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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?