Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who is eligible to receive federal student aid?
2. How much federal financial aid can I receive?
3. I think my family's income isn't low enough to qualify for financial aid. Should I apply anyway?
4. I'm going to college part time. Am I eligible for financial aid?
5. Do I need a Social Security number to apply for federal student financial aid?
6. Do I need to be admitted before I can apply for financial aid at a particular university?
7. I've been convicted of a drug offense. Does this mean I won't get any aid?
8. If I'm an emancipated minor, am I now independent?
10. How can I get in touch with someone who can help me with a financial aid question?
12. Where can I get a copy of the FAFSA?
13. Do I have to pay for the FAFSA?
14. When should I fill out the FAFSA?
16. I forgot my PIN. What do I do?
18. How do I answer the tax questions if I (or my parents) don't file a tax return?
20. If my parents are divorced, whose information do I report?
24. Do we provide the value of retirement and pension funds in the asset part of the FAFSA?
25. What's the difference between cash support and in-kind support?
26. How does a family decide who should be counted in the household size?
27. When should a student start applying for scholarships?
28.I got an outside scholarship. Should I report it to the financial aid office?
29. I live in California. What type of state aid is available residents?
30. What is a Federal Perkins loan?
32. What's the difference between the Pell and Cal Grants?
Who is eligible to receive federal student aid?
To be eligible, you must
- Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
- Have a valid Social Security number
- Comply with Selective Service registration, if required
- Have a high school diploma or a General Education Development (GED) Certificate or pass an approved ability-to-benefit (ATB) test
- Be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a regular student working toward a degree or certificate in an eligible program at a school that participates in the federal student aid programs
How much federal financial aid can I receive?
Your eligibility for aid depends on your Expected Family Contribution, your year in school, enrollment status, and the cost of attendance at the school you will be attending. Your school's financial aid office will tell you how much you can receive at that school.
I think my family's income isn't low enough to qualify for financial aid. Should I apply anyway?
Yes! The federal government has a formula that determines the amount your family is expected to contribute to your college costs. Any costs above that have a chance to be covered by financial aid. Plus, there are few sources of financial aid not based on need such as the unsubsidized Stafford and PLUS loans. The FAFSA form is free so there's no reason not to apply.
I'm going to college part time. Am I eligible for financial aid?
Yes, financial aid is available for part-time students. Part-time students do need to fill out the FAFSA to see what financial aid they are eligible for.
Do I need a Social Security number to apply for federal student financial aid?
You must have a Social Security number (SSN) to be eligible for federal student financial aid. If you submit a FAFSA without an SSN, your FAFSA will be returned to you unprocessed.
Do I need to be admitted before I can apply for financial aid at a particular university?
No, you can apply for financial aid any time after January 1. To actually receive funds, however, you must be admitted and enrolled at the university.
I've been convicted of a drug offense. Does this mean I won't get any aid?
This question on the FAFSA asks about convictions for possessing or selling illegal drugs (not including alcohol and tobacco). Do not count convictions that have been removed from your record. Do not count convictions that occurred before you turned 18, unless you were tried as an adult.
If I'm an emancipated minor, am I now independent?
The status of "emancipated minor" is not recognized by the U.S. Department of Education for financial aid purposes.
To be considered an independent student at least one of the following must apply:
- You were born before January 1, 1984;
- You are married;
- You are or will be enrolled in a master's or doctoral program (beyond a bachelor 's degree) during the 2007–08 school year;
- You have children who receive more than half their support from you;
- 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, 2008;
- You are an orphan or ward of the court (or were a ward of the court until age 18); or
- You are a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces ("veteran" includes students who attended a U.S. service academy and were released under a condition other than dishonorable).
There are some special (or extenuating) circumstances in my family (my grandmother lives with us and my mom just got her work hours reduced). Is there any way to appeal my financial aid award package?
Contact your college/university's financial aid office. All schools have some type of appeal process. You may have to provide a letter with backup documentation such as a itemized list of support for your grandmother and a copy of your mom's pay stubs.
How can I get in touch with someone who can help me with a financial aid question?
Contact the financial aid office of a local college or university.
You can also call 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243). Assistance in Spanish is available.
How do I apply for aid?
- The fastest way is to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online—FASFA on the Web—and provide the required signatures. The website is www.fafsa.ed.gov.
- The student and a parent are required to provide a signature at the end of the application. Be sure to secure a PIN for both the student and a parent before you fill out the FAFSA.
- It will take three to seven days to process your FAFSA and send you a Student Aid Report (SAR).
- Your SAR will summarize the data you report on your FAFSA. Check the SAR carefully to make sure it is accurate. (Keep a copy of your SAR.)
- If your FAFSA information is complete, an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) will be printed in the upper right corner. Your EFC is based on the financial information you provide on the FAFSA.
- Your school will use your EFC to award your financial aid.
Where can I get a copy of the FAFSA?
- Ask a school guidance counselor for a copy
- Ask the financial aid office at a local college
- Ask your local public library
- Call 1-800-4-FED-AID
- Visit www.fafsa.ed.gov
Do I have to pay for the FAFSA?
No, the FAFSA is free. Never pay an individual or an organization to help you fill out the application. You can get free help online or by calling 1-800-4FED-AID. If filling out the FAFSA online, be sure to go to www.fafsa.ed.gov.
When should I fill out the FAFSA?
Send in the form as soon as possible after January 1. Do not wait until your taxes are done. Although it is better to do your taxes early, it is okay to use estimates of your income, so long as they aren't very far off from the actual values.
You will have an opportunity to correct any errors later. If you wait too long, you might miss the deadline for state aid.
Remember that the FAFSA needs to be filled out every year that you are in college.
How can I get a PIN?
- Go to www.pin.ed.gov and select Apply for a PIN.
- Provide your Social Security number, full name, complete address, date of birth, email address (if you have one), and a security pass phrase.
- Once you have completed the PIN application, select the "Submit Request" button.
- If the information you entered passes an identity check with the Social Security Administration, a PIN will be mailed or emailed to you.
- Be sure to have one of your parents secure a PIN also.
I forgot my PIN. What do I do?
- Go to www.pin.ed.gov and select Request a Duplicate PIN.
- Provide your Social Security number, the first two letters of your last name, and your date of birth.
- If you provide an email address, a link to your PIN will be emailed to you.
- If you do not provide an email address, your PIN will be mailed to you in about 7–10 days.
Why should I get a PIN?
You can use your PIN to access your financial aid data at these U.S. Department of Education websites:
- FAFSA on the Web: Access and complete your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Renewal FAFSA (if you applied for federal student aid last year). You can also:
- submit corrections to your processed FAFSA,
- use your PIN to electronically sign your submitted FAFSA,
- get a copy of your processed FAFSA information, or
- add a school code to your FAFSA application
- The National Student Loan Data System website: www.nslds.ed.gov/nslds_SA/. View a history of the federal student financial aid you have received.
- You also may use your PIN to sign your Federal Direct or Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Master Promissory Note (MPN).
How do I answer the tax questions if I (or my parents) don't file a tax return?
- Answer "Will Not File" to question 32 (Have you completed a tax return?).
- You will be taken to question 38 (Income earned from work).
- Enter any monies earned from a job that is listed as taxed on a W2 form.
- Then answer only those income questions that apply to you from that point on.
I'll file a tax return this year, but I probably won't do it until April. How should I answer the financial questions? Should I wait to fill out this form until after I've filed my tax return?
- If you haven't submitted your tax return, you should calculate your adjusted gross income (AGI) and taxes paid using the instructions for IRS Form 1040.
- If you submit your application before you complete a tax return, you may need to make corrections later if your income or tax information isn't accurate. You will also need to return any federal student aid you received based upon incorrect information.
If my parents are divorced, whose information do I report?
You should provide information from the parent you lived with the most. If equal, list the one who provided the most financial support. If you have a stepparent, he or she will have to include their information also.
I am entering financial information for my mother and stepfather on the FAFSA. Should I give my father's Social Security number (SSN) and last name or my stepfather's?
You should provide the SSN and last name of the same person or people for whom you are reporting financial information. In this case, provide the SSNs and names of your mother and stepfather.
I live with an aunt (or grandparent or other relative). Should that relative's income be reported instead of parental information?
- Only if the relative is your adoptive parent.
- Dependent students can be considered dependent only on their parents and must report only parental information on the FAFSA.
- You must report (in Worksheet B) any cash support given by relatives, but not in-kind support (such as food and housing) from relatives.
I'm not sure if I want to take out a student loan or work during the school year. What should I enter for the questions asking if I am interested in student loans or Work-Study?
Some schools use this information to put together a financial aid package for you. Answering "Yes" to either question does not obligate you to take out a loan or accept a Work-Study position. It usually just means that the school will offer you a loan(s) or Work-Study as part of your aid package. If you indicate on the application that you are interested in either a loan or Work-Study, you can change your mind and not accept the loan(s) or Work-Study later.
Keep in mind that if you answer "No" to the Work-Study question when you apply and subsequently change your mind, a Work-Study job may not be available if all of the Work-Study funds at your school have been used up.
Do we provide the value of retirement and pension funds in the asset part of the FAFSA?
No, FAFSA does not take into account money in pension funds, retirement, or home equity.
What's the difference between cash support and in-kind support?
- Cash support is support given either in the form of money or money that is paid on your (the student's) behalf. You must report cash support as untaxed income.
- If a friend or relative gives you grocery money, it must be reported as untaxed income on Worksheet B. If the friend or relative pays your electric bill or part of your rent, you must also report those payments.
- Examples of in-kind support are free food or housing that a family receives, usually in exchange for work or services. You usually don't report such support.
- The application requires you, however, to report the value of housing a family receives as compensation for a job on Worksheet B. The most common examples are free housing or a housing allowance provided to military personnel or clergy, which is required to be reported on Worksheet B.
How does a family decide who should be counted in the household size?
- Anyone in the immediate family who receives more than 50% support from a dependent student's parents or an independent student and spouse may be counted in the household size even if that person does not live in the house. For example, a sibling who is over 24 but still receives the majority of his/her support from the parents can be included.
- Siblings who are dependent (as defined by the FAFSA) as of the date you apply for aid are also included, regardless of whether they receive more than 50% of their support from the parents.
- Any other person who lives in the household and receives more than 50% support from the parents may also be counted, as long as he or she will continue to live with your parents and the support is expected to continue through June 30, 2007.
- An unborn child who will be born before July 1, 2007 may also be counted in the household size.
When should a student start applying for scholarships?
The best time to begin looking for financial aid is at least one year before you actually need it, and then every year thereafter while you are still a student.
I got an outside scholarship. Should I report it to the financial aid office?
Yes. If you are receiving any kind of financial aid from university or government sources, you must report the scholarship to the financial aid office.
Unfortunately, the university will adjust your financial aid package to compensate. Nevertheless, outside scholarships have benefits. At some universities outside scholarships are used to reduce the self-help level. For example, at MIT the outside scholarship is first applied to reducing the self-help level, and only when the scholarship exceeds self-help does it replace institutional grants. At other universities outside scholarships are used to replace loans instead of grants.
I live in California. What type of state aid is available residents?
California requires the FAFSA to be submitted by March 2. Most colleges award aid on a first-come, first-served basis.
What is a Federal Perkins Loan?
A Federal Perkins Loan is a low-interest (5%) loan for undergraduate and graduate students with financial need. Your school is your lender. The loan is made with government funds, and your school contributes a share. You must repay this loan to your school.
What are Stafford loans?
Direct and FFEL Stafford loans are either subsidized or unsubsidized. You can receive a subsidized loan and an unsubsidized loan for the same enrollment period.
A subsidized loan is awarded on the basis of financial need. You won't be charged any interest before you begin repayment or during authorized periods of deferment). The federal government "subsidizes" the interest during these periods.
An unsubsidized loan is not awarded on the basis of need. You'll be charged interest from the time the loan is disbursed until it's paid in full. If you allow the interest to accrue (accumulate) while you're in school or during other periods of nonpayment, it will be capitalized—that is, the interest will be added to the principal amount of your loan, and additional interest will be based on that higher amount.
When will my loan proceeds arrive?
Loans are applied to your account the first day of classes each semester if your level of enrollment and eligibility for funds has been verified. If your file is not completed by the beginning of the semester, your proceeds will be delayed. For more detailed information, ask the financial aid office at your college or university.
What's the difference between the Pell and Cal Grants?
The Pell Grant is a federal funded grant and the Cal Grant is a California funded grant. These do NOT have to be paid back.
