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The first step in the financial aid process is to complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This application, which is available to complete online (preferred method) or in paper format, will use income, assets and other factors to determine the amount the family is expected to contribute to college expenses. Most of the questions are demographic-related and the rest of the answers come from the tax forms. If your child files the FAFSA online (FAFSA on the Web), as many as ten different colleges can be listed with information sent to them (only four colleges can be listed on the paper FAFSA). Eligibility for financial aid will be determined by the family’s financial situation, and by filing the application on time.
For specific instructions on how to complete the FAFSA, visit the U.S. Department of Education's Completing the FAFSA page.
How and When to File
Fill out the FAFSA as soon after January 1 as possible. It can be completed online or by using a paper application.
For the quickest results, apply online. Before submitting the application online, applicants are encouraged to complete the process to receive a Personal Identification Number (PIN) from the U.S. Department of Education. Applicants who have not been assigned a PIN prior to completing the FAFSA online will have three options:
- Request a real-time PIN: a real-time PIN is valid temporarily, for the purpose of signing the FAFSA. The applicant's PIN data will undergo a match with the Social Security Administration (SSA). If the SSA match is successful, the PIN will become permanently valid (and may be used for signing FAFSAs in subsequent years). If the SSA match fails, the PIN will be disabled and the application results will be rejected.
- Print a signature page: applicants who do not have a PIN but do have access to a printer can generate a signature page. The signature page must be signed and immediately mailed to the U.S. Department of Education (ED). If the completed signature page is not received by ED within 14 days, a Student Aid Report (SAR) will be mailed to the applicant. The SAR must then be signed and returned to ED.
- Process without signature: the FAFSA can be submitted without a PIN or printed signature page - however, this will result in the application being rejected due to a missing signature. The applicant will receive a SAR in the mail, and the SAR must be signed and returned to ED. Because it will delay the processing of the application, this is the least desirable option.
If the Web is used, it's recommended that you review the "Getting Started/Before You Apply" option of the Browse Help function at the FAFSA on the Web site. The FAFSA on the Web Worksheet (which can be accessed via the Publications page of the Student Aid on the Web site) may be used to prepare for completing the FAFSA online. The Worksheet presents questions in the same order they appear at FAFSA on the Web (which is different than the order of questions on the paper FAFSA).
An optional Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Data Retrieval tool allows you to view and/or securely transfer information directly from the IRS database into FAFSA on the Web, which minimizes data entry time, improves accuracy, and reduces the need for corrections. In order to utilize this function for the 2012-13 application cycle, you must have filed a 2011 federal tax return, have a valid Social Security number, have a Federal Student Aid PIN, and not have changed your marital status after
December 31, 2011. The IRS Data Retrieval tool is anticipated to become available for 2012-13 processing on February 1, 2012, and may be used by student applicants filing an initial or renewal FAFSA, parents of dependent students filing an initial or renewal FAFSA, and applicants who are making corrections to their FAFSA. Students and parents using the Spanish FAFSA on the Web will be linked to a Spanish version of the IRS site.
What's Next Illinois' FAFSA Transfer option can also be used to help complete the application. Using FAFSA Transfer can save time by transferring personal profile information already stored in your child’s My Mentor account directly to FAFSA on the Web.
If your child is unable to complete the FAFSA online, but does have Internet access, a PDF version of the FAFSA may be downloaded via the Federal Student Aid Web site. Applicants may complete the PDF version of the FAFSA on the computer or by hand, then mail it to the address provided on the document. A paper FAFSA may also be requested by calling the Federal Student Aid Information Center (FSAIC) toll-free at 800.4FEDAID (800.433.3243).
If help is needed in completing the FAFSA, be wary of hiring a consultant. It may not be wise to pay for a service that’s free of charge elsewhere, and sometimes these services are simply scams. During January and February of each year, colleges and other community sites host College Awareness & Preparation events, which are free to the public. Most events feature FAFSA Workshops with financial aid professionals available to answer any financial aid questions and help with completion of the FAFSA—at no charge. Be sure tax forms are brought to any workshop.
After Filing
Once processed by the U.S. Department of Education, the student will receive a summary of the FAFSA results, called a Student Aid Report (SAR). The colleges listed on the FAFSA will also receive the results, in order to determine financial aid eligibility and prepare a financial aid package. The information reported on the FAFSA is confidential and remains within the financial aid office; it is not shared campus-wide. The financial aid office at the college may ask for documentation (like income tax returns) to verify the information reported on the FAFSA.
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