FAFSA on the Web 2014-15 Getting through the Financial Aid (FAFSA) process.

Presenter: Panhandle-Plains Management & Servicing Corp. 1/5/15



FAFSA Home Page



Be sure you are on the official site at www.fafsa.gov



There are sites that will charge for the FAFSA. The first “F” is for FREE.



Tabs across the top give links to other helpful websites, the PIN site and StudentAid.gov. 1/5/15



The Help Tab gives parents and students access to a number of websites and useful information from the Department of Education.



The Help Tab gives parents and students access to a number of websites and useful information from the Department of Education. 1/5/15

Contacts for assistance. Under the help tab, contacts gives parents and students three ways to receive help from the Department of Education.



Live Help



Help by telephone



Help by email.



1/5/15

Beginning “My FAFSA” Clicking the “Start Here” button will give access to begin a new FAFSA: 

The Login button allows applicants to return to a saved application for completion, or 



A Renewal Application, or

Corrections to an existing application. 

This page also has a link to the PIN site. 

1/5/15

Login to FAFSA The application begins by entering these data elements. 

Note the virtual keyboards 

These keyboards allow entry of sensitive data without key strokes that could be captured by some types of malware. 

1/5/15

Reconfirmation of Student Data After login, the student is greeted by name. 

First-time applicants are given the opportunity to review the entered data for accuracy.



Real time edits will notify the student of any potential errors. 

1/5/15

“My FAFSA” for New Students When the applicant selects “Start”, dynamic messaging will guide the process through all phases of the application.

1/5/15

New Applicant – Secure Access The system dynamically determines if a PIN or Password is needed and will present those screens to students, if necessary. 1/5/15

FAFSA on the Web Worksheet

1/5/15

Introduction Page

1/5/15

Demographic Information Help and Hints will appear as you navigate through the form. 

The fields for Social Security Number and Date of Birth are pre-formatted. There is no need to enter a dash between numbers. 

The system will automatically save your application at the end of each section. You may manually save anytime by selecting the save button at the bottom of the page. 

1/5/15

Error Messaging The system constantly monitors data entries and will provide error messages for any field that does not pass edits. 

This feature will help prevent rejected FAFSA’s for failing edits or inconsistencies. 

1/5/15

Student Eligibility Determination Answers to these questions will determine if a student might be eligible for Federal Aid. If more information is needed about a question, use the Help and Hints at the right of the page. 

1/5/15

High School Question, continued The student enters the name, city and state of the high school they attended. 

Select Confirm to begin the data base match. 

A match in the data base will list the school(s). 

Select your school and click “Next” this saves the search. 

1/5/15

High School Question When “confirm” is selected, the high school is matched against a data base furnished by the state agency overseeing high schools in the state. 

For Texas it is the Texas Education Agency. 

Don’t forget to save as you proceed through the application 

1/5/15

School Selection Up to ten schools can be selected to receive the student’s data. 

A search for a school can be initiated by entering the school’s Federal School Code, or 

By entering the State, City or name of the school and clicking search. 

1/5/15

School Selection, Continued The search result will yield the school corresponding to that school ID. 

To add that school to your list of schools click the “ADD” button. 

1/5/15

School Search Results, Continued A search by state and city will give a list of possible matches. 

Select the appropriate school and click “Add” to put the school into your application. 

1/5/15

School Search Results, Continued The search can also be done by school name, city and state. 

This will limit the selections in the search. 

1/5/15

Housing Options A student can use the buttons on the right side of the page to change the order of the schools. 

You will want the list to be accurate about the order of your school choices. This is used by some schools when awarding aid. 

Students must select the appropriate housing plan for each school listed. 

1/5/15

Side-by-Side Comparison After you choose “View Selected Schools Information” you will see a comparison of information for each school on your list.

1/5/15

Student Dependency Answers to these questions will determine if the student will be required to report parent’s income and assets. 

If each question is answered no, the student must provide parent income and asset information. 

Use the Help and Hints for information about any of the questions. 

1/5/15

Dependency Results This page tells the applicant if parent income data is required. 

It also gives a student who is unable to provide parent income an option to see if they might qualify for a “Special Circumstances” application. 

Special Circumstances decisions are made by the school only. 

1/5/15

Parent Demographic Information As a result of the US Supreme Court ruling on the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) a new question was added to the marital status for parents. 

Unmarried/divorced parents that still live together must report both incomes. 

Same sex couples who are legally married must report both incomes. 

1/5/15

Parent Demographic Information When the section was changed, the system automatically saved your data. 

Parents are asked the same types of questions the student entered earlier. 

The virtual keyboards are also presented for parents sensitive information. 

Be sure to enter your email address. The Department of Education communicates with applicants via email. 

Parents and students should make sure that www.ed.gov is a “safe” domain. 

Your student should watch their junk mail until they are sure all email is going into their Inbox. 

Don’t forget the Help and Hints box.



1/5/15

Parent Financial Information The questions asked will determine whether you can use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool. 

If you are eligible for the data transfer, the box at the bottom will provide a link to the IRS 

Use the Help and Hints feature if you have questions. 

1/5/15

IRS Data Transfer To take advantage 

Of the IRS Data Transfer, you will be taken from the FAFSA website to the IRS website. 

Click OK to continue. 

1/5/15

IRS Data Transfer, Continued The IRS site will ask for this information to be completed. It will be matched to the information on 1040 form that you have submitted.

1/5/15











After authentication, you will be taken to the Data Transfer site at IRS.gov. You will be shown the IRS data required for the FAFSA and the question numbers. Select the option to transfer the data and the information will populate the appropriate fields in the FAFSA. This is a shot of a previous screen, but this year’s should be very similar. The IRS Data Retrieval Tool will be available in early February 2015.

1/5/15

Parent Financial Information, Continued If the IRS Retrieval Tool was used, these fields will be populated from IRS. 

If the Retrieval Tool is used the financial information is considered Verified. 

1/5/15

Parent Financial Info--Continued If you have information to enter in the Additional Financial Information fields, Check the box and a data field will drop down so you can enter the information. 

The Help and Hints will give more detailed information and explanations for each question. 

Checking one of the boxes would give a drop down box for the amount. 

Any of these items reported on a 1040, will be populated by the IRS Data Transfer. 

Yes, in the asset question will present additional questions about assets. 



Remember Help and Hints

1/5/15

Student Tax Information The questions for students are the same as those for parents. 

The system will dynamically determine which questions to present, based on the question about filing status. 

1/5/15

Student Financial Info—Cont’d Selecting “Will Not File”, will present a different set of questions. 

Not the questions tied to the tax return. 

1/5/15

Student Financial Info—Cont’d Check any of the items that apply and a drop down will provide a field for data entry. 

Use the Hint and Help feature for specific information on any question. 

Students must report assets regardless of net worth. 

1/5/15

Final Check The system uses the program edits to identify any potential errors. 

This gives the applicant the ability to correct or confirm data reported on the FAFSA. 

1/5/15

Finally—Signature Page The top of the signature page is for the student’s signature. 

The form can be submitted in three ways: Electronically; Signature page; or without signature. 

Two of the options will delay your application. 

Your PIN is your signature. Enter the pin and select sign and select agree. 

The application will not be processed unless you select agree. 

One parent will sign the FAFSA, using their PIN. 

Also select sign and agree.



With a student and parent signature click submit. 

1/5/15

FAFSA Summary You can select view FAFSA summary to see the answers you have entered.

1/5/15

Confirmation Page You are not through until you receive the confirmation. This provides proof the application has been received by the federal Central Processor. 

There is now a link that will allow you to continue with a new application for another child. 

Print the page and put in in your application file. 

1/5/15



There is NO fee to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid o o

o o

Completion and processing of the FAFSA are FREE. If filing via FAFSA on the Web, be sure to go directly to www.fafsa.gov (www.fafsa.ed.gov). Contact financial aid office for help completing the FAFSA. Do not pay for assistance filing the FAFSA, applying for admissions or for scholarship searches.

1/5/15

www.ppslc.com Our Website offers additional information for students. 

Click the Student tab to find more information about financial aid, money management, and free scholarship searches. 

1/5/15

www.ppslc.com – Cont’d Financial Aid Information leads to: o Financial Aid Links of Interest o Steps in the Financial Aid Process o Tips for Financial Aid Success. 

Under Financial Aid Information you will find: o Links to Scholarship scams, o Links to free Scholarship searches o Several other links to some very useful information. 

1/5/15

Questions?? Contact: Name: Phone: Website: www.ppslc.com

1/5/15