2017-2018 FAFSA® Updates and Outreach Plan Joan J. Jaimes Awareness and Outreach Specialist October 17, 2016

2017-2018 FAFSA Updates FSA ID Overview FAFSA Communication Strategy FAFSA Enhancements & Important Dates Financial Aid Toolkit and Resources 2

2017-2018 FAFSA Updates

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FAFSA Evolution  1992 – Free Application for Federal Student Aid

(FAFSA)  1997 – FAFSA on the Web  2008 – IRS Data Retrieval Tool (2009-10 FAFSA)  2009 – Skip/Smart Logic (2010-11 FAFSA)  2016 – Earlier Launch & Collection of Earlier Income and Tax Information (2017-18 FAFSA)

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FAFSA Changes  Change #1: Earlier FAFSA Launch  2017–18

FAFSA available Oct. 1, 2016, at

fafsa.gov  Change to October 1 launch will be permanent  Change #2: Earlier Income Info Required  2015

tax/income information required  IRS Data Retrieval Tool available at time of launch

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FAFSA Changes

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Benefits of FAFSA Changes 

Benefit #1: Alignment  

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Benefit #2: Certainty   

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No need to estimate tax information IRS Data Retrieval Tool available at launch Earlier receipt of Expected Family Contribution (helps with assessing net costs)

Benefit #3: Less Pressure  

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Many college application deadlines occur in the fall Alignment of FAFSA availability = less confusion

More time before (most) state and school financial aid deadlines More time to compare school offers before College Signing Day

FSA ID Overview Updates

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FSA ID: Needed for FAFSA.gov

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Common FSA ID Questions 

Do I need an email to create an FSA ID? 

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What if I try to sign my FAFSA with an FSA ID and I get an error message? 

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Your name must be typed exactly how it appears on your social security card on your FSA ID profile and FAFSA, Verify your name is spelled the exact same way in each place and make sure your DOB and SSN is correct as well.

Do I need a SSN to create an FSA ID? 

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No, an email is not required to create an FSA ID.

Yes, and your SSN, name, and DOB must all match with the Social Security Administration.

Can I still complete the FAFSA without an FSA ID? 

Yes, you can print the signature page and mail it in.

FAFSA Communication Strategy

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2017 – 18 Outreach Plan 1 strategic campaign. 2 core audiences. 3 phases.

Increase Fluency:

Let you know we’ve

Provide education materials about 2017–18 FAFSA and any changes that impact your students/clients.

HS & College Students, Partners Parents, Adults:

Engage:

got tools and resources ready now to support your needs.

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Increase Awareness: Drive awareness of financial aid and FSA ID over the summer while students/parents are planning for college.

Arm You: Continue to listen and provide you with materials to support your outreach about the 2017–18 FAFSA and financial aid.

Prepare Them for the FAFSA: Keep federal student aid top of mind.

Drive FAFSA Submissions: Starting Oct.1, promote that FAFSA is now available and increase the sense of urgency to fill out the FAFSA for financial aid.

High Level Outreach Plan  Summer: Prep for the fall! Tell rising seniors to

get FSA ID (full info: StudentAid.gov/fsaid) & research colleges  September: Hold financial aid night  Remind

students and parents about the FSA ID  Explain FAFSA is coming soon & importance of filling it out promptly

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High Level Outreach Plan  October: Hold FAFSA completion event  

Provide hands-on help filling out FAFSA Explain what happens next

 November - April: Help students

interpret/compare aid offers   17

Emphasize importance of meeting deadlines set by colleges Remind students to check e-mail

FAFSA Enhancements & Important Dates

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Enhanced Messaging  Issue: Students are confused about

which FAFSA to complete when two cycles are active and the student has not completed a FAFSA for either year.  Solution: Messaging on the “Get

Started” page has been enhanced for clarity. 19

Enhanced Messaging

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Enhanced Messaging  Issue: Students and parents might not be

sure which tax year data to report on the financial information pages.  Solution: Applicants and parents are

instructed to provide financial information from their 2015 tax return.

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Enhanced Messaging

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Enhanced Messaging

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Enhanced Messaging  Issue: There will be a larger population of

applicants and parents for whom the income tax return won’t provide the correct information due to a recent marital status change.  Solution: Messaging and help text have

been added. 24

Enhanced Messaging

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Enhanced Messaging What if my marital status as of today is different than the marital status reported on my 2015 tax return? The FAFSA asks for marital status as of the day you fill it out, but it asks for income and tax return information from 2015. Therefore, your marital status may be different than it was when you filed your tax return.  If you filed a joint tax return for 2015 but you are no longer married when you fill out the FAFSA, you will need to subtract your former spouse’s tax return information to correctly answer the FAFSA questions only about yourself.  If you did not file a joint tax return for 2015 but you are married when you fill out the FAFSA, you will need to add your current spouse’s 2015 tax return information to correctly answer the FAFSA questions about yourself and your current spouse.

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Enhanced Messaging What if my current spouse is different from the spouse listed on my 2015 tax return? The FAFSA asks for marital status as of the day you fill it out, but it asks for income and tax return information from 2015. Therefore, your marital status may be different than it was when you filed your tax return.  If you filed a joint tax return for 2015 but you are married to a different person when you fill out the FAFSA, you will need to subtract your former spouse’s tax return information, and then add your current spouse’s 2015 tax return information to correctly answer the FAFSA questions about yourself and your current spouse. 

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Enhanced Messaging What if I am recently widowed? The FAFSA asks for marital status as of the day you fill it out, but it asks for income and tax return information from 2015. Therefore, your marital status may be different than it was when you filed your tax return.  If you recently became widowed, you’ll need to subtract the tax return information for your spouse to correctly answer the FAFSA questions only about yourself. 

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Enhanced Messaging  Issue: Most applicants should have filed

their 2015 taxes already.  Solution: Messaging reflects expectation

that taxes have already been filed.

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Enhanced Messaging  You indicated that you will file taxes. If you have missed the 2015 tax filing deadline of April 2016 but still plan to file a 2015 income tax return with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), click “OK.” Otherwise, change your answer.

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IRS DRT Enhancements  Issue: Filtering questions don’t align with

the collection of prior-prior year tax information.  Solution: Filtering questions have been

modified.

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IRS DRT Enhancements

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IRS DRT Enhancements  Issue: Applicants who are eligible to use

the IRS DRT are not using it.  Solution: Eligible applicants can only

advance through FOTW if they use the IRS DRT or actively opt out of using the IRS DRT.

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IRS DRT Enhancements

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IRS DRT Enhancements

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IRS DRT Enhancements

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Other Enhancements  Potential conflicting information due to the

collection of income and tax information from the same year for both 2016-2017 and 2017-2018  Medicaid added to the list of means-tested benefits  Enhanced guidance for foster youth  Elimination of FAFSA booklet 37

Other Enhancements

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Important Dates August 2016  2017-2018 Electronic Data Exchange

(EDE) Technical Reference (FINAL)  2017-2018 EFC Formula Guide  2017-2018 SAR Comment Codes and Text Guide  2017-2018 ISIR Guide 39

Important Dates September 2016  2017-2018 Summary of Changes for the

Application Processing System  2017-2018 FAFSA on the Web Preview Presentation  2017-2018 CPS Web Applications Demo System availability (September 25, 2016) 40

Financial Aid Toolkit and Resources

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Resources for Counselors/Mentors  Language on 2017-18 FAFSA

that can be shared with students and parents via emails, newsletters, etc.  Focuses on  earlier availability of 2017-18 FAFSA

 use of 2015 tax information

 Contains

information regarding securing an FSA ID over the summer

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Outreach Materials FAFSA: https://FinancialAidToolkit.ed.gov/fafsa  Resources: https://FinancialAidToolkit.ed.gov/resources  FAFSA Changes: https://FinancialAidToolkit.ed.gov/fafsa-changes 

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Talking points Table of FAFSA launch dates and tax years Fact sheets for counselors and parents & college students Outreach calendar PowerPoint presentations Information about upcoming webinars

Financial Aid Toolkit https://financialaidtoolkit.ed.gov

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The FAFSA Handbook http://FinancialAidToolkit.ed.gov/fafsa

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Tools and Resources http://FinancialAidToolkit.ed.gov/resources

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FAFSA Changes http://FinancialAidToolkit.ed.gov/fafsa-changes

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FAFSA Demo Site http://fafsademo.test.ed.gov

Available September 25

User name: eddemo Password: fafsatest

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Federal Student Aid Webinar Series Webinar Title

Understanding Student Loan Repayment

Target Audience

Current/previous student loan borrowers

Registration Link http://fsaregistration.ed.gov/d/vfqcw2

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Date and Time

October 18, 2016 (Tues.) @ 4:00 p.m. EST

Order Publications http://www.fsapubs.gov

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Other Resources Federal Student Aid and Homeless Youth https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/sites/default/files/homeless-youth.pdf

Educational resources for new arrivals & DACA students www.ed.gov/about/overview/focus/immigration-resources.html

Resource Guide: Supporting Undocumented Students www.ed.gov/about/overview/focus/supporting-undocumented-youth.pdf

Financial Aid and Undocumented Students https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/sites/default/files/financial-aid-andundocumented-students.pdf

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FSA Partners We consider school counselors, college access organization staff, and other mentors to be our partners in educating students about applying for and receiving federal student aid to help make their college dreams a reality. Several times a year, we email our partners with updates about our products and services, reminders about upcoming professional development opportunities, tips for outreach to students, and more. Sign up to receive FSA partner emails! Note: The emails we send are intended to keep counselors and mentors up to date; they do not contain information for students or parents. Please send students and parents to https://StudentAid.gov for information about federal student aid.

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Resources for Students and Parents http://StudentAid.gov

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College Navigator http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator

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College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov

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Connect With Us!

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The Federal Student Aid Information Center http://www.studentaidhelp.ed.gov

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Federal Student Aid Peer Survey

Thank you for attending a Federal Student Aid presentation. The purpose of this survey is to receive feedback on how FSA can better serve you. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/101716ISD

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Joan J. Jaimes, MPA Awareness and Outreach Specialist [email protected] 202.377.4403 202.374.3454

Ask Questions!

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