How do I apply for aid?

Completing the FAFSA is the first step in the financial aid process. It will take seven days to process your form and send you a Student Aid Report (SAR) once all required signatures are received. Your SAR will summarize the data you report on your application. Check this information carefully to make sure it is accurate. Keep a copy of your SAR and note your Data Release Number (DRN) in the bottom left hand corner of the first page; you will need your DRN if you decide to apply to additional schools. If your FAFSA information is complete, an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) will be printed in the upper-right hand corner. Your EFC will be based on the financial information you provide on the FAFSA, and your school will use it to award your financial aid.

For additional help filling out the FAFSA, you can go to Completing the FAFSA on the FAFSA Web Site.

How do I answer the tax questions if I (or my parents) don't file a tax return?

If you will not file a tax return, you should answer Will Not File to question 32 (Have you completed a tax return?). You will then be taken to question 38 (Income earned from work), where you should 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.

If your parents will not file a tax return, respond to question 70 (Have your parents filed a tax return?) the same way.

How do I answer the tax questions if I am (or my parents are) separated, divorced, or widowed?

If you or your parents are separated, divorced, or widowed, you may have filed a joint tax return for the last calendar year. However, for the tax questions on the FAFSA, even if you filed a joint return, you should separate your tax information from your spouse's as if you filed a single return.

If you are providing information about a parent, answer his/her tax questions in the same manner.

I have already submitted an application for the upcoming or current school year. May I submit another application using FAFSA on the Web?

No.

If you have already submitted an application (your school already submitted an electronic application for you, you submitted a paper application, or you filed for aid using FAFSA on the Web), do not submit another application.

If you have further questions, please refer to the Customer Service page for contact and assistance information by selecting this link or select the "Check status of a submitted FAFSA or Print a Signature Page" option from the FAFSA on the Web home page at www.fafsa.ed.gov under the "FAFSA Follow-up" section.

I have received a paper Renewal FAFSA in the mail. May I file an original FAFSA instead of a Renewal FAFSA?

Yes.

You can file an original FAFSA instead of your Renewal FAFSA. However, since an original FAFSA will probably take much longer to fill out than a Renewal FAFSA, we strongly encourage you to file a Renewal FAFSA.

You are not required to complete a renewal application. The Renewal FAFSA is not mandatory.

Remember, to do a renewal form on the Web, you must have a PIN number. However, possession of a PIN does not necessarily mean you have qualified for an electronic Renewal Form.

I submitted two applications for the same year. What will happen?

We use only the first application we receive. All other subsequent applications are deleted from our system.

If you made an error on your application, wait for your Student Aid Report (SAR) to arrive in the mail. Make any necessary corrections on this form and mail it back to us.

You may also check with your financial aid office to determine if they can do electronic corrections for you.

What if I have someone else fill out my FAFSA for me?

If you have someone else fill out your FAFSA for you (unless it was one of your parents or your spouse), you should make sure they list themselves as a "preparer" at the end of your FAFSA. They will have to provide their Social Security Number or Employer Identification Number to verify that the information they reported was correct to the best of their knowledge.

Remember, the FAFSA is a completely FREE application. If you need help filling it out, there are many free tools available to help you. You don't need to pay anyone to help you fill out your FAFSA.

The best place to look for help before you start filling out your FAFSA is at your school's financial aid office. If you have already started filling out your application and you need help with a specific question, click on the "Need Help with this Page?" link located at the bottom of every FAFSA page.

What is the PIN?

The PIN serves as your identifier to let you access your personal information in various U.S. Department of Education systems. It's like the Personal Identification Number that you get from your bank that enables you to access your account. Because your PIN serves as your electronic signature, you should not give it to anyone.

Do I need a PIN?

You need a PIN in order to perform any of the following tasks:

• Electronically sign the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on the Web, Renewal FAFSAs on the Web, or FAFSA Corrections on the Web.
• View the status of a submitted FAFSA application on FAFSA on the Web's Status Check.
• View the results of a processed FAFSA application on FAFSA on the Web's Student Access.
• Access your Federal Student Aid information on the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) Web site.
• Access Direct Loan Entrance and Exit Counseling.
• Make address corrections to a Direct Loan account, calculate a repayment schedule, and get interactive counseling on deferment or forbearance for any Direct Loans on the Direct Loan Servicing Web site.
• Track the processing status of your online Consolidation Loan application throughout the entire consolidation process from application receipt to booking with Direct Loan Servicing.
• Make updates to the e-mail or mailing address where your PIN can be sent.
• Print a copy of your Student Aid Report (SAR).

Who is eligible to receive a PIN?

Anyone who has a valid Social Security Number and is a U.S. Citizen or eligible Non-Citizen may apply for a PIN.

How do I request my PIN and how long does it take to receive?

If you are a new user and do not have a PIN, but would like to apply for one, select "Apply For A PIN" from the menu list on the left side of the PIN Home Page.

If you don't know your PIN and would like a duplicate copy, select "Request a Duplicate PIN" from the menu bar on the PIN Home Page.

If you have lost your PIN, select "Request a Duplicate PIN" from the menu on the PIN Home Page. If you think your PIN has been compromised, select "Change My PIN" from the menu on the PIN Home Page.

If you would like to have your PIN sent to a different address, or you would like to update your first name, you can select "Change My Address" on the PIN Home Page. The PIN e-mail or mailing address is the address where we send your PIN.

It will take approximately 1-3 business days after you request your PIN for you to receive an e-mail notification with instructions on how to retrieve it electronically, or 7-10 days to receive it in the mail via the U.S. Postal Service.

May I receive My PIN electronically?

Yes.

If you would like to have your PIN delivered to you electronically, you will need to provide a valid e-mail address during the PIN request process.

How do I Activate my PIN?

Before you are able to use your PIN, you must activate the PIN. To activate the PIN, you must provide a Challenge Response and agree to the terms and conditions.

Where can I use my PIN?

You can use your PIN at these U.S. Department of Education Web sites:

• www.fafsa.ed.gov

  FAFSA on the Web: Access and complete your Renewal Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and submit corrections to your processed FAFSA. You may also use your PIN to electronically sign your submitted FAFSA or obtain a copy of your processed FAFSA information.

• www.nslds.ed.gov

  The National Student Loan Data System Web site: View a history of the federal student financial aid you have received.

• www.dlservicer.ed.gov

  Direct Loan Servicing: Use your PIN to access Direct Loan Entrance and Exit Counseling. Get up-to-date account information, loan balances, and payoff information. Use our online repayment calculator to help you forecast repayment of your loan and contact our customer service staff by e-mail.

• www.loanconsolidation.ed.gov

  The Direct Loan Consolidation Web site: Your PIN will enable you to track the processing status of your online Consolidation Loan application throughout the entire consolidation process from application receipt to booking with Direct Loan Servicing.

• dlenote.ed.gov

  You may E-sign your master promissory note for your Direct Loan. To E-sign a master promissory note for a Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL), contact your school's financial aid office or your lender for assistance.

What should I do if I lose or forget my PIN?

If you have lost or forgotten your PIN you will need to request a duplicate PIN be sent to you. You can request a duplicate PIN by selecting "Request a Duplicate PIN" from the menu list on the PIN Home Page.

If you think that someone else may know your PIN, or you believe your PIN may have been compromised when it was lost, we can generate a new PIN for you. Select "Change My PIN" from the menu list on the left side of the PIN Home Page.

What should I do if I suspect someone else knows my PIN?

If you think that someone else may know your PIN, or you believe your PIN has been otherwise compromised, we can generate a new PIN for you and send it to you via the U.S. Postal Service or e-mail. To request a new PIN be sent to you, select "Change My PIN" from the menu list on the PIN Home Page.

Does my PIN expire?

Your PIN will expire if it has been inactive for 18 consecutive months. Each time you perform one of the following actions with your PIN, the expiration date for your PIN will be changed to 18 months from the date of the action.

• Authenticate using your PIN
• Request a Dupliate PIN
• Update information associated with your PIN
• Change your PIN

Expiration of PINs began in July 2006. If your PIN expires, you will need to reapply for a PIN. To reapply for a PIN, select the "Apply for a PIN" option on the PIN home page.

How do I change my Last Name?

Currently, there is no way to make a change to the last name we associate with your PIN. If you have changed your last name, you need to apply for a new PIN.

If your records still use your old last name, you will have to use your old PIN and last name to access those records.

When applying for a PIN we will send your name, date of birth, and Social Security Number (SSN) to the Social Security Administration (SSA). If the information you provide does not match with the SSA, you will not be able to receive a PIN. Therefore, you should make sure that your new last name is already changed with the Social Security Administration before applying for a new PIN.

Who is eligible to receive Federal Student Aid?

• Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
• Have a valid Social Security number (unless you're from the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, or the Republic of Palau)
• Comply with Selective Service registration, if required (see www.sss.gov for more information)
• 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. Also
• You must not owe a refund on a federal grant or be in default on a federal education loan.
• You must have financial need (except for unsubsidized Stafford Loans)
• If you have past drug convictions, we encourage you to complete the Drug Conviction Worksheet to determine if those convictions affect your eligibility.

Other requirements may apply. Contact us for more information.

May I use FAFSA on the Web to estimate my Expected Family Contribution (EFC)?

Yes.

You can use FAFSA on the Web to calculate your estimated Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The estimated EFC will print on the confirmation page when you have completed and submitted the application.

We will calculate an official EFC once we receive all required signatures. You will receive your official EFC with your Student Aid Report (SAR).

How much financial aid am I eligible to 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.

For more information on eligibility, visit the financial aid office at your school or look at The Student Guide at by clicking here.

If you have further questions, please refer to the Customer Service page on FAFSA's website.

I have my EFC. How much money will I receive?

The financial aid office at your school will use your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and other information to determine the amount of financial aid for which you are eligible to receive. A financial aid award is determined by each school based on your eligibility and the cost of attendance for the program in which you are enrolled.

Convicted of any illegal drug offense?

This question 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.

What is an acceptable drug rehabilitation program?

An acceptable drug rehabilitation program must include two unannounced drug tests. It must also:

• Be qualified to receive funds from federal, state, or local government, or a state-licensed insurance company.
• Be administered or recognized by a federal, state, or local government agency or court, or a state-licensed hospital, health clinic, or medical doctor.