Step-by-step instructions for completing Federal Student Aid

Photo: depositphotos.com

The easiest way to find money for education is to take a student loan, but this money will need to be returned. However, the student has the opportunity to receive free financial assistance.

If you need financial assistance to pay for college, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Before filling out the form, check the availability of the following items that you will definitely need when filling out.

1. Account (FSA ID) in system

Student: FSA ID is your username and passwordYou need to login and sign the FAFSA online. If you do not have a FSA ID, get it by link As soon as possible. To do this you need 10 minutes. If you have not previously had a FSA ID, you can immediately use it. If this is not the first FSA ID, fill out the FAFSA, you need to wait for the 1-3 of the day before you can use your new FSA ID.

Parent: If your child obliged to inform FAFSA parent information, you need to create your own FSA ID to sign your child's FAFSA on the Internet. You can create an FSA ID here. Parents can use their FSA ID immediately.

IMPORTANT: Some of the most common FAFSA errors occur when a student and parent confuse their FSA identifiers. If you do not want financial aid delays, it is extremely important that each parent and each student create his / her own FSA ID and that they do not share it with anyone, even with each other.

2. Social Security number. You can find the number on your social security card.

3. Your driver's license number. If you do not have a driver's license, then do not worry about this step.

4. Your tax return for 2015 year. Beginning with 2017-18 FAFSA, you will be required to report income information for the previous tax year.

5. Records of non-taxable income. This refers to alimony, interest income, as well as veteran remuneration.

6. Accounting for all assets (money). This includes savings and checking account balances, as well as investments such as stocks and bonds and real estate. You must report current amounts on the date you sign the FAFSA, not the tax year of the year 2015.

7. List of desired colleges. You can add up to 10 colleges at a time.

Photo: depositphotos.com

8 filling steps FAFSA

1. Run the FAFSA application:

2017-18 FAFSA is already available! It was launched on 3 a month earlier than usual, October 1 2016. You should complete the issue of the FAFSA as soon as possible, because some types of financial assistance may not be enough if you wait until the last

To get started, go to fafsa.gov and click the “Start New FAFSA” button.

We recommend students to pay attention to the instructions below. This will make the process much easier.

• If you are a student: Click the "Enter your FSA ID (student)" button, enter your FSA ID username and password, and click the "Next" button.

• If you are a parent: Click the "Enter Student Information" button and then enter the student's name, social security number, date of birth and click the "Next" button.

Choose which FAFSA you want:

• 2017-18 FAFSA if you attend college between July 1 2017 of the year and June 30 of the year of 2018.
• 2016-17 FAFSA if you attend college between July 1 2016 of the year and June 30 of the year of 2017.
• Both: If you attend college for both of these time periods and have not completed your 2016-17 FAFSA yet, wait until it is processed (1-3 of the day), then go back and complete 2017-18 FAFSA.

TIP: If you are able to complete the “update” of the FAFSA, select this option. When you decide to update your FAFSA, your demographic information from the previous year will roll over into your new application, saving you a lot of time.

Remember that FAFSA is not a one-time thing. You must complete the FAFSA for each academic year.

Create and save section

Unlike the FSA ID, the Savings Key is designed to be shared between the student and parent. The key stores a temporary password that allows you and your parents to “walk” back and forth through the FAFSA. It also allows you to save the FAFSA and return to it later. This is especially helpful if you and your parent do not live together.

3. Student Demographic Information

This refers to your name, date of birth, etc. If you have previously submitted FAFSA or enter FAFSA with your FSA ID, everything that you previously entered is already in the database. It saves you a lot of time. Make sure that your personal information matches the information on the social security card.

4. School selection

You are allowed and recommended to add every college that you are considering for admission, even if you have not yet applied or have not yet enrolled. You can add up to 10 colleges for 1 times.

5. Depending on the status

In this section, you will be asked a series of specific questions to determine if you really need to provide information to your parent on the FAFSA.

6. Parent Demographic Information

In this section, you provide information about the parent. Remember that it does not matter whether you live with your family or not. You should still provide information about them if you were previously identified as a dependent student.

If you are unable to enter parental data due to special circumstances, read this.

7. Financial Information

This step is incredibly simple if you use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool, which is available in the FAFSA. This tool allows you to import IRS tax information into FAFSA with just a few mouse clicks. With this tool you can also reduce the number of documents. So if you are eligible, use it!

Another good news: Since 2017-18 FAFSA requires previously (2015) tax information You have already paid your taxes by the time you start FAFSA. This means that you will be able to transfer your tax information right away.

8. Sign and confirm

You have not finished with the FAFSA before you and your parent (if you are a dependent student) have signed it. The fastest and easiest way to do it online.

Note: If you (student) are logged in to the FAFSA with your FSA ID, you will not need to provide it again on this page, but if you are a dependent student, your parent must sign before you can fully present this data.

If you did everything successfully, check this page to find out what делать farther.

Basically, you will find out about financial assistance in the spring, after they accept you.

Read also on ForumDaily:

The rules for applying for financial state aid to students have changed: what you need to know

4 ways to get financial aid in college

Five tips for students to apply for financial assistance

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