Applying for Financial Aid2013-2014

2013-2014 Cal GrantApplication Requirements

Check with your high school or college counselor for more details on how to file the Cal Grant GPA Verification Form, required of all students

•By March 2, 2013, complete and submit:Free

Application for Federal

Student Aid (FAFSA)

ORCal Grant

GPA Verification

Form

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If eligible under AB540, students should complete theCalifornia Dream Act Application: www.caldreamact.org

FAFSA on the Web Worksheet

Thought not a required form, the 2013-2014 FAFSA on the Web Worksheet may: •Help some students prepare to complete the FOTW•Be used for the January 1, 2013 through June 30, 2014 federal aid application cycle.

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PIN (Personal Identification Number) Needed to sign and access the FAFSA

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

PIN will be generated only if a valid email address is provided

Federal PIN

Apply for student and parent PINs at:

www.pin.ed.gov

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

Social Security cards 2012 W-2 Forms and records of money earned and other taxable benefits 2012 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 2013-14 FOTW Worksheet (optional)Create a file for copies of all financial aid documents submitted

Getting Ready

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FAFSA on the Web (FOTW)

The 2013-2014 FAFSA on the Web may be used for the January 1, 2013 through June 30, 2014 federal student aid application cycle

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Section 1Section 1 – Student DemographicsSection 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

The FOTW A Seven-Section Online Form

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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 namesMake 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 Section 1 - Student Social Security NumberNumber

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 Section 1 - Student Citizenship StatusStatus

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 zeroCopy of the student’s Permanent Registration Card may be requested by the financial aid office

If neither a citizen nor eligible noncitizen, the student is ineligible for federal aid. Such students should check with their college financial aid office for other aid opportunities.

If the student is undocumented as defined in AB540, he/she may be eligible for state California Dream Act financial aid. Learn more at www.caldreamact.org

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Section 1 - Undocumented Students

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For more information and a list of scholarships, go to:www.maldef.org/assets/pdf/MALDEF_Scholarship_Resource_Guide.pdf

www.caldreamact.orgwww.e4fc.org

If the student is undocumented

Section 1 - Selective Service Section 1 - Selective Service RegistrationRegistration

• All male students who are between the ages of 18 and 25 years must be registered with Selective Service to receive federal and/or 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 Section 1 - High School Completion StatusStatus

High School Completion Status

When the student begins college in the 2013-2014 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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2013-2014

Section 1 - Grade Level in 2013-14 Section 1 - Grade Level in 2013-14

When the student begins the 2013-2014 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

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2013-20142013-2014

Section 1 - Degree or Certificate Section 1 - Degree or Certificate ObjectiveObjective

In the 2013-2014 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

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2013-20142013-20142013-2014 2013-2014

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

Will you have your first Bachelor’s degree before July 1, 2013?

students starting college in 2013-14 should mark “No” to this question

only students who will be pursuing a graduate or professional degree during 2013-14 should mark “Yes”

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2013?2013?

Section 1 - Parents’ Educational Section 1 - Parents’ Educational LevelLevel

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

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Section 1 - Student Aid Eligibility Drug Section 1 - Student Aid Eligibility Drug ConvictionsConvictions

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

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Section 1 - High School QuestionSection 1 - High School Question

High School Question• Enter the name, city and state of the high school where the student received

or will receive a high school diploma

• 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

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Section 2Section 2

SCHOOL SELECTIONSCHOOL 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 choicesThen list other schools to which the student is

applying for admission

Section 2 - School Selection

Section 2 - School Selection 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

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Section 2 - School Selection

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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

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 STATUSSTUDENT DEPENDENCY STATUS

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

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19901990? ?

2013-20142013-2014

20132013 2014?2014?

2014?2014?

2012,2012,

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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

Section 3 - Determination of Student Dependency Status

Section 4Section 4

PARENT PARENT DEMOGRAPHICSDEMOGRAPHICS

0

12,356

Section 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 2012 federal tax return, use W-2 forms and/or other employment records - such as final 2012 pay check stubs - to estimate total income

Remember, rather than miss any filing deadline, use estimated 2012 income information

(no cents)

Section 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)

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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 - Who is Not a Parent

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

Report your parents’ marital status as of todayMarried or remarriedSingleDivorced or separatedWidowed

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

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 7/1/13 through 6/30/14, and if the parents provide more than half their support now, and will continue to provide support from 7/1/13 through 6/30/14

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2013-20142013-2014

Section 4 - College Students in the Parent Section 4 - College Students in the Parent HouseholdHousehold

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 2013-2014

• Include other household members only if they will attend at least half-time in 2013-2014 in a program that leads to a college degree or certificate

• Never include the parents in the number in college

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20132013 2014?2014?

Section 5Section 5

FINANCIAL INFORMATIONFINANCIAL INFORMATION

Section 5 - Parents’ 2012 Tax Return Filing Section 5 - Parents’ 2012 Tax Return Filing StatusStatus

The parents will be asked to provide information about their tax filing status for 2012: If parents have completed a 2012 federal income tax return, select

“Already completed” If they have not as yet filed, but plan to file a 2012 federal income tax

return, select “Will file” If they have not, nor will not, file a 2012 federal income tax return and

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

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20122012

Section 5IRS Data Retrieval

This question asks if parents have completed their 2012 IRS income tax return

If parent(s) answer “Already completed,” they will be given the option to transfer their 2012 income tax information directly from IRS records to the FOTW

If parents indicate that they have recently filed their 2012 taxes, they may not be able to access their IRS data if they have filed taxes electronically within the last three weeks or by mail within the last eight weeks

Instead, they should use their actual 2012 IRS tax return to complete the FOTW so the student does not miss any important financial aid deadlines

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Section 5 – Parents’ 2012 Adjusted Gross Section 5 – Parents’ 2012 Adjusted Gross IncomeIncome

• If the student’s parents have not yet filed their 2012 federal tax return, use estimated 2012 information for this question

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

• If the student’s parents have completed their 2012 federal tax return, use actual 2012 tax return information to complete this item if they are not eligible to use the IRS Data Retrieval process

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2012?2012?

Section 5 - Money Earned from Work by Section 5 - Money Earned from Work by Parent(s) in 2012Parent(s) in 2012

Use W-2 forms and other records to determine all income in 2012 earned from work (including business income earned from self-employment) for father/stepfather and/or mother/stepmother

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2012?2012?

2012?2012?

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

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

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Section 5 - Parents’ 2012 U.S. Income Section 5 - Parents’ 2012 U.S. Income TaxesTaxes

• Enter the amount of parents’ income tax for 2012?

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

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2012.2012.

Section 5 - Parents’ 2012 Tax Section 5 - Parents’ 2012 Tax ExemptionsExemptions

Enter the parents’ tax exemptions for 2012 Be sure to include all persons being claimed on the

parents’ 2012 federal tax return, regardless of whether they are included in the parents’ household size question

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2012.2012.

Section 5 - 2012 Additional Financial Section 5 - 2012 Additional Financial Information Information

The student will be asked to report if his or her parents received or paid any of the following items in 2012. Check all that apply and provide amounts.

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

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Section 5 2012 Parent Untaxed Income

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The student will be asked to report if his or her parents had any untaxed income in 2012. 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 - Section 5 - Parents’ Household 2011 or 2012 Parents’ Household 2011 or 2012 Benefits ReceivedBenefits Received

Indicate if the student, his/her parents, or anyone in the parents’ household received benefits in 2011 or 2012 from any of the federal programs listedSupplemental Security Income (SSI)

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs (SNAP)

Free or Reduced Price School Lunch

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC)

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2011 or 20122011 or 2012

Section 5Parent Asset Information

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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 0

999,999

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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

Section 5 – Parent Assets

Section 5Section 5

STUDENT INFORMATIONSTUDENT INFORMATION

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Student questions in Section 5 are identical to the parent financial questions we covered If the student is married, also report spouse’s income and

assetsThe questions in Section 5 ask:

Which 2012 federal tax return the student filed or will fileThe student’s 2012 Adjusted Gross Income, if filing a tax

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

Section 5Student Financial Information

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

Section 5 – Student Information (Independent Students)

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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 supportother people, if they now live with

the student and will continue to do so from 7/1/13 through 6/30/14, and if the student provides more than half their support now, and will continue to provide that level of support from 7/1/13 through 6/30/14

Section 5 – Student Household Size (Independent Students)

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Student Number in CollegeCount the student even if the student will attend

college less than half-time in 2013-2014Include others only if they will attend at least

half-time in 2013-2014 in a program that leads to a college degree or certificate

Section 5 – Student Number in College (Independent Students)

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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 disasteris a displaced homemaker

Section 5 – Student Dislocated Worker

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Indicate if the student, his/her spouse, or anyone in the student’s household received benefits in 2011 or 2012 from any of the federal programs listedSupplemental Security Income (SSI)

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs (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 – Student Benefits (Independent Students)

Section 6Section 6

SIGN AND SUBMITSIGN AND SUBMIT

Section 6 Signature Page

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Sign and Submit Recommend that parents

and students sign the FAFSA electronically using their PINs

Parents without Social Security Numbers

Click on “Other options to sign and submit” for Paper Signature Page

Section 7Section 7

CONFIRMATION CONFIRMATION

Section 7 Confirmation

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Confirmation Page Confirms submission of the

FOTW to the U.S. Department of Education

Shows Expected Family

Contribution (EFC) Estimated Federal Pell

Grant and Federal Stafford Loan eligibility

List of schools to receive FAFSA data

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

For more information on federal student aid,For more information on federal student aid,

visit visit www.StudentAid.govwww.StudentAid.gov

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

about other types of student aid that may be availableabout other types of student aid that may be available

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What Happens Next?

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

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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 addressA 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 2Keep a copy of the SAR with other financial aid

documents

Student Aid Report (SAR)

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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 transcripts if requested by the college or university

Non-tax filers selected for verification may be asked to provide Signed statements confirming that they did not file a 2012 federal tax return and were

not required by IRS to do so Copies of W-2s or other income documentation from each employer , if any income was

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 SNAP, if reported on the FAFSA

Federal Verification

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By opening a WebGrants Account a student can: Check Cal Grant award status 24/7Confirm student’s high school graduation as required Make changes to Cal Grant school choicesView how much a Cal Grant is worth at

different California colleges and universitiesView Cal Grant payment history Create a WebGrants account at:

www.webgrants4students.org

Check Your Cal Grant

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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!

Summary of the Financial Aid Process

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FAFSA on the Web – Live HelpPhone 1-800-4-FED-AID

(1-800-433-3243)E-mail the U.S. Department of

Education at: FederalStudentAidCustomerService@ed.gov

If You Need Help at Any Time