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Carol Handlan, PHEAAHigher Education Access Partner
Wendy Dunlap, PHEAAHigher Education Access Partner,
Common FAFSA Errors
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Overview of Session
FAFSA Filing Preparation & Deadlines Common Mistakes Resolution of Errors Avoidance of Errors PA State Grant Impact Materials/Resources
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Meet Deadlines Avoid Errors Update and
Correct
Our Goals
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Before Ever Filing A FAFSA…
Trusted Resources
Financial Knowledg
e
Early Preparati
on
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FAFSA Preparation
Encourage families to prepare early-start no later than junior year-attend financial aid nights-attend FAFSA presentations-research trusted websites
Have checklist of all required documents Have a list of schools considering
attending
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FAFSA Deadlines
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Filing Guidance
Advise to apply early Advise to apply at FAFSA.gov
- For families without computers-suggest high school counselor-community library-FAFSA workshops-local postsecondary school
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Filing Guidance
IRS Data Retrieval (online filing)- use when possible- helps simplify the process- helps reduce errors
Use correct website - fafsa.gov Have all documents necessary before
starting Read the questions - FIRST
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FAFSA Deadlines
After January 1 of student’s senior year for attendance in the fall of the same year
- do not mistake the June 30th filing date
- example (January 1, 2015 – June 30, 2016) File by the school’s financial aid deadline If necessary, file an estimated FAFSA to
ensure deadline is met
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Common Mistakes
Listing incorrect Social Security number
- do not guess take directly from Social Security card- student’s MUST have an SSN- parent’s without SSN can put all zero's
Failing to use legal name-take directly from Social Security card-no nicknames
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Common Mistakes
Leaving fields blank- Enter “0” or “not applicable”
Using commas or decimals points in numeric fields
- Round to nearest dollar Failure to enter correct email address
- Both student & parent can provide email address; can be the same
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Common Mistakes
Entering information in wrong section- financial sections for students and parents are identical- student information must be in their section- parent information must be in their section
Entering the wrong address- should enter permanent address- do not enter school or temporary address
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Common Mistakes
Failure to list correct marital status- Student – it is their status the day
they file the FAFSA- Parent – it is their status the day
they file the FAFSA; if remarried spouse must be included
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Common Mistakes
Failing to report both parents- biological or adoptive- both incomes must be reported if
living in same household Failure of student to report self
- needs to be included in household Failure to report unborn child
- needs to be included in household if born before or during award year
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Common Mistakes
Incorrect income tax filing status- head of household- if incorrectly selected and filed the
school will need to see a copy of an amended income tax return filed with the IRS Total income vs adjusted gross income
- this should be different from total income reported; typically not equal to total income
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Common Mistakes
Student’s failure to register with selective service
- recommend checking “automatically register me” if not yet 18 years
of age
Student’s failure to list a postsecondary school
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Common Mistakes
Failure to sign and date the FAFSA- If dependent, both the student and
their parent(s) must sign and date the FAFSA
- Online or print the signature page & send
Forgetting to actually submit a FAFSA correction
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Common Mistakes
Applicants pick the wrong application year- 2014-15 or 2015-16
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Fixing Errors
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Resolving FAFSA Errors
What internal processes do you have for finding errors? Do you go beyond meeting verification requirements? What procedures do you have for handling conflicting data?
Are there certain items that you always investigate? For example – independency status
How do you notify students concerning FAFSA errors?
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Resolving FAFSA Errors
Do you remind students who estimate answers to correct their FAFSA using the IRS Data Retrieval?
How successful are your reminders?
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UCSB Video – IRS Data Retrieval
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Easy Street
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Avoiding Mistakes
Prepare early Read through the FAFSA material File income taxes early Have necessary documents ready before
sitting down to complete the FAFSA Take your time – don’t rush
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FAFSA Filing Impact on PA State Grant
Can apply for PA State Grant directly from FAFSA on the State Grant Form (SGF)
When completing the SGF advise students to print a copy of the Certification Form
Recommend that students establish an account on pheaa.org via Account Access to track the status of State Grant Record
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Account Access
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Resolving PA State Grant Errors
Students may view messages from State Grant in Account Access.
School staff can view what a student can see in Account Access by logging into Account Access in Alec. You can only view accounts that have been “established” by the student.
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FAFSA Filing Impact on PA State Grant & Special Programs
New for 2014-15- Ready to Succeed Scholarship
- First come, first serve basis- Determined by FAFSA filing date
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Resources
– FAFSA Ti FAFSA Tips and Common Mistakes to Avoid Flyer
You Tube Videos about filing the FAFSA
FAFSA Tooolkit
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www.youtube.com/FederalStudentAid
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FAFSA Toolkit on PHEAA.org
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Questions?