain a PIN, go to the U.S. Department of Education’s PIN site, www.pin.ed.gov.

What are the deadlines for applying?

Deadlines are specific to your situation. Deadlines for aid from your state, your school, and private sources tend to be earlier than deadlines for federal aid.

To make sure that any financial aid package your school offers you will contain aid from as many sources as possible, apply as soon as you can after January 1.

What	Who	Deadline
School-based Student Aid	All undergraduate and graduate students.	Varies by school Carefully read any school information you receive and check your schools' financial aid websites.
Pennsylvania State Grant Attending school outside of PA? View other states' grant deadlines.	First-time undergraduate students in college, university, or college-transferable programs. All undergraduate renewal students.	May 1
	First-time students in business, trade, technical and nursing school, or two-year terminal (non-transferable) program at a community, junior, or four-year college.	August 1
Federal Student Aid	All undergraduate and graduate students.	After January 1 Of the calendar year in which you plan to attend school and need aid. If you will begin school in September 2008, then apply as soon after January 1, 2008 as possible.

What happens after I file the FAFSA?

One to three weeks after you apply, the federal government will provide you and your schools with your Student Aid Report (SAR). The Student Aid Report contains a summary of the information you entered on your FAFSA and informs you of your Expected Family Contribution (EFC).

Your Expected Family Contribution is commonly referred to as your family's "ability to pay." Each school will review your information and use your Expected Family Contribution to determine your eligibility for student aid from federal, state, and institutional sources.

The school presents your financial aid package to you in a financial aid award letter. Financial aid packages can differ greatly from school to school.

Review the Student Aid Report carefully to make sure all of the information is correct and to check if you were selected for verification.

Corrections: If you must make changes, submit corrections promptly. If no corrections are needed, you do not have to return the form.
Verification: If you were selected for verification, follow the instructions provided on the form.

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PHEAA - Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency

FAFSA FAQ

Online Tools & Resources

FAFSA Help