Student Eligibility andThe Application Process

BILL MACK ILARIA PUENTE

UT DALLAS UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON-

DOWNTOWN

Objective

Understand how to complete the FAFSA

Know the required elements of student eligibility for federal student financial aid.

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

Required for federal student aid programs Schools may not require an additional

application for federal aid programs Computes Expected Family Contribution Database matches confirm eligibility as an

eligible student

FAFSA

Multiple ways to complete the FAFSAOn the WebPaper FAFSAFAA AccessFAFSA on the Phone

FAFSA

FAFSA on the Web English or SpanishReal time submissionElectronic signaturesPop up helpPop up chat help

FAFSA

Skip logic

Edit Checks

On-line status update

FAFSA

Special Circumstances

Students may skip the parent questions if they feel they have a special circumstance

FAFSA

IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT)Pulls IRS tax return data into the FAFSACan be used for the correction processRelieves the student/parent from submitting

a tax return transcript for verificationNot available for everyone (i.e. amended

return)

FAFSA

Common MistakesForm is not signedWrong SSNWrong NameWrong Date of BirthPutting parent income information in student

section

FAFSA

How to sign the applicationPINPrinted Signature PageSign rejected paper Student Aid Report (SAR)School submits the signature through FAA

Access

FAFSA

Signing the application:

Certifies the information is correct

Gives ED authority to verify the information with other agencies

Agrees to provide the school with requested documents

Certifies the student’s identity

Acknowledges consequences of false information

Agrees to certain application certification statements

Expected Family Contribution (EFC)

The amount a family can be reasonably be expected to contribute to a student’s annual cost of attendance.

The same at all schools Calculated using a congressionally mandated

formula

Student Eligibility

US Citizen or Eligible Non-Citizen If required, be registered for Selective Service Not be default on a federal debt Not have exceeded aggregate borrowing

limits Not owe Title IV Refund

Student Eligibility

Not have been convicted of selling or possessing drugs while receiving federal student aidSelf reported on the FAFSADatabase match with the Department of

Justice

Student Eligibility

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)Established by the individual schools2.0 by the beginning of the junior yearNo more than 150 percent of the program

length.

Institutional Eligibility

May not admit as a regular student those who do not have a high school diploma or its recognized equivalent and

Who are below the age of compulsory secondary school attendance in the student in which the school is located

CPS Database Matches

SSN (for the student and the parents)

Department of Homeland Security

When the answer to the citizenship question is “eligible non-citizen”

Selective Service

For males over the age of 18

National Student Loan Data Service

Defaults

Overpayments

Aggregate borrowing limits

CPS Database Matches

Department of DefenseTo identify students eligible for the

Iraq/Afghanistan Grant Department of Veteran Affairs

When the student claims on the FAFSA to be a veteran

Output

Student receives a Student Aid Report (SAR) eMail Paper

EFCComments (verification, database match

failures)Eligibility for Pell/Stafford Loan

Output

School receives a Institutional Student Information Report (ISIR) EFC Verification Code “C” Code Comment codes

Changes to the FAFSA

Corrections: Applicants may correct items entered incorrectly or originally estimated (Income, assets)

Updates: Year in school, Dependency Status (except for the student’s marital status)

Adjustments: Changes made by the school as the result of professional judgment (dependency, income, etc.)

Questions?