Transcript Document

Common FAFSA Errors
Carol Handlan, PHEAA
Higher Education Access Partner
Wendy Dunlap, PHEAA
Higher Education Access Partner,
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Overview of Session
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FAFSA Filing Preparation & Deadlines
Common Mistakes
Resolution of Errors
Avoidance of Errors
PA State Grant Impact
Materials/Resources
Meet
Deadlines
Avoid
Errors
Update and
Correct
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Before Ever Filing A FAFSA…
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Trusted
Resources
Early
Preparation
Financial
Knowledge
FAFSA Preparation
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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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Filing Guidance
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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
Filing Guidance
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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
FAFSA Deadlines
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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
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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
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Failing to use legal name
-take directly from Social Security card
-no nicknames
Common Mistakes
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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
Common Mistakes
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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
Common Mistakes
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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
Common Mistakes
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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
Common Mistakes
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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
Common Mistakes
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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
Common Mistakes
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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
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Forgetting to actually submit a FAFSA correction
Common Mistakes
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Applicants pick the wrong application year
- 2014-15 or 2015-16
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Resolving FAFSA Errors
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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
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Do you remind students who estimate answers to
correct their FAFSA using the IRS Data Retrieval?
How successful are your reminders?
UCSB Video – IRS Data Retrieval
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Avoiding Mistakes
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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
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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
Account Access
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Resolving PA State Grant Errors
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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.
FAFSA Filing Impact on PA State Grant
& Special Programs
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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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