FAFSA FAQs

HELPFUL TOOLS

Foster and Unaccompanied Youth FAFSA FAQs Fill Out the FAFSA Get Our Planning Worbooks

Declaring your status
Your family and dependents
Income and tax information
FAFSA and 529 College Savings Plans
The results and next steps

DECLARING YOUR STATUS

Q.  I’m a US citizen but also have an Alien Registration Number. What should I include on the FAFSA?

A.  Indicate that you are a US citizen; do not provide your A-Number.

Q.  I'm getting married soon—should I indicate that I am married or single?

A.  If you are not married on the day that you complete the FAFSA, answer "no," indicating that you are not married. The FAFSA is a snapshot of your status the day it is completed. When you apply in a subsequent year and are married, you will file as a married student.

Q.  If I’m in the National Guard or an active duty military member, am I considered a veteran for purposes of the FAFSA?

A.  If you were in the National Guard or a reservist called to active duty for purposes other than training and were honorably released, you are considered a veteran for FAFSA purposes. If you are on active duty in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines or Coast Guard, and will be a veteran by June 30, 2009, you are considered a veteran for FAFSA purposes. If your active duty continues past June 30, 2009, you are not considered a veteran for FAFSA purposes.

YOUR FAMILY AND DEPENDENTS

Q. My parents don’t give me any financial support and they do not claim me on their taxes.  Do I still need their information?

A.If any of the following questions are true for you, you will not need parental information to file a FAFSA.  If none of these criterion apply to you, then you must provide parental information until one of these criteria becomes true for you.

• Were you born before January 1, 1987?
• As of today, are you married? (Also answer “Yes” if you are separated but not divorced.)
• At the beginning of the 2010–2011 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.)?
• Are you currently serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces for purposes other than training?
• Are you a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces?
• Do you have children who will receive more than half of their support from you between July 1, 2010 and June 30, 2011?
• 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, 2011?
• At any time since you turned age 13, were both your parents deceased, were you in foster care or were you a dependent or ward of the court?
• Are you or were you an emancipated minor as determined by a court in your state of legal residence?
• Are you or were you in legal guardianship as determined by a court in your state of legal residence?
• At any time on or after July 1, 2009, did your high school or school district homeless liaison determine that you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless?
• At any time on or after July 1, 2009, did the director of an emergency shelter or transitional housing program funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development determine that you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless?
• At any time on or after July 1, 2009, 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?

Q.  What if my family has special circumstances that aren't included in the FAFSA?

A.  If you or your family have unusual circumstances (loss of employment or benefits, death, unexpected illness or incurred medical debt), complete the FAFSA and submit it as instructed. Then talk to the financial aid office at the school you plan to attend. Your school’s financial aid office may decide on a case-by-case basis to adjust your Expected Family Contribution (EFC). Only your school can make that decision.

Q.  What if someone in the family has lost his or her job?

A.  If someone has lost a job you should answer ‘YES’ to question 85’.If  any of the following are true for you, you should answer ‘YES’ to question 85.

• is receiving unemployment benefits due to being laid off or losing a job and is unlikely to return to a previous occupation;
• has been laid off or received a lay-off notice from a job;
• was self-employed but is now unemployed due to economic conditions or natural disaster; or
• is a displaced homemaker. A displaced homemaker is generally a person who previously provided unpaid services to the family (e.g., a stay-at-home mom or dad), is no longer supported by the husband or wife, is unemployed or underemployed, and is having trouble finding or upgrading employment.

If a person quits work, generally he or she is not considered a dislocated worker even if, for example, the person is receiving unemployment benefits.

Q.  If my parents are divorced, whose information should I use to complete the FAFSA?

A.  Report the information of the parent with whom you lived the most during the 12 months preceding the date you are completing the FAFSA. It does not matter which parent claims you as a dependent for tax purposes. If you lived equally with each parent or did not live with either parent, provide information for the parent from whom you received the most financial support during the preceding 12 months or the last time support was given.

Q.  If my parents are separated but they file a joint tax return, claiming me as an exemption, whose income should be reported?

A.  Report only the income of the parent with whom you lived the most during the preceding 12 months. Use a W-2 Form or other record(s) to determine that parent’s share of the total income and taxes paid.

Q.  If the parent I live with is remarried, do I need to supply my stepparent’s information?

A.  If you are a dependent student and your parent is remarried, your stepparent's information must be included in order to be considered for federal student aid. If your situation is unique or unusual, discuss the matter further with your school’s financial aid office.

Q.  If I am entering financial information for my mother and stepfather, should I give my father's Social Security Number (SSN) and last name or my stepfather's?

A.  Provide the SSN and last name of the same people for whom you are reporting information. In this case, you would provide the SSNs and names of your mother and stepfather.

Q.  If I live with a relative other than my parents, should that relative's income be reported instead of my parent’s information?

A.  Only if the relative is your adoptive parent. Dependent students are only considered dependents of their parents and should only report their parent’s information on the FAFSA. You must report cash support given by relatives, but not in-kind support (such as food or housing).

Q.  If I live with a girlfriend or boyfriend, should their income be reported?

A.  Unless you are married or are considered common-law married, you should not report any information for a significant other or roommate. You must report cash support given by friends, but not support (such as food or housing). Any rent that your roommate pays on your behalf should be reported as cash support or untaxed income.

Q.  If I am separated, but filed a joint tax return, how is the information reported?

A.  Only your portion of the exemptions, income and taxes paid should be reported.

Q.  How is household size determined?

A.  Anyone in the immediate family who receives more than 50% support from a dependent student's parents or an independent student and spouse should be counted in the household size, even if that person does not actually live in the house. Siblings who are dependent 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 resides in the household and receives more than 50% support from the parents may also be counted, as long as they are expected to continue to reside with and receive support from your parents through June 30, 2009 An unborn child expected to be born during the award year may also be counted.

Q.  Who should be counted in the number of dependents in college?

A.  Any person (other than your parents) who is counted in the household and will be attending any term of the academic year at least half time can be counted. The person must be working toward a degree or certificate at a postsecondary school eligible to participate in the federal student aid programs.

INCOME AND TAX INFORMATION 

Q.  Why does the FAFSA ask for income information from the year before I’ll be in school?

A.  Studies show that income tax information from the base year (the year before you go to school) is more accurate than projected information to determine your family’s need and calculate your Expected Family Contribution (EFC).

Q.  My family will file a tax return this year, but likely not until April. Should I wait to fill out this form until after the tax return has been filed?

A.  Ideally, you should complete the FAFSA after your tax return, but don't wait until April. Many colleges award aid on a first-come, first-serve basis, so you should complete your FAFSA as soon after January 1 as possible. Also, many state aid deadlines are early in the calendar year.

If you haven't submitted your tax return, calculate your adjusted gross income (AGI) and taxes paid using the instructions for IRS Form 1040. You can get the instructions and form at your public library or online at www.irs.gov/formspubs/index.html.

If you submit your FAFSA before you complete your tax return, you may need to make corrections later if your information isn't accurate. It's important to note that any federal student aid you receive based upon incorrect information must be returned.

Your college may require you to provide a copy of your completed tax return before you receive federal student aid.

Q.  Is student aid considered income?

A.  Only if the total amount of grants and scholarships you receive exceeds your annual cost for tuition, fees, books and required supplies. In this case, the excess amount should be considered income.

Q.  What's the difference between cash support and in-kind support?

A.  Cash support is either a cash gift or money paid on the student's behalf. Cash support is reported as untaxed income. For example, if a relative gives you grocery money or pays your rent, it must be reported as untaxed income.

In-kind support would be free food or housing that a student receives, usually in exchange for work or services. You usually don't report in-kind support. However, if you or your family receives free housing as compensation for a job, the FAFSA does require that you report the value of that housing.

FAFSA AND 529 COLLEGE SAVINGS PLANS

Q.  If I have a 529, does it hurt my eligibility for financial aid?

A.  Ownership of a 529 account itself does not exclude you from receiving financial aid. Colleges consider a 529 plan a resource to pay for college. However, all families whose student is a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen, are eligible for some type of financial aid.

Q.  Who can participate in a 529?

A.  Anyone can open an account and anyone can be a beneficiary. Parents, grandparents, other relatives or friends can save through a CollegeInvest account. You may even open an account for yourself. There are no age limits on who may invest money or who may benefit from the funds.

Q.  Does CollegeInvest match the money I put into a 529?

A.  CollegeInvest’s Matching Grant Program matches the first $500 you put into the account each year if your child is under 12 years of age and your family meets specific income requirements. You must qualify annually. Click here for more information on our Matching Grant program.

THE RESULTS AND NEXT STEPS

Q.  When will my school need the results from my FAFSA?

A.  To ensure you get all the aid for which you’re eligible, the best deadline to use is your college’s priority deadline—this is the date your college will begin looking at applications and awarding aid. If your application is received by this deadline, it will be given priority over applications received after the deadline. Most schools’ deadlines fall between mid-February and mid-March, but check with your school to get the exact date. The latest that your school can accept your information is the last day of your enrollment in the 2010—11 school year.

If your college does not receive your information electronically, you should submit your paper Student Aid Report (SAR) to the school by the deadline. Remember, the information submitted must include an official EFC. When your school receives your information, your EFC will be used to determine the amount of federal aid you will be awarded. You will receive a financial aid award letter or email explaining the school’s proposed financial aid package. This may include federal grants, loan, work-study opportunities or other forms of aid.

Q.  What if I don't receive my Student Aid Report (SAR) or SAR Acknowledgement, or I need another copy of the form?

A.  If you do not receive your SAR or SAR Acknowledgement within two to three weeks after applying, call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243). You can use the automated system to find out if your application has been processed and/or to request additional copies of your report. Or you can visit www.fafsa.ed.gov to check the status of your FAFSA and print a copy of your SAR.