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Financial AidFinancial Aid2012-20132012-2013

Sponsored by: Sponsored by:

Presented by:Presented by:

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What Will You Learn Today?What Will You Learn Today?

• Types and sources of financial aid

• Required financial aid application forms

• How to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the Cal Grant GPA Verification Form

• Answers to your individual questions

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Types of Financial Aid Types of Financial Aid

• Gift Aid - Grants or scholarships that do not need to be repaid

• Work - Money earned by the student as payment for a job on or off campus

• Loans - Borrowed money to be paid back, usually with interest

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Sources of Financial AidSources of Financial Aid

• Federal government

• State government

• Colleges and universities

• Private agencies, companies, foundations, and parents’ employers

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Cal GrantsCal Grants

• Cal Grant A Entitlement Awards – for high school seniors and recent high school grads with a Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 3.0, family income and assets below the state ceilings, who demonstrate financial need

• Cal Grant B Entitlement Awards – for high school seniors and recent high school grads with a GPA of at least 2.0, who come from disadvantaged or low income families, whose family income and assets are below the state ceilings, and who demonstrate financial need

• Cal Grant C Awards - for students from low income families pursuing vocational programs of study

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Eligibility for Cal GrantsEligibility for Cal Grants

• To be eligible for a Cal Grant, the student must also:

• be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen

• be a California resident

• attend an accredited California college or university at least half-time in 2012-13

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Residency and Cal Grant Eligibility Residency and Cal Grant Eligibility for 2012-2013for 2012-2013

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• parents have been legal residents of California for one year immediately prior to September 20, 2012, or

• student has lived in California with other legal California residents, other than parents, for two years immediately prior to September 20, 2012, or

• parents who are active duty military, stationed in California at the time the student enrolls in college, or parents’ military home of record is California

• If unmarried and under 18 years of age, the student will be considered a legal resident of California if:

• If married or 18 years of age or older, the student establishes his/her own residence status. The student must be a legal resident of California for one year prior to September 20, 2012

2012-2013 Cal Grant 2012-2013 Cal Grant Application RequirementsApplication Requirements

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Check with your high school or college counselor for

more details on how to file the

Cal Grant GPA Verification Form

• By March 2, 2012, complete and submit:

Free Application for Federal Student Aid

(FAFSA)

Cal Grant GPA

Verification Form

California Chafee GrantCalifornia Chafee GrantCalifornia Chafee GrantCalifornia Chafee Grant• The California Chafee Grant program provides

up to $5,000 annually to current and former foster youth for college or vocational training at any accredited college in the U.S. based on available funding

• To be eligible, foster youth must have been in California foster care on their 16th birthday and not have reached their 22nd birthday before July 1, 2012

• Foster youth are encouraged to apply during their senior year of high school

• To apply, the foster youth must complete: 2012-2013 FAFSA California Chafee Grant Program Application

To learn more about the Chafee Grant, go to:

www.chafee.csac.ca.gov

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Types of ApplicationsTypes of Applications

• FAFSA

• Cal Grant GPA Verification Form

• Other applications or forms as required by the college such as:

• 2011 federal tax returns (along with all schedules and W-2s) or other income documentation

• CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE • Institutional Scholarship and/or

Financial Aid Application

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FAFSA Information & TipsFAFSA Information & Tips

• File early, but no later than March 2, 2012

• Use estimated 2011 income information if taxes are not complete at time of FAFSA submission

• Student and at least one parent whose information is reported must complete and sign the FAFSA

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FAFSA on the Web (FOTW) FAFSA on the Web (FOTW)

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• Internet application used by students and parents to complete electronic FAFSA at:

www.fafsa.gov

• Sophisticated on-line edits and skip logic so that errors are less likely to be made

• On-line help is available for each question

• Student and one custodial parent should get a federal PIN at:

www.pin.ed.gov

Federal PIN Federal PIN

• PIN (Personal Identification Number) serves as the electronic signature on ED documents

• Both student and one parent need PINs to sign the FAFSA electronically

• May be used to:• Check on FAFSA status• Verify and correct FAFSA data• Add additional schools to receive

FAFSA data• Change home and e-mail addresses

• If an e-mail address is provided, PIN will be e-mailed to the PIN applicant within minutes

Apply for student and parent PINs at:

www.pin.ed.gov

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Another Useful Form -Another Useful Form -FAFSA on the Web WorksheetFAFSA on the Web Worksheet

The 2012-2013 FAFSA on the Web Worksheet may be used for the January 1, 2012 through June 30, 2013 federal aid application cycle

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• Before starting the FAFSA on the Web (FOTW), gather:o Student driver’s license o Student Alien Registration Cardo Student and Parent

Social Security cards

2011 W-2 Forms and records of money earned and other taxable benefits

2011 federal income tax form (even if not yet completed)

Records of untaxed income

Current bank statements

Business, farm, and other real estate records

Records of stocks, bonds, and other investments

• Complete 2012-13 FOTW Worksheet

• Create a file for copies of all financial aid documents submitted

Getting ReadyGetting Ready

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FAFSA on the Web (FOTW)FAFSA on the Web (FOTW)

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The 2012-2013 FAFSA on the Web may be used for the January 1, 2012 through June 30, 2013 federal student aid application cycle

The FOTW The FOTW A Seven-Section Online FormA Seven-Section Online FormThe FOTW The FOTW A Seven-Section Online FormA Seven-Section Online Form

Section 1Section 1 – Student Demographics

Section 2Section 2 – School SelectionSection 3Section 3 – Dependency StatusSection 4Section 4 – Parent DemographicsSection 5 Section 5 – Financial InformationSection 6 Section 6 – Sign and SubmitSection 7 Section 7 – Confirmation

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Section 1Section 1

STUDENT DEMOGRAPHICSSTUDENT DEMOGRAPHICS

Section 1 - Student NameSection 1 - Student Name

• The FOTW will ask for the student’s first and last names• Make sure to report the student’s name exactly as it

appears on the student’s Social Security card

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Section 1 - Student Social Security NumberSection 1 - Student Social Security Number

• Double check the student’s Social Security Number when entering it on the FOTW.

• Both student name and Social Security Number will be compared through a database match.

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Section 1- Home State ResidenceSection 1- Home State Residence

• Home state residence– if the student is dependent, the Home State is usually the

one in which the custodial parent(s) lives

• Home state is also used– to determine eligibility for state grants

– in the need calculation to determine the appropriate allowance for state and other taxes paid by that state’s residents

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Section 1 - Student Marital StatusSection 1 - Student Marital Status

• The student should check his or her marital status as of the date the FAFSA on the Web is submitted

• If the student is married or remarried, he or she will be asked to provide information about his or her spouse

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Section 1 - Student Citizenship StatusSection 1 - Student Citizenship Status

• If U.S. citizen, status will be confirmed by Social Security match

• If eligible noncitizen, status will be confirmed by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) match. This includes:• U.S. permanent residents with I-551

• Conditional permanent residents with I-551C

• The holder of an Arrival-Departure Record (I-94) from the Department of Homeland Security showing any of the following designations: “Refugee,” “Asylum Granted,” “Parolee” (I-94 confirms paroled for a minimum of one year and status has not expired), T-Visa holder (T-1, T-2, T-3, etc.) or “Cuban-Haitian Entrant;” or

• The holder of a valid certification or eligibility letter from the Department of Health and Human Services showing a designation of “Victim of human trafficking.”

• A resident of the Republic of Palau (PW), the Republic of the Marshall Islands (MH), or the Federated States of Micronesia (FM)

• Canadian-born Native American under terms of the Jay Treaty

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Section 1 - Eligible NoncitizenSection 1 - Eligible Noncitizen

If eligible noncitizen, write in the student’s eight- or nine-digit Alien Registration Number (ARN)

• Precede an eight-digit ARN with a zero

• Copy of the student’s Permanent Registration Card might be requested by the financial aid office

If neither a citizen or eligible noncitizen, the student is ineligible for federal/state aid, but might still be eligible for institutional funds

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Section 1 - Undocumented StudentsSection 1 - Undocumented Students

• and is applying to any California public college or university, check to see if he/she might be eligible for in-state tuition/fee costs

• visit www.CalDreamAct.org to learn more about the new California Dream Act signed into law in 2011

• check with colleges and universities about CA Dream Act institutional financial aid and private scholarships and the timelines for applying

• apply for all other private scholarships for which the student may be eligible

• start inquiring in elementary, middle or high school to see if it is possible for younger students to become permanent residents

For more information and a list of scholarships, go towww.latinocollegedollars.org

http://www.maldef.org/assets/pdf/Scholarship_List_2010_2011.pdf www.finaid.org/otheraid/undocumented.phtml

If the student is undocumented

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Section 1 - Selective Service RegistrationSection 1 - Selective Service Registration

• Male students who are between the ages of 18 and 25 years must be registered with Selective Service to receive federal and state aid

• Answer “Register me” only if you are male, aged 18-25, and have not yet registered.

• The student may also register by going to:

www.sss.gov

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Section 1 - High School Completion StatusSection 1 - High School Completion Status

High School Completion Status

When the student begins college in the 2012-2013 school year, what will be the student’s high school completion status?

• High school diploma• GED certificate• Home schooled• None of the above

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Section 1 - Grade Level in 2012-13 Section 1 - Grade Level in 2012-13

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When the student begins the 2012-2013 school year, what will be his/her grade level?

• Never attended college/1st year• Attended college before/1st year• 2nd year/sophomore• 3rd year/junior• 4th year/senior• 5th year/other undergraduate• 1st year graduate/professional• Continuing graduate/professional or beyond

Section 1 - Degree or Certificate ObjectiveSection 1 - Degree or Certificate Objective

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In the 2012-2013 school year, what degree or certificate will you, the student, be working on?• Some options are: - 1st bachelor’s degree - Associate degree (occupational or technical program) - Associate degree (general education or transfer program)

- Graduate or professional degree

Section 1 - First Bachelor’s DegreeSection 1 - First Bachelor’s Degree

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Will you have your first Bachelor’s degree before July 1, 2012?

•students starting college in 2012-13 should mark “No” to this question

•only students who will be pursuing a graduate or professional degree during 2012-13 should mark “Yes”

Section 1 - Parents’ Educational LevelSection 1 - Parents’ Educational Level

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Indicate highest level of schooling completed by the student’s biological or adoptive parents (for state award purposes only)

• Use birth parents or adoptive parents - not stepparents or foster parents

• This definition of parent is unique to these two questions

Section 1 - Student Aid Eligibility Drug ConvictionsSection 1 - Student Aid Eligibility Drug Convictions

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• Students who have never attended college since high school will not be asked any of the Drug Conviction questions

• Students who indicate that they have attended college before will be asked if they have ever received federal student aid

• If the answer is “yes,” students will be asked if they were convicted for the possession or sale of illegal drugs. Most students will answer ‘No” to this question and will not be asked any additional questions.

• Even students who have been convicted of a drug offense while in college and receiving federal financial aid may still be eligible to receive federal financial aid.

Section 1 - High School QuestionSection 1 - High School Question

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High School Question

• Enter the name, city and state location of the school the student attends

• Select “Confirm” to retrieve the high school information

• If no matches are found, the student should select “Next” to save the search information and continue with the FOTW application

Section 2Section 2

SCHOOL SELECTIONSCHOOL SELECTION

Section 2 - School SelectionSection 2 - School Selection

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• FAFSA on the Web allows the student to list up to 10 colleges/universities that will receive his/her student and parent information

• The student should list first the California school he/she is most likely to attend

• The student may re-order his/her school choices

• Then list other schools to which the student is applying for admission

Section 2 - School SelectionSection 2 - School Selection

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• While in the School Selection Section, the student will be asked to enter the location and name or the federal school code for each school to which he/she wants FOTW information sent

• If the student does not know the federal school code, enter the state in which the college/university is located and search for the federal school code by the college/university name

Section 2 - School SelectionSection 2 - School Selection

• List a California college or university first (for Cal Grant consideration)

• Then list those schools with the earliest financial aid deadlines, regardless of whether they are in-state or out-of-state

• If the student is applying to more than ten schools, wait for the processed Student Aid Report (SAR) and add additional schools via the Web or by phone using the student PIN

Strategies for Listing Colleges

NOTE: Each UC and CSU campus must be listed separately

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Section 2 - School SelectionSection 2 - School Selection

• The student will be asked to select the housing plan that best describes the type of housing the student expects to have while attending each listed school

• The choices for housing are:• On Campus • With Parent• Off Campus

• The student’s choice of housing may affect the amount of financial aid for which he/she is eligible. It is usually more expensive to live on or off campus than with parents or relatives

• Remember, selecting the On Campus housing option is not an application for On Campus housing. Check with the colleges/ universities for housing information when you apply for admission

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Section 3Section 3

STUDENT DEPENDENCY STUDENT DEPENDENCY STATUSSTATUS

Section 3 - Determination of Student Dependency StatusSection 3 - Determination of Student Dependency Status

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Section 3 - Determination of Student Dependency StatusSection 3 - Determination of Student Dependency Status

• If the student checks “No” in all of the boxes about Dependency Status, the student will be asked to go to Section 4. For FAFSA filing purposes, the student is considered a dependent student and will be required to provide parental information

• If any one of the items in this section applies to the student, he/she should mark the appropriate box, skip Section 4, and go to Section 5. The student is considered an independent student for FAFSA filing purposes and is NOT required to provide parental information

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Section 4Section 4

PARENT PARENT DEMOGRAPHICSDEMOGRAPHICS

0

12,356

Section 4 - Parent DemographicsSection 4 - Parent Demographics

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• If the answer to any question is zero or the question does not apply, enter 0:

• Report whole dollar figures:

• Recommendation: If your parents have not filed their 2011 federal tax return, use W-2 forms and/or other employment records - such as final 2011 pay check stubs - to estimate total income

• Remember, rather than miss any filing deadline, use estimated 2011 income information

(no cents)

Section 4 - Parent DemographicsSection 4 - Parent Demographics

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Who is considered a parent?

– Biological or adoptive parent(s)

– In case of divorce or separation, provide information about the parent and/or stepparent the student lived with more in the last 12 months

– Stepparent (regardless of any prenuptial agreements)

Section 4 - Who is Not a ParentSection 4 - Who is Not a Parent

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• Do not provide information on:– Foster parents or legal guardians

• If the student is in foster care or has a legal guardian, he/she is automatically considered an independent student

– Grandparents or other relatives are not considered parents unless they have adopted the student• If this is not the case, the student must attempt to

get biological parental information

• Colleges may use Professional Judgment to allow the student to file as independent

Section 4 – Parents’ Marital StatusSection 4 – Parents’ Marital Status

• Report your parents’ marital status as of today– Married or remarried– Single– Divorced or separated– Widowed

• Depending on your parents’ answer to this question, they might be asked about the date of their marital status

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Section 4 - Parent InformationSection 4 - Parent Information

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• If the student is providing father’s/stepfather’s and/or mother’s/stepmother’s information, the student will need those parents’:

• Social Security Numbers• Last names and first initials• Dates of birth

Section 4 - Parent E-mail AddressSection 4 - Parent E-mail Address

• Provide a parent e-mail address that will be valid at least until the student starts college

• If a parent provides an e-mail address, the FAFSA processor will let them know the student’s FAFSA has been processed

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Section 4 - Parent Household SizeSection 4 - Parent Household Size

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• Include in the parents’ household:• the student• parent(s)• parents’ other dependent children, if

the parents provide more than half their support or the children could answer “no” to every question in Section 3, regardless of where they live

• other people, if they now live with the parents and will continue to do so from 7/1/12 through 6/30/13, and if the parents provide more than half their support now, and will continue to provide support from 7/1/12 through 6/30/13

Section 4 - College Students in the Parent HouseholdSection 4 - College Students in the Parent Household

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NOTE: Some financial aid offices will require proof that other family members are attending college

• Always include the student even if he/she will attend college less than half-time in 2012-2013

• Include other household members only if they will attend at least half-time in 2012-2013 in a program that leads to a college degree or certificate

• Never include the parents

Section 5Section 5

FINANCIAL INFORMATIONFINANCIAL INFORMATION

Section 5 - Parents’ 2011 Tax Return Filing StatusSection 5 - Parents’ 2011 Tax Return Filing Status

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• The parents will be asked to provide information about their tax filing status for 2011:• If parents have completed a 2011 federal income tax return,

select “Already completed”• If they have not as yet filed, but plan to file a 2011 federal

income tax return, select “Will file”• If they have not, nor will not, file a 2011 federal income tax

return and are not required to do so, select “Not going to file”

Section 5 - IRS Data RetrievalSection 5 - IRS Data Retrieval

• This question asks if parents have completed their 2011 IRS income tax return

• If parent(s) answer “Already completed,” they will be given the option to transfer their 2011 income tax information directly from IRS records to the FOTW

• If parents indicate that they have recently filed their 2011 taxes, they may not be able to access their IRS data if they have filed taxes electronically within the last two weeks or by mail within the last eight weeks

• Instead, they should use their actual 2011 IRS tax return to complete the FOTW so the student does not miss any important financial aid deadlines

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Section 5 - Parent 2011 Adjusted Gross IncomeSection 5 - Parent 2011 Adjusted Gross Income

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• If the student’s parents have not yet filed their 2011 federal tax return, use estimated 2011 information for this question

• The “Income Estimator” on the FOTW may help you calculate this amount

• If the student’s parents have completed their 2011 federal tax return, use actual 2011 tax return information to complete this item if they are not eligible to use the IRS Data Retrieval process

Section 5 - Money Earned from Work by Parent(s) in 2011Section 5 - Money Earned from Work by Parent(s) in 2011

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Use W-2 forms and other records to determine all income in 2011 earned from work (including business income earned from self-employment) for father/stepfather and/or mother/stepmother

Section 5 - Parent Dislocated Worker Section 5 - Parent Dislocated Worker

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• The student will be asked to check if the father/stepfather and/or mother/stepmother is a dislocated worker

• A person may be considered a dislocated worker if he or she:• 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

• is a displaced homemaker

Section 5 - Section 5 - Parents’ Household 2010 or 2011 Benefits ReceivedParents’ Household 2010 or 2011 Benefits Received

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Indicate if the student, his/her parents, or anyone in the parents’ household received benefits in 2010 or 2011 from any of the federal programs listed•Supplemental Security Income (SSI)•Food Stamps or SNAP•Free or Reduced Price School Lunch•Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)•Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC)•None of the above

Section 5 - Parents’ 2011 U.S. Income TaxesSection 5 - Parents’ 2011 U.S. Income Taxes

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• Enter the amount of parents’ income tax for 2011?

– Use U.S. income tax paid (or to be paid), not the amount withheld from parents’ paychecks

Section 5 - Parents’ 2011 Tax ExemptionsSection 5 - Parents’ 2011 Tax Exemptions

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• Enter the parents’ tax exemptions for 2011 • Be sure to include all persons being claimed on

the parents’ 2011 federal tax return, regardless of whether they are included in the parents’ household size question

Section 5 - 2011 Additional Financial Information Section 5 - 2011 Additional Financial Information

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The student will be asked to report if his or her parents received or paid any of the following items in 2011 (check all that apply)

• American Opportunity, Hope or Lifetime Learning tax credits• Child support paid• Taxable earnings from work-study, assistantships, or fellowships• Taxable grant and scholarship aid reported to the IRS• Combat pay or special combat pay• Cooperative education program earnings

Section 5 - 2011 Parent Untaxed IncomeSection 5 - 2011 Parent Untaxed Income

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• The student will be asked to report if his or her parents had any untaxed income in 2011. Check all that apply. Some examples of the most common items are:

• Payments to tax-deferred pension and savings plans such as 401K, IRA deductions, and payments to self-employed SEP and Keogh

• Child support received• Tax exempt interest

income• Housing, food and other

living allowances paid to members of the military and clergy

Section 5 – Parent Asset InformationSection 5 – Parent Asset Information

NOTE: Some financial aid offices may request supporting documentation for the answers to these questions

Parents may be asked to report their assets. If so:

• List the net value of your parents’ assets as of the day you complete the FAFSA

• If net worth is one million dollars or more, enter

• If net worth is zero, enter 0

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0

999,99

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Section 5 – Parent AssetsSection 5 – Parent Assets

• Some parents may be asked to report the current balances of their cash, savings, and checking accounts as of the day they complete the FAFSA

• They may also be asked to provide information about the net value of their investments such as real estate, rental property, money market and mutual funds, stocks, bonds and other securities

• In addition, they may be asked questions about the net value of their businesses and investment farms

• They should not include the home in which they live, the value of life insurance and retirement plans, or the value of a family-owned and controlled small business

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Section 5Section 5

STUDENT INFORMATIONSTUDENT INFORMATION

Section 5 – Student Financial InformationSection 5 – Student Financial Information

• Student questions in Section 5 are identical to the parent financial questions we covered • If the student is single, ignore

references to “spouse”

• If the student is married, also report spouse’s income and assets

• The questions in Section 5 ask:

• Which 2011 federal tax return the student filed or will file• The student’s 2011 Adjusted Gross Income, if filing a tax

return, and earnings from work as well as untaxed income and assets

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Section 5 – Student Information (Independent Students)Section 5 – Student Information (Independent Students)

There are questions in Section 5 that the student will be asked only if he/she checked at least one response in Section 3 – Dependency Status

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Section 3 – Student Household Size (Independent Students)Section 3 – Student Household Size (Independent Students)

Student Household SizeInclude in student’s household:

• the student and the student’s spouse (if married)• the student’s dependent children, if the student

provides more than half their support• other people, if they now live with

the student and will continue to do so from 7/1/12 through 6/30/13, and if the student provides more than half their support now, and will continue to provide that level of support from 7/1/12 through 6/30/13

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Section 3 – Student Number in College Section 3 – Student Number in College (Independent Students)(Independent Students)

Student Number in College

• Count the student even if the student will attend college less than half-time in 2012-2013

• Include others only if they will attend at least half-time in 2012-2013 in a program that leads to a college degree or certificate

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A person may be considered a dislocated worker if he/she:• 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• is a displaced homemaker

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Section 5 – Student Dislocated WorkerSection 5 – Student Dislocated Worker

Section 3 – Student Benefits (Independent Students)Section 3 – Student Benefits (Independent Students)

Indicate if the student, his/her spouse, or anyone in the student’s household received benefits in 2010 or 2011 from any of the federal programs listed

• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)• Food Stamps or SNAP• Free or Reduced Price School Lunch• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)• Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC)•None of the above

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Go to www.fafsa.gov to complete and submit your application.

For more information on federal student aid,

visit www.FederalStudentAid.ed.gov.

You can also talk with your college’s financial aid office

about other types of student aid that may be available

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Special CircumstancesSpecial Circumstances

• Contact the Financial Aid Office if there are circumstances which affect a family’s ability to pay for college such as:

– Loss or reduction in parent or student income or assets

– Death or serious illness

– Natural disasters affecting parent income or assets such as the recent California wind storms, wild fires, floods, or mudslides

– Unusual medical or dental expenses not covered by insurance

– Reduction in child support, Social Security benefits or other untaxed benefit

– Financial responsibility for elderly grandparents, or

– Any other unusual circumstances that affect a family’s ability to contribute to higher education

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Application Filing Tips - FAFSA on the WebApplication Filing Tips - FAFSA on the Web

• Gather necessary documents ahead of time

• Complete a FAFSA on the Web available at: www.fafsa.ed.gov

• Allow ample time to complete the online FOTW application for submission by the deadline

• Check the FAFSA on the Web for accuracy prior to submission

• Save all work periodically

• Sign the application using student’s and one custodial parent’s PINs

• Print out a copy of the FAFSA before submitting data

• Keep a copy of the Submission Confirmation Page

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FAFSA BridgeFAFSA BridgeLink to California Application PageLink to California Application Page

Students can easily link to the California Student Aid Commission page (see below) to complete asset information for the Cal Grant and to apply for a Chafee Grant.

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2012-2013

California Grant Aid (Cal Grant or Chafee)

What Happens Next? What Happens Next?

Students and the colleges the student listed receive Student Aid Report (SAR) from federal processor

Students who complete FAFSA and Cal Grant GPA Verification

Form receive California Aid Report (CAR)

Students and families review SAR and CAR for important

information and accuracy of data

Colleges match admission records with FAFSA and other

required financial aid forms to determine aid eligibility

Colleges mail notices of financial aid eligibility to admitted students who have completed all required financial aid forms

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Student Aid Report (SAR)Student Aid Report (SAR)

• After the student completes the FAFSA on the Web, a SAR will be sent to the student – An electronic SAR Acknowledgment

will be sent if student provides an email address

– A paper SAR will be mailed if no student e-mail address is provided

• An electronic copy of the data will be sent to each college or university listed by the student in Section 1

• Keep a copy of the SAR with other financial aid documents

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Federal VerificationFederal Verification

Some students may be required to verify the information reported on the FAFSA

•If selected for verification, the tax information of federal tax filers will be verified through

– The IRS Date Retrieval Process, or– IRS Tax transcript if requested by the college or university

•Non-tax filers selected for verification may be asked to provide

– Signed statement confirming that they did not file a federal tax return and were not required by IRS to do so

– Copies of W-2s from each employer , if any income earned from work

•All selected aid applicants will also be asked to verify certain demographic data listed such as

– Household size and number in college– Child Support paid and Food Stamps/SNAP, if reported on the FAFSA

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Check Your Cal GrantCheck Your Cal Grant

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Open a WebGrants Account and you can:   - Check your Cal Grant award status 24/7

- Make changes to your Cal Grant school choices - View how much a Cal Grant is worth at different California colleges and

universities - See your Cal Grant payment history

Sign up at: webgrants4students.org

Summary of the Financial Aid ProcessSummary of the Financial Aid Process

• Submit all required forms, including the FAFSA, by each college’s published deadlines (but no later than

March 2)

• By March 2, submit a Cal Grant GPA Verification Form• Keep a copy of all forms submitted

• Review the electronic Student Aid Report (SAR) Acknowledgement or the paper SAR sent to the student

• Review the California Aid Report (CAR)

• Watch for financial aid award notifications from colleges to which the student has been admitted

• Be sure to apply for financial aid this year and every year as soon as possible after January 1 to receive the best financial aid award possible

• ASK QUESTIONS!

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If You Need Help at Any TimeIf You Need Help at Any Time

• FAFSA on the Web – Live Help

• Phone 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243)

• E-mail the U.S. Department of Education at: FederalStudentAidCustomerService@ed.gov

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Questions and Questions and AnswersAnswers

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