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What You Need to
Complete Your FAFSA
- Your
Social Security Number
- Your
driver’s license number, if you have one
- Your
W-2 Forms
- Your
federal income tax return
- Your
current bank statements and records of stocks, bonds, and other
investments
- Your
records of other untaxed income received, such as Social Security,
Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), welfare or veteran’s
benefits
- Your
business or farm records, if applicable
- If you
are a dependent student, you will also need:
- Your
parent(s)’ Social Security number(s) and date(s) of birth
- Your
parent(s)’ income and financial records (as listed above).
Use income records for the calendar
year prior to the academic year for which you are applying for financial aid.
For example, use 2003 income information to complete the 2004-2005 FAFSA.
WWW.FAFSA.ED.GOV
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Tip 1
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Get a PIN. To
sign your FAFSA electronically, you (and your parent, if you are a dependent)
need a U.S. Department of Education PIN. If you don’t already have one, apply
now at www.pin.ed.gov. Your FAFSA will
be processed faster if you sign using a PIN.
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Tip 2
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Use Yearly Income
Amounts. Do not use monthly amounts. For example, if you receive $200
social security each month, you should report $2400.
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Tip 3
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Print the
Pre-Application Worksheet. Some students find it helpful to complete the
Pre-Application Worksheet before completing their online FAFSA. Since the
questions on the paper FAFSA are numbered differently from the online FAFSA,
using the Worksheet will help you stay on track as you go along.
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Tip 4
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Save Your FAFSA.
Save your application often using the “Save” button at the bottom of the
screen. That way, if you lose your Internet connection, you can return to the
FAFSA you already started. NOTE: If you click the “Exit” button, you’ll not
only close your application, but you’ll also erase all the information you
entered since the last time you saved it.
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Tip 5
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Get Help.
Because there is plenty of FREE help available, you don’t have to pay to get
assistance filling out your FAFSA. The “Need Help with this Page?” button at
the bottom of every online FAFSA page will lead you to more information to
help you complete that page. The “Help” button at the top of every screen has
a complete index of help topics. In addition, you can chat with a Customer
Service Representative directly over the Internet by clicking the “Chat”
button. If you still need more help, call 1-800-4-FED-AID.
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Tip 6
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Sign Your
Application. If you have a PIN, you can electronically sign your FAFSA.
Otherwise, you’ll need to print the signature page and
mail it in. If you are dependent, a parent will need to sign your FAFSA as
well. Your parent(s) can sign either by using his/her own PIN or by mailing
in a signature page.
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Tip 7
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Submit Your
Application. Click the “Submit” button located on the very last page of
the online FAFSA form. After submitting your application, you’ll be taken to
a new page that confirms your submission and gives you a confirmation number.
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What You Can Do With
Your PIN (www.pin.ed.gov):
- Sign
your FAFSA electronically.
- Review
and, if necessary, correct answers on your processed FAFSA.
- View
information about your federal loans and grants.
- Reapply
for financial aid in the future.
Remember, if you are a dependent, your parent(s)
should also electronically sign your FAFSA with their own PIN
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