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2023–24 Counselors and Mentors 

Handbook on Federal Student Aid

A Guide for Those Advising Students About Financial Aid for Higher 

Education

August 2022 

Prepared For

Counselors and Mentors

Important note: The information in this publication was compiled in spring

2022. For the latest changes to the federal student aid programs, consult 

the “Announcements” section at FinancialAidToolkit.ed.gov. 
Federal Student Aid Page 2 of 44

CONTENTS

Prepared For.................................................................................................................................................1

Important Resources.....................................................................................................................................5

Websites....................................................................................................................................................5

For You ..................................................................................................................................................5

For Your Students..................................................................................................................................5

Contacts ....................................................................................................................................................5

For You and Your Students ...................................................................................................................5

Introduction ...................................................................................................................................................7

What’s New in This Year’s Handbook?.....................................................................................................7

Help Us Improve the Handbook ................................................................................................................7

Part 1: The Federal Student Aid Programs...................................................................................................8

What Is Student Aid?.................................................................................................................................8

The Major Federal Student Aid Programs.................................................................................................8

Federal Student Grants: Pell, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity, Teacher Education 

Assistance for College and Higher Education, and Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants....................8

Federal Work-Study...............................................................................................................................9

Federal Student Loans: Subsidized and Unsubsidized, PLUS, and Consolidation ..............................9

Responsible Borrowing..............................................................................................................................9

Other U.S. Department of Education (ED) Programs .............................................................................10

Vocational Rehabilitation Programs.....................................................................................................10

Other Federal Assistance for Postsecondary School..............................................................................10

Federal Income Tax Credits ................................................................................................................10

National and Community Service ........................................................................................................10

Health Professions...............................................................................................................................10

Veterans Education Benefits ...............................................................................................................11

Other Assistance From the Military and for Military Families ..............................................................11

Nonfederal Sources: State, School, and Private.....................................................................................11

State Aid ..............................................................................................................................................11

Prepaid Tuition and College Savings Plans ........................................................................................11

Institutional Aid.....................................................................................................................................11

Private Aid............................................................................................................................................12

Who Can Get Federal Student Aid?........................................................................................................12

General Eligibility Requirements..........................................................................................................12

Selective Service Registration .............................................................................................................13

Drug-related Convictions .....................................................................................................................13
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Eligibility Requirements for Specific Programs........................................................................................14

TEACH Grants .....................................................................................................................................14

Federal Pell Grants and Involuntary Civil Commitment for Sexual Offenses......................................14

Federal Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, and Federal Work-Study

.............................................................................................................................................................14

Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants...................................................................................................15

How Is Financial Need Determined?.......................................................................................................15

Need Analysis ......................................................................................................................................15

Calculating the EFC.............................................................................................................................16

Cost of Attendance ..............................................................................................................................16

The Financial Aid Package......................................................................................................................16

How Much Federal Pell Grant Funding Can a Student Get?...............................................................17

How Much TEACH Grant Funding Can a Student Get?......................................................................17

How Much Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant Funding Can a Student Get? ...................................17

How Much Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), Federal Work-Study 

Money Can a Student Get? .................................................................................................................18

How Much Can a Student Get in Direct Subsidized and Direct Unsubsidized Loans?.......................18

Part 2: Application Process for Federal Student Aid...................................................................................19

Early Eligibility Indicator: Federal Student Aid Estimator ........................................................................19

What Is the Purpose of Federal Student Aid Estimator?.....................................................................19

Who Should Use Federal Student Aid Estimator?...............................................................................19

How Do You Use Federal Student Aid Estimator? ..............................................................................19

Before Applying .......................................................................................................................................20

Helping Students Learn About the FAFSA® Process ..........................................................................20

Getting an FSA ID ...................................................................................................................................20

Why Does a Student Need an FSA ID?...............................................................................................21

Why Would a Parent Need an FSA ID?...............................................................................................21

How Do You Create an FSA ID? .........................................................................................................22

What if the Student Forgets the FSA ID or Has Other Difficulties Using It?........................................22

What About FSA ID Security? .............................................................................................................23

Gathering Documents for the FAFSA® Form ..........................................................................................23

FAFSA on the Web Worksheet............................................................................................................23

When to Apply .........................................................................................................................................23

How to Apply ...........................................................................................................................................24

Electronic Application Method—fafsa.gov ...........................................................................................24

Applying Through the School...............................................................................................................28

PDF Application Method ......................................................................................................................28
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How the FAFSA® Form Is Processed......................................................................................................29

Data Matches.......................................................................................................................................29

What to Expect After Applying.................................................................................................................30

Checking the Status of a FAFSA® Form ..............................................................................................30

Where the Processor Sends the FAFSA® Information ........................................................................30

What the Student Receives After Applying .............................................................................................31

Reviewing the SAR and SAR Acknowledgement ...................................................................................32

Student Aid Report (SAR)....................................................................................................................32

SAR Acknowledgement .......................................................................................................................33

Rejected SAR ......................................................................................................................................33

Verification...............................................................................................................................................33

Making Changes......................................................................................................................................33

Corrections and Updating ....................................................................................................................33

2023–24 Deadlines..................................................................................................................................36

Part 3: Completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) Form.....................................37

Pointers for Completing the FAFSA® Form .............................................................................................37

General Student Information................................................................................................................38

Student Income and Tax Information...................................................................................................38

Student Dependency Status ................................................................................................................38

Parent Information ...............................................................................................................................38

Colleges to Receive Information..........................................................................................................39

Appendix A: Sources of Additional Information...........................................................................................40

Useful Websites.......................................................................................................................................40

Sites for Students................................................................................................................................. 40

Sites for Counselors and Mentors .......................................................................................................41

Sites for Parents ..................................................................................................................................42

Free Informational Materials....................................................................................................................42

One-on-One Help: The Federal Student Aid Information Center............................................................42

Appendix B: Abbreviations..........................................................................................................................44
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Important Resources

Websites

For You

• Financial Aid Toolkit—resources to help you help your students: FinancialAidToolkit.ed.gov

o Information about free training for you

o Financial aid PowerPoint presentations and scripts

o Searchable library of fact sheets, videos, infographics, and other resources

o Tips on outreach to students and parents

For Your Students

• StudentAid.gov—planning for college or career school, paying for college or career school, and 

repaying federal student loans: StudentAid.gov 

• StudentAid.gov’s “Checklists for Academic and Financial Preparation” page—a student’s or 

parent’s first stop for information on academic and financial preparation: 

StudentAid.gov/resources/prepare-for-college/checklists

• Avoiding Scams—finding financial aid without being a victim of fraud or identity theft: 

StudentAid.gov/scams 

• Fact sheets, videos, and infographics on various financial aid topics: StudentAid.gov/resources

• FAFSA® form: fafsa.gov

• Federal school codes: StudentAid.gov/fafsa-app/FSCsearch

• FAFSA® help: StudentAid.gov/fafsahelp 

• FSA ID (account username and password) registration:StudentAid.gov/fsa-id/createaccount/launch

• Federal Student Aid Estimator—early estimate of aid eligibility: StudentAid.gov/aid-estimator

• Federal Student Aid’s Twitter feed: Twitter.com/FAFSA

• Federal Student Aid’s YouTube site: YouTube.com/FederalStudentAid

• Federal Student Aid’s Facebook page: Facebook.com/FederalStudentAid

Contacts

For You and Your Students

Federal Student Aid Information Center (FSAIC)

• Email: customerservice@studentaid.gov

• Chat: StudentAid.gov/help-center/contact

• Toll-free number for questions about federal student aid: 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243)

Federal Student Aid’s Feedback Center

• Submit a complaint about an issue, suspicious activity, or scam: StudentAid.gov/feedbackcenter
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Inspector General Hotline

• Reporting student aid fraud (including identity theft), waste, or abuse of U.S. Department of 

Education funds: 1-800-MIS-USED (1-800-647-8733)

• Website: oighotline.ed.gov
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Introduction 

The Counselors and Mentors Handbook on Federal Student Aid provides useful information to help high 

school counselors, TRIO and GEAR UP staff, and other mentors advise students about financial aid for 

postsecondary education. This book focuses on the federal student aid programs administered by the 

U.S. Department of Education. 

What’s New in This Year’s Handbook?

We have updated the handbook in the following ways:

• We updated financial aid program maximum award amounts and other items as needed.

• We pointed out changes to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) process., 

including removing references about the myStudentAid mobile app’s FAFSA component. The 

myStudentAid mobile app retired on June 30, 2022.

Help Us Improve the Handbook

We welcome any comments or suggestions on ways to make this handbook more useful in future 

editions. Please send your comments to ask.aidawareness@ed.gov. 

Please note that we provide the ask.aidawareness email address for counselors and mentors to send us 

feedback or questions about our products and services for them. If your students have questions about 

federal student aid, give them the contact information for the Federal Student Aid Information Center on 

page 5 of this book.
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Part 1: The Federal Student Aid Programs

Many students are unaware that they may be eligible for financial aid to attend college or career school. 

High school, TRIO, and GEAR UP counselors are an important source of information about financial aid 

from private, school, state, and federal student aid programs. 

For information about free resources, you can use to help students learn about federal and other student 

aid, see Appendix A. 

What Is Student Aid?

Student aid is money provided by the federal government or another entity, such as a school or a state 

government, to help students pay for college or career school. The U.S. Department of Education’s 

federal student aid programs deliver billions of dollars to students each year, representing a substantial 

federal commitment to provide financial assistance for postsecondary students. In 2021, Federal Student 

Aid delivered more than $112 billion in federal grants, loans, and work-study funds to approximately 10.1

million students attending nearly 5,600 institutions.

The Major Federal Student Aid Programs

In this section, we will present a brief introduction to the federal student aid programs. For more detailed 

information, you and your students may visit StudentAid.gov/types. For fact sheets, infographics, and 

videos about types of federal student aid, counselors may visit FinancialAidToolkit.ed.gov/resources 

and select “Types of Aid” from the “Topic” dropdown box, then select “Done Selecting” (or just click or tap 

outside the drop-down box) and “Get Resources.” Your students can browse resources about types of aid 

at StudentAid.gov/resources. 

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) offers three major types of aid: grants, work-study funds, and 

loans. Grants are gift aid, and generally do not have to be repaid, except under certain circumstances. 

Federal Work-Study provides income from a part-time job. Loans must be repaid with interest. 

A student who is eligible for federal student aid can use the aid at an eligible participating postsecondary 

school (college or career/vocational/trade school). An eligible participating school is a school that ED has 

determined is able to administer federal student aid funds for its students. The eligible participating school 

that the student attends will disburse (pay out) the student’s financial aid, often applying the funds to the 

student’s tuition and fees first, and then paying any leftover amount to the student to be used for other 

expenses. 

Information about eligibility for federal student aid in general, and for certain programs in particular, is on 

pages 12–15 of this handbook.

Federal Student Grants: Pell, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity, Teacher 

Education Assistance for College and Higher Education, and Iraq and Afghanistan Service 

Grants

The above-mentioned grants are awarded according to rules set by Congress in the Higher Education 

Act. In all cases, grant payments may not exceed the student’s cost of attendance at the school; and 

most grant payments are adjusted if the student is enrolled less than full-time. In the case of the Federal 

Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) Program, funds are limited at each participating 

school and priority is given to exceptionally needy students. Note: Not all schools participate in the 

FSEOG program.
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Federal Work-Study

The Federal Work-Study Program allows a student to work a part-time job at or near the school.

Because funds may be limited at the student’s school, the earlier an eligible student applies, the more 

likely the student may receive aid from the Federal Work-Study Program. Note: Not all schools participate 

in the Federal Work-Study Program. 

Federal Student Loans: Subsidized and Unsubsidized, PLUS, and Consolidation

The William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program enables eligible students and parents to 

borrow from ED at a low interest rate and offers a range of repayment plans among which borrowers can 

choose.

There are four types of Direct Loans: 

• Direct Subsidized Loans (for undergraduate students) 

• Direct Unsubsidized Loans (for undergraduate, graduate, and professional students) 

• Direct PLUS Loans (for parents of dependent undergraduates; and for graduate or professional 

students) 

• Direct Consolidation Loans (for student or parent borrowers to combine federal education loan 

debts)

Direct Subsidized Loans are available to undergraduate students who have financial need. The federal 

government pays the borrower’s accrued interest while the student is in school and during certain other 

periods, thereby “subsidizing” these loans. 

Direct Unsubsidized Loans and Direct PLUS Loans are not need-based loans; the borrower is 

responsible for accrued interest throughout the life of the loan.

Responsible Borrowing

Even after signing a promissory note (a contract promising to repay a loan with interest), many students 

are only vaguely aware of their responsibility to repay the loan funds. Defaulting on a student loan (failing 

to repay the loan according to the terms of the promissory note) will affect a borrower’s credit rating and 

could result in withholding of federal income tax refunds and denial of further federal student aid.

At StudentAid.gov/resources, we have provided a brief overview of a borrower’s responsibilities in 

Federal Student Loans: Basics for Students. On that same page, we also offer short videos about loans, 

for those who prefer something more lively than a written publication. And for an in-depth look at student 

loans, repayment options, and the consequences of default, we recommend StudentAid.gov/loans and 

StudentAid.gov/repay. 

DID YOU KNOW

Federal Work-Study income does not count in the assessment of the student’s financial need 

when they submit a FAFSA® form. When filing an IRS income tax return, the student includes 

income earned from Federal Work-Study on the tax return. However, when the student 

completes the FAFSA form, the amount of Federal Work-Study earned should be excluded (or 

removed) by reporting that amount in FAFSA question 40c.
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Other U.S. Department of Education (ED) Programs

Vocational Rehabilitation Programs

ED’s Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) provides grants to state vocational rehabilitation 

agencies to help individuals with disabilities train for employment, obtain employment, and live more 

independently. RSA also provides grants to postsecondary schools for scholarships to students interested 

in pursuing careers in rehabilitation. RSA’s website is at rsa.ed.gov. 

For more information about disability programs and services in communities nationwide, visit 

dol.gov/agencies/odep/topics. 

Other Federal Assistance for Postsecondary School

This section lists several federal programs that provide financial assistance for postsecondary education. 

For links to a variety of government programs, visit StudentAid.gov/types. 

Federal Income Tax Credits

Two federal income tax credits are available for higher education expenses:

• The American Opportunity Credit is a tax credit worth up to $2,500 per student for education 

expenses during the first four years of postsecondary education. The student must be enrolled at 

least half-time in a program leading to a degree or other recognized education credential.

• The Lifetime Learning Credit is a tax credit worth up to $2,000 per tax return for virtually any 

postsecondary education and training, including undergraduate years, graduate and professional 

schools, and even less-than-half-time study.

The tax credits described above may not be claimed at the same time for the same student.

For details about these income tax credits and other education benefits, read Publication 970, Tax 

Benefits for Education at irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p970.pdf. 

National and Community Service

AmeriCorps, a program of national and community service, provides funding for education in exchange 

for service. A participant can earn up to two education awards, each for an amount equivalent to the 

maximum value of the Pell Grant for the award year in which the term of AmeriCorps service was funded. 

Individuals can use the funds either to pay current or future education expenses or to repay federal 

student loans. Participants must be at least 18 and be U.S. citizens, nationals, or lawful permanent 

residents. For more information, call 1-800-942-2677, visit americorps.gov, or ask a question at 

questions.americorps.gov. 

Health Professions

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) administers a number of financial aid 

programs for students interested in health profession careers. For more information on education and 

training programs administered by HHS, visit hhs.gov/programs/education-and-training. For 

DID YOU KNOW

There is a glossary of financial aid terms at StudentAid.gov/glossary. 
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information about aid from HHS’s Health Resources and Services Administration, students may visit 

bhw.hrsa.gov/funding#loan. 

Veterans Education Benefits

For information about U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) education programs, visit 

benefits.va.gov/gibill or call 1-888-GI-BILL-1 (1-888-442-4551). Each of the major benefits programs is 

described in detail on its own section of the VA’s site. See Appendix A of this handbook for a list of URLs 

to visit for military education benefit information.

Other Assistance From the Military and for Military Families

ROTC Scholarships

Reserve officer training scholarships are available through the Army, Air Force, and Navy. Military 

scholarship recipients will have a service obligation in either the reserves or active duty after graduating 

from college. Information for high school students about ROTC scholarships and other free money for 

those associated with the military can be found at StudentAid.gov/military. 

Assistance in Return for Active Duty

Active-duty military service also offers numerous programs to help students earn or pay for a college 

degree. For further information about these programs, students should contact a local U.S. armed forces 

recruiter or visit militaryonesource.mil/education-employment. 

Assistance for Military Families

Visit StudentAid.gov/military for general information about scholarships and other financial aid for 

military families.

Nonfederal Sources: State, School, and Private

State Aid

Each state administers its own student aid programs, which might include scholarships, loans, fellowships 

for graduate school, or other types of aid. Students can contact their state education agency for more 

information; telephone numbers and web addresses are listed at www.ed.gov/sgt. 

Prepaid Tuition and College Savings Plans

There are two types of tuition savings plans known as 529 plans (after the section of the Internal Revenue 

Code in which they are described).

1. The typical 529 prepaid tuition plan allows families to purchase future tuition by paying a 

predetermined monthly amount into the program. The savings cover full tuition at a public state 

school or a specified amount toward tuition at a private or out-of-state school.

2. A 529 college savings plan is essentially an investment account created to save for a specific 

child’s college expenses. 

For more information on 529 plans, as well as other ways to save for college, visit the Financial Industry 

Regulatory Authority’s site at finra.org/investors/learn-to-invest/types-investments/saving-foreducation. 

Institutional Aid 

Many postsecondary schools offer aid from their institutional funds. To be considered for institutional aid, 

some schools require the student to submit an application in addition to the Free Application for Federal 

Student Aid (FAFSA®) form. Some schools require a FAFSA form before considering a student for merit 
Federal Student Aid Page 12 of 44

aid; so encourage your students to complete the FAFSA form even if they think they won’t qualify for 

need-based aid. The best sources of information on aid available at a school are the school’s financial aid 

office and its website.

Private Aid

A student also may qualify for a private grant or scholarship for academic achievement, religious 

affiliation, ethnic or racial heritage, community activities, athletic ability, or hobbies and special interests. 

Our web page about scholarships at StudentAid.gov/scholarships links to the U.S. Department of 

Labor’s free scholarship search based on these and other criteria.

Private Aid Consultants

There are many privately operated scholarship search and financial aid advice services. Such services 

tend to be relatively expensive, so a student or parent should think carefully before committing to such a 

service. Most financial aid comes from federal and state programs that students can easily find out about 

through StudentAid.gov and other free websites. A large portion of the remaining nongovernment aid 

comes in the form of institutional grants; so it’s important for a student to check with the college to find out 

what it offers from its own funds.

Despite the numerous free sources of information about money for college, some students and parents 

still prefer to hire a private advisor. A student considering using a for-fee service can find information 

about it by contacting several sources. Most of these sources will be able to tell the student whether 

complaints have been lodged against the service. However, keep in mind that a few complaints do not 

necessarily mean a company is not reliable or legitimate. Rather, the student should use careful judgment 

and weigh all available information about the number and nature of complaints before making a decision.

The student might obtain information from, or register a complaint with, the following entities:

• The Better Business Bureau provides business ratings, reports, and a complaint form at bbb.org. 

• The U.S. Postal Inspection Service Fraud Complaint Unit offers a toll-free number, 

1-877-876-2455. Alternatively, the student may access an online complaint form at uspis.gov. 

• State attorneys general are listed at naag.org. 

Avoiding Scholarship Scams

Students and parents do not always receive the information they expect from a financial aid advice 

service. You can help raise awareness of financial aid scams and the availability of free advice by

• mentioning the issue at financial aid information sessions,

• telling students and parents about the StudentAid.gov/scams web page, and

• distributing the Don’t Get Scammed fact sheet available at StudentAid.gov/resources. 

Although ED doesn’t evaluate private financial aid search and advice services, StudentAid.gov/scams

does provide some helpful guidelines for students considering using such a service.

Who Can Get Federal Student Aid?

General Eligibility Requirements

To meet the general eligibility requirements for federal student aid, a student must

• demonstrate financial need (for need-based programs) (see “How Is Financial Need 

Determined?” on pages 15–16);

• show that they are qualified to obtain a college or career school education by
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o having a high school diploma or a state-recognized equivalent, such as a General 

Educational Development (GED) or HiSET certificate; 

o having been homeschooled and either (1) have a secondary school completion 

credential for homeschools as provided for under state law, or (2) if the state does 

not require the credential described above, have completed a secondary school 

education in a homeschool setting that qualifies as an exemption from the 

compulsory attendance requirements under state law; or

o enrolling in an eligible career pathway program and meeting one of the “ability-tobenefit” alternatives described at StudentAid.gov/understandaid/eligibility/requirements; 

• be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a regular student in an eligible degree or certificate 

program;

• be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen;

• have a valid Social Security number (with the exception of students from the Republic of the 

Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, or the Republic of Palau); 

• make satisfactory academic progress in college or career school;

• sign certifying statements on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form such as 

agreeing to use federal student aid funds only for educational expenses; and

• be enrolled at least half-time to be eligible for Direct Loan Program funds.

Note: This is not a comprehensive list of eligibility requirements. The U.S. Department of Education 

provides detailed information on this topic in Volume 1 (Student Eligibility) of the Federal Student Aid 

Handbook in the “Knowledge Center” section of FSA Partner Connect at 

fsapartners.ed.gov/knowledge-center/fsa-handbook. 

Selective Service Registration

Registration status with Selective Service no longer affects students’ eligibility to receive federal student 

aid. 

Drug-related Convictions

Drug convictions no longer affect students’ federal student aid eligibility. In rare cases, under the AntiDrug Abuse Act of 1988, students convicted of drug trafficking or possession may be denied federal 

student aid by federal and state judges.

IMPORTANT NOTE

Undocumented students, including Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) students, 

aren’t eligible for federal student aid. However, undocumented students may be eligible for 

state or school financial aid, in addition to private scholarships. For answers to frequently 

asked questions about financial aid for undocumented students and DACA students, see the 

Financial Aid and Undocumented Students fact sheet at StudentAid.gov/resources. 
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Eligibility Requirements for Specific Programs

Federal student aid programs have their own eligibility criteria in addition to the general requirements 

listed on pages 12–13. 

TEACH Grants

To receive a Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant, a student 

must meet the following criteria:

• Be enrolled as an undergraduate, postbaccalaureate, or graduate student in a postsecondary 

educational institution that participates in the TEACH Grant Program. 

• Be enrolled in a TEACH-Grant-eligible program (course work that is designed to prepare the 

student to teach as a highly qualified teacher in a high-need field). 

• Meet certain academic achievement requirements (generally, scoring above the 75th percentile 

on one or more portions of a college admissions test or maintaining a cumulative GPA of at least 

3.25).

• Receive TEACH Grant counseling that explains the terms and conditions of the TEACH Grant 

service obligation. The student must complete counseling each year they receive a TEACH 

Grant.

• Sign, each year the student receives a TEACH Grant, a TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve or 

Repay, indicating that they will 

o serve as a full-time, highly qualified teacher in a high-need field in a public or private 

elementary or secondary school or educational service agency that serves lowincome students; 

o teach for at least four academic years within eight years of ceasing enrollment at the 

institution where he or she received the TEACH Grant; and

o repay the grant as a Direct Unsubsidized Loan, with interest charged from the date of 

each TEACH Grant disbursement, if they fail to meet the requirements in the 

Agreement to Serve or Repay. 

For more information about high-need fields, schools, or educational service agencies serving low-income 

students, and the definition of “highly qualified teacher,” students may visit StudentAid.gov/teach or 

speak to a financial aid administrator.

Note: It is crucial that students understand that if they don’t fulfill the teaching service agreement, all 

TEACH Grants they received will be converted to Direct Unsubsidized Loans that must be repaid 

according to the terms of Direct Unsubsidized Loans.

Federal Pell Grants and Involuntary Civil Commitment for Sexual Offenses

A student subject to an involuntary civil commitment after completing a period of incarceration for a 

forcible or nonforcible sexual offense is ineligible to receive a Federal Pell Grant.

Federal Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, and Federal WorkStudy

In addition to the students who qualify for these programs through the general eligibility and financial 

need requirements, certain other students may qualify as well.

Students With Intellectual Disabilities

Students with intellectual disabilities may receive funding under these programs if they
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• are enrolled or accepted for enrollment in an eligible comprehensive transition and postsecondary 

program for students with intellectual disabilities at an institution of higher education that 

participates in the federal student aid programs;

• are maintaining satisfactory academic progress for their program; and

• meet the general federal student aid eligibility requirements, except that the student is not 

required to have a high school diploma or equivalent certificate and is not required to be pursuing 

a degree or certificate.

You can find a list of schools with eligible comprehensive transition and postsecondary programs at 

StudentAid.gov/understand-aid/eligibility/requirements/intellectual-disabilities. 

Students With a Parent or Guardian Who Died as a Result of Military Service in Iraq or Afghanistan 

or in the Line of Duty as a Public Safety Officer

A Pell-eligible student whose parent or guardian died as a result of military service in Iraq or Afghanistan 

after the events of 9/11 or during active service in the line of duty as a public safety officer may be eligible 

for the maximum Federal Pell Grant amount and increased amounts of other federal student aid if, at the 

time of the parent’s or guardian’s death, the student was less than 24 years oldor was enrolled at least 

part-time at an institution of higher education. The student’s eligibility for all federal student aid will be 

calculated by the school as if their Expected Family Contribution (EFC) (see “How Is Financial Need 

Determined?” [on pages 15–16] for a discussion of the EFC) were zero. Payments are adjusted if the 

student is enrolled less than full-time.

Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants

A student whose parent or guardian died as a result of military service in Iraq or Afghanistan after the 

events of 9/11 may receive an Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant if

• the student is not eligible for a Pell Grant based on their Expected Family Contribution (see pages 

15–16), and

• at the time of the parent’s or guardian’s death, the student was less than 24 years oldor was 

enrolled at least part-time at an institution of higher education.

Send your students to StudentAid.gov/iraq-afghanistan for information about the grants.

How Is Financial Need Determined?

Eligibility for most federal student aid programs is based on financial need. A student must complete and 

file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form to have their financial need determined. At 

its simplest level, a student’s financial need is the difference between the student’s cost of attendance at 

the school and the Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The EFC is an index number reported on the 

FAFSA form that the school uses to determine how much aid the student can receive. 

Need Analysis 

The process of analyzing a student’s financial need, known as need analysis, focuses on determining 

how much the family reasonably can be expected to contribute toward the student’s education. An 

applicant’s need is calculated by collecting information about the family’s income, assets, and living 

expenses. For the federal student aid programs, the law specifies a need analysis formula that produces 

the EFC. The EFC and the school’s cost of attendance (see below) are used by the postsecondary school 

to establish the student’s need as well as to award federal student aid. (The school may ask the student 

to complete other paperwork to determine the student’s need for nonfederal aid.)
Federal Student Aid Page 16 of 44

Calculating the EFC

For an EFC calculation, a student must complete and file the FAFSA form. The fastest and easiest way to 

do so is to apply online at fafsa.gov. Unlike college admissions applications, the FAFSA form is sent to a 

U.S. Department of Education (ED) processing center, rather than directly to a college or career school. 

The student’s information is entered into ED’s computer system, which then calculates the student’s 

official EFC using such information as income, family size, number of family members in college or career 

school, the value of certain assets, and more. For a detailed breakdown of the EFC formula, go to 

StudentAid.gov/resources and download the EFC formula worksheets. 

The overall application process for financial aid is described in Part 2 of this handbook, while completing 

specific questions on the FAFSA form is discussed in Part 3.

Cost of Attendance

Once the school knows the student’s EFC, the next step is to subtract it from the student’s cost of 

attendance (COA) at that school. The result is the student’s financial need.

For the federal student aid programs, the financial aid administrator must use the definition of “cost of 

attendance” given in the law to determine what education-related expenses may be considered. The law 

specifies that the COA includes tuition and fees and an allowance for living expenses, such as room and 

board, books and supplies, miscellaneous personal expenses (including a reasonable allowance for 

renting or purchasing a personal computer), and transportation costs. The law also provides limited 

allowances for loan fees, dependent-care costs, and expenses for disabled students.

Note: Many high school students (and their parents) don’t immediately understand that the definition of 

“cost of attendance” includes more than just tuition. You can point them to the definition at

StudentAid.gov/complete-aid-process/how-calculated. 

The financial aid administrator at a school usually develops different COAs for different categories of 

students. For instance, some programs of study might have lab fees or higher charges for books and 

supplies than other programs; and students living off campus might have slightly higher allowable costs 

for room and board and transportation expenses than students living on campus.

The Financial Aid Package

Using all available federal and nonfederal aid, the financial aid administrator constructs a financial aid 

package that comes as close as possible to meeting the student’s demonstrated financial need; however, 

because funds for certain programs are limited, the amount offered can be less than the amount for which 

the student is eligible. For example, consider a full-time student with an EFC of 1000 who enrolled in a 

program that COA of $9,000 for the 2022–23 year:

Steps in Determining Financial Need Calculations

The student then needed $8,000 in financial aid to go 

to school.

 $9,000 cost of attendance

– EFC of 1000 

= $8,000 financial need

DID YOU KNOW

There is a list of abbreviations used in this book in Appendix B.
Federal Student Aid Page 17 of 44

Steps in Determining Financial Need Calculations

However, when the student received a $5,945 Federal 

Pell Grant and a $1,000 outside scholarship, the 

student’s need was reduced by $6,945. 

 $5,945 Federal Pell Grant

+ $1,000 scholarship

= $6,945 grant and scholarship aid applied 

toward student’s need

Therefore, the financial aid administrator could award 

up to $1,055 (the remaining need) in the form of 

campus-based aid and/or a Direct Subsidized Loan. 

 $8,000 financial need

– $6,945 grant and scholarship

= $1,055 remaining need

The financial aid package often is presented to the student in an aid offer, whether by postal mail or in an 

electronic format. The package might include a combination of federal, state, and institutional aid. To 

ensure the aid package is as complete and accurate as possible, the student should inform the financial 

aid office of any private scholarships that they have been awarded.

The student may accept or decline any of the financial aid offered. Students often have questions about 

the aid offer; these questions are best handled by the financial aid office at the postsecondary school. 

While the U.S. Department of Education (ED) does not regulate how a postsecondary school packages 

aid, we do require that the institution inform all students about all federal, state, local, private, and 

institutional student financial assistance available at that school. In addition, ED requires that participating 

institutions describe the procedures and forms for application; the student eligibility requirements; the 

selection criteria; and the criteria for determining the amount of an aid offer. 

A number of schools use the College Financing Plan, a sort of “cover letter” for the aid offer from the 

school. The College Financing Plan presents the aid offer in a way that clearly distinguishes free money 

from money that must be repaid and sets out the net cost to the student. Learn more about the College 

Financing Plan, and other tools to help students compare schools, at collegecost.ed.gov. 

How Much Federal Pell Grant Funding Can a Student Get?

To determine the amount of a student’s Federal Pell Grant, the financial aid administrator consults a table 

established by the U.S. Department of Education that indicates Pell awards based on the cost of 

attendance, the Expected Family Contribution (EFC), and other factors. 

The lower the EFC is (the less money the family is assumed to be able to pay for school), the higher the 

grant award may be; a student with a zero EFC has the most need and may be eligible to receive the 

maximum Federal Pell Grant award. 

For the 2022–23 award year (July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023), the 2022–23 maximum Federal Pell Grant 

award is $6,895, and the maximum Pell-eligible EFC is 6206 . 

Note: A student who is attending two postsecondary schools during the same enrollment period must 

notify the financial aid administrators at both schools. The student may not receive Pell Grants at both 

schools during the same enrollment period.

How Much TEACH Grant Funding Can a Student Get?

The TEACH Grant Program provides grants of up to $4,000 a year. The maximum award amount is 

reduced if the student attends less than full-time.

How Much Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant Funding Can a Student Get?

The Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant award is equal to the amount of a maximum Federal Pell Grant 
Federal Student Aid Page 18 of 44

for the award year but cannot exceed the student’s cost of attendance for that award year. 

How Much Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), Federal Work-Study 

Money Can a Student Get?

When awarding the programs listed above, the financial aid administrator must consider other aid 

available to the student in addition to the EFC. For FSEOG, a student can receive up to $4,000 a year. 

For Federal Work-Study, a student’s total work-study award depends on when the student applies, their

level of financial need, and their school’s funding level. For maximum loan amounts, see the Do You 

Need Money for College or Career School? Apply for Federal Student Aid publication at 

StudentAid.gov/resources. 

How Much Can a Student Get in Direct Subsidized and Direct Unsubsidized Loans?

The table at StudentAid.gov/sub-unsub lists annual loan limits (the maximum loan amount that a 

student may receive for an academic year) for these loans. A first-year dependent undergraduate student 

may receive a combined maximum of $5,500 in Direct Subsidized and/or Direct Unsubsidized Loans, not 

more than $3,500 of which can be subsidized. A first-year independent undergraduate student (or a firstyear dependent undergraduate whose parent is unable to obtain a Direct PLUS Loan) may receive a

combined maximum of $9,500 in Direct Subsidized and/or Direct Unsubsidized Loans, not more than 

$3,500 of which can be subsidized. The maximum annual loan limits increase as a student progresses 

through school.

Because Direct Unsubsidized Loans are not need based, the financial aid administrator applies the 

following principles to determine a student’s eligibility:

• The amount of the loan may not exceed the difference between the student’s cost of attendance 

and all other aid the student is receiving, including aid from private and other nonfederal sources. 

• The school must consider the student’s eligibility for other aid before determining a loan amount. 

For instance, if a full-time student in their first year of study in 2022–23 had a cost of attendance 

DID YOU KNOW

The Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant and TEACH Grant programs are affected by the 

automatic federal budget cuts known as the “sequester.” Find the latest information about how 

grant amounts are affected by sequestration at StudentAid.gov/iraq-afghanistan and

StudentAid.gov/teach. 

DID YOU KNOW

There’s a maximum combined amount that a student can receive in Direct Subsidized Loan 

and/or Direct Unsubsidized Loan funds. The amount that the student is eligible to receive in 

one loan type will limit eligibility for the other loan type, but the student’s total eligibility for 

Direct Subsidized Loans and Direct Unsubsidized Loans is set by law and is based on the 

student’s dependency status and grade level.
Federal Student Aid Page 19 of 44

of $11,000 and was eligible for a maximum Federal Pell Grant of $6,895 and a maximum Direct 

Subsidized Loan of $3,500, the aid administrator could approve the student for a Direct 

Unsubsidized Loan of up to $605 ($11,000 – $6,895 – $3,500 = $605).

Part 2: Application Process for Federal Student Aid

Federal law requires the U.S. Department of Education (ED) to allow students to apply for federal student 

aid without paying a fee. To be considered for most of the federal student aid programs, a student must 

complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form. This application 

(available in English and Spanish) collects financial and other information used to calculate the Expected 

Family Contribution (EFC), which postsecondary schools use to determine the student’s eligibility for aid. 

(See pages 15–16 for a discussion of the EFC.)

States and many schools also use FAFSA information in offering funds from their own financial aid 

programs. To be considered for state or institutional aid, a student may be required to complete additional 

questions on a separate nonfederal form, and a fee might be charged for processing that additional 

information. Students should check with the schools to which they plan to apply and with their state 

agencies to find out whether additional forms are required. 

A student needs to complete the FAFSA form once each year. After the first year, a FAFSA renewal 

option may be available for subsequent years, allowing demographic data (such as name and address) 

from the student’s previous FAFSA form to be prepopulated in the subsequent year’s application.

Early Eligibility Indicator: Federal Student Aid Estimator 

What Is the Purpose of Federal Student Aid Estimator?

The Federal Student Aid Estimator is a free online tool that provides students with early estimates of their 

eligibility for federal student aid. The tool instantly calculates an estimated award amount for the Federal 

Pell Grant program. Having such information—even though it’s an estimate —helps families plan ahead 

for college or career school.

Who Should Use Federal Student Aid Estimator?

Federal Student Aid Estimator is for anyone who is not yet ready to file a FAFSA form.

How Do You Use Federal Student Aid Estimator?

A student can access Federal Student Aid Estimator at StudentAid.gov/aid-estimator. 

In Federal Student Aid Estimator, the student answers financial and other questions that are used to 

determine federal student aid eligibility. 

Note that although Federal Student Aid Estimator has a “Submit” button, the tool is just a calculator, not 

DID YOU KNOW

To access a selection of informational resources that you can use as you advise students and 

parents about the FAFSA process, visit FinancialAidToolkit.ed.gov/resources and choose 

“FAFSA” in the “Topic” dropdown in the search tool.

Remember: The Financial Aid Toolkit site is designed for your use; StudentAid.gov is the site 

for students and parents. 
Federal Student Aid Page 20 of 44

an application for aid.

Note: It’s important that students understand that the EFC and federal aid amounts provided by Federal 

Student Aid Estimator are estimates and that the student will not receive any aid without submitting a 

FAFSA form and meeting the eligibility criteria. Federal Student Aid Estimator does not save or submit the 

information the student enters.

Before Applying

Helping Students Learn About the FAFSA® Process 

FAFSA® Demonstration Site

A demonstration site is available so you can increase your own understanding of the FAFSA® site and 

show it to students and parents before they apply. At the demo site, you can complete a sample FAFSA 

form, make corrections, or check the status of the application. However, when you choose “submit,” the 

information is not actually submitted. The site is purely a learning tool. To access the demo site, go to 

fafsademo.test.ed.gov. 

Note: Keep personally identifiable information safe! Be sure not to enter information from a real person 

into the demo site.

FAFSA® Screenshots

If you’re preparing a presentation about financial aid and want to show students what fafsa.gov looks like, 

you can download PowerPoint slides with images (or “screenshots”) of FAFSA views at 

FinancialAidToolkit.ed.gov/fafsa-updates. 

Financial Aid PowerPoint Presentation

Also, on the Toolkit, there are some presentations (many with speaker notes) about federal student aid, 

along with information about planning a financial aid workshop at your school. You’ll find presentations at 

FinancialAidToolkit.ed.gov/resources and event planning tips at FinancialAidToolkit.ed.gov/hostevent. 

Getting an FSA ID

A student should create an account username and password called an FSA ID before the student applies 

for aid. Similarly, one of the dependent student’s parents whose information will be listed on the FAFSA 

form also should create their own FSA ID.

Although the student and parent will be offered the opportunity to create their FSA IDs as they fill out the 

FAFSA form online, we strongly recommend they create them ahead of time to make the application 

process more efficient. Two examples of why this is a good idea:

1. When the student creates an FSA ID, they provide their name, date of birth, and Social Security 

number. That information is then sent to the Social Security Administration (SSA) for 

DID YOU KNOW

Note that parents without Social Security numbers won’t be able to create FSA IDs but will still 

be able to fill out and manually sign FAFSA forms and complete other processes related to the

student’s federal student aid. 
Federal Student Aid Page 21 of 44

confirmation. The confirmation process takes about one to three days. If the information doesn’t 

match the SSA’s records, the discrepancies will have to be resolved, possibly delaying the 

financial aid application and awarding process. Therefore, if the student or parent thinks the SSA 

might have the wrong name or date of birth for them in its records, the student or parent should 

go—well ahead of applying for aid—to ssa.gov to find out how to correct any errors. The 

information must be correct before the FSA ID can be used for most of its purposes.

2. When the student goes to fafsa.gov to log in and selects “Start Here” and then the “I am a 

student and want to access the FAFSA form” option, the student can enter their FSA ID 

username and password. If the student already has an FSA ID and enters it at this point, the 

student’s information from the FSA ID account will be automatically filled in on the FAFSA form, 

preventing any errors or inconsistencies that could occur if the student manually entered their

information. 

Share information about the FSA ID with your students by distributing the fact sheet Creating and Using 

the FSA ID. It can be found at StudentAid.gov/resources. 

Why Does a Student Need an FSA ID?

The FSA ID can be used for the following purposes (among others):

• Applicant’s electronic signature on the FAFSA form and certain student loan contracts

• Access the applicant’s information on fafsa.gov, to view FAFSA processing results, to make 

corrections, or to renew a FAFSA form based on data the student filed previously

• Access to online information about federal student aid the student has received

Why Would a Parent Need an FSA ID?

There are two common reasons a parent would need an FSA ID:

1. To sign the student’s FAFSA form electronically

2. To electronically sign the Master Promissory Note for a Direct PLUS Loan (see page 9 for

information about PLUS loans)

At least one parent of a dependent student must sign that student’s FAFSA form. (To determine a 

student’s dependency status, see the Am I Dependent or Independent? fact sheet at 

StudentAid.gov/resources.) The FSA ID is the most efficient way to sign the FAFSA form. Because 

each person signing a FAFSA form electronically needs their own FSA ID, a dependent student’s parent 

should get an FSA ID. The parent’s FSA ID can be used to provide that parent’s signature on FAFSA 

forms for all of that parent’s children and for the parent’s own form as applicable. Remember that the 

parent must have a Social Security number to create an FSA ID.

DID YOU KNOW

In many cases, when someone contacts the Federal Student Aid Information Center to report 

problems using the FSA ID, those problems arose because someone else created the FSA ID 

for that person. If someone creates your FSA ID for you, you are much less likely to know your 

username, password, and/or answers to the challenge questions that help you retrieve your 

FSA ID if you forget it. We recommend you create your own FSA ID because an FSA ID is a 

signature and must be kept private. 
Federal Student Aid Page 22 of 44

How Do You Create an FSA ID?

As mentioned above, the student can create an FSA ID while completing the FAFSA form but might wish 

to obtain one ahead of time. There is information about the FSA ID, and a link to create the FSA ID, at 

StudentAid.gov/help-center/answers/article/how-to-create-fsa-id-username-password. 

To create an FSA ID, the student will need to complete the following main steps:

1. Access the "Create an Account (FSA ID)" page at StudentAid.gov/fsa-id/createaccount/launch. 

2. Provide their name, date of birth, and Social Security number (SSN).

3. Provide a unique username.

4. Enter their email address.

5. Provide a unique password. 

6. Provide their mailing address.

7. Provide their mobile phone number. Select the box if the student would like to register their

mobile phone to receive one-time secure codes if they forget their username or password. 

(The student will be required to either provide their email address or mobile phone number 

and opt-in to messaging before the studentcan proceed.)

8. Provide their communication preferences.

9. Select a language preference. 

10. For security purposes, complete the challenge questions and answers.

11. Confirm and verify the information.

12. Verify their email address and/or mobile phone number to enable two-step verification. 

13. Store their backup code. This code allows them to access their account in the event they 

cannot use any other two-step verification method.

The FSA ID can be used immediately to sign an original (first-time) FAFSA form. Then, within one to three 

days, the FSA ID applicant’s name, date of birth, and SSN are verified with the Social Security 

Administration (SSA). If the SSA confirms the FSA ID applicant’s information, the FSA ID is then valid for 

all its uses. If there is a problem with the SSA match, the FSA ID applicant will be notified via email if 

theyprovided a valid email address when creating the FSA ID.

What if the Student Forgets the FSA ID or Has Other Difficulties Using It?

Instructions for several scenarios are described at StudentAid.gov/helpcenter/answers/topic/managing_your_account/article/why-wont-my-fsa-id-username-andpassword-work. Here are a couple of solutions in brief:

DID YOU KNOW

Please stress to students and parents that they should enter their information carefully when 

creating an FSA ID. If an individual makes a typo when entering (for instance) their Social 

Security number or email address, the activation of the FSA ID or the processing of the 

student’s FAFSA form could be delayed. 
Federal Student Aid Page 23 of 44

• If the student is trying to log in to a page that requires the FSA ID and has forgotten their FSA ID, 

the student will find links that offer the option of retrieving the username or password through the 

student’s verified email address or mobile phone number or by successfully answering the 

challenge questions. Note: The student can log in using a verified mobile phone number or email 

address instead of the username.

• If the student gets a message saying their FSA ID is locked, the student can either have a secure 

code sent via email or text message or can answer the challenge questions to unlock the FSA ID.

What About FSA ID Security?

Two-step verification helps protect the student’s account. Each time they log in, they’ll be asked to 

provide a one-time code that is delivered via email, text message, or an authenticator app. 

The student should keep their FSA ID in a safe place and never share it with anyone, even if that person 

is helping the student fill out the FAFSA form. Revealing the FSA ID could make the student susceptible 

to identity theft. 

Note: Students can learn to avoid identity theft by reading Federal Student Aid and Identity Theft at 

StudentAid.gov/resources. 

In addition, the student will receive notifications from Federal Student Aid about changes to their account.

Gathering Documents for the FAFSA® Form

To complete the FAFSA form, students (and their parents, if applicable) need their Social Security 

numbers; driver’s licenses (optional); federal income tax returns (see page 25 to learn about automatically 

importing tax information into the FAFSA form); W-2 form(s); current bank statements; and records of any 

stocks, bonds, and other investments and assets.

You can find a list of items needed to complete the FAFSA form at StudentAid.gov/fillingout. 

FAFSA on the Web Worksheet

A tool to help prepare the student to complete the online application is the FAFSA on the Web Worksheet

(available in English and Spanish). The worksheet, designed to give applicants an idea of the questions 

they will be asked when applying online, lists many of the FAFSA questions and provides boxes for 

students’ (and parents’) answers. 

You can download the worksheet in PDF at StudentAid.gov/resources. 

Note: The worksheet is not an application and cannot be submitted to the Central Processing System. A 

student without access to the internet should call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1 800-4-

FED-AID (1-800-433-3243) to request a printout of the FAFSA PDF.

When to Apply

The FAFSA processing cycle lasts 21 months. For the 2023–24 award year (July 1, 2023, through June 

30, 2024), applications may be completed on or after Oct. 1, 2022. Processing begins Oct. 2, 2022. 

FAFSA forms for that award year will be accepted until June 30, 2024. 

Note that most states have application deadlines within the first three to six months of 2023 for students 

who want to be considered for state aid. Some states’ deadlines are even earlier, indicated as “as soon 

as possible on and after October 1 [2022].” You can check state deadlines at fafsa.gov. 

Additionally, some schools have limited institutional funds that are awarded on a “first come, first served” 

basis to eligible students. Students should fill out the FAFSA form as early as possible to maximize 

chances of being awarded first-come, first-served aid.
Federal Student Aid Page 24 of 44

How to Apply

Electronic Application Method—fafsa.gov

The online FAFSA form—available in both English and Spanish—offers detailed online help for each 

question as well as live online one-on-one communication with a customer service representative. 

Students can find information about filling out the FAFSA form at StudentAid.gov/fillingout. Note: There 

are websites where students can pay a fee to get help filing the FAFSA form. These sites are not affiliated 

with or endorsed by the U.S. Department of Education (ED). We urge you to advise your students not to 

pay these sites for assistance that is provided for free at ED’s website.

Here’s how a student gets started, depending on whether they completed a FAFSA form the previous 

year:

• A new applicant begins by selecting the “Log In” button and then “I am the student and I want 

access to the FAFSA form” on the “Tell Us About Yourself” page, and then providing either his or 

her FSA ID (strongly recommended) or his or her name, date of birth, and Social Security number 

(SSN). At the next step, the site allows the applicant to select the award year (e.g., 2023–24) for 

which they wish to submit a FAFSA form. 

• If the student completed a FAFSA form the previous year, the student should select the “Log In” 

button on the home page, choose the “I am the student and I want access to the FAFSA form” 

option, and use their FSA ID to sign in. Then the site may present a FAFSA renewal option, which 

will have certain data filled in, based on the student’s existing file.

If a parent wants to start their dependent child’s FAFSA form or renewal, the parent should select “I am a 

parent filling out a FAFSA form for a student” on the “ Tell Us About Yourself” page. This separation 

between student and parent is intended to ease the confusion around whose FSA ID to use when starting 

the FAFSA form.

The online FAFSA form contains informational text to assist the student in completing the form. “Skip 

logic” automatically omits questions that don’t apply to the student, based on how the student answered 

previous questions. (For example, if an applicant indicates that they are not married, theywon’t be asked 

about a spouse’s information) Built-in edits help students detect and correct errors before submitting the 

application to the Central Processing System (CPS); this feature significantly reduces the number of 

applications rejected by the CPS.

Filling Out a Simplified FAFSA® Form 

Certain FAFSA questions determine whether the student is eligible for the automatic assignment of an 

Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of zero. Based on their answers to those questions, applicants may 

be able to skip certain questions about income and assets.

Additionally, the Simplified Needs Test allows some students to have assets excluded from consideration 

in calculating the EFC. Based on their answers to certain questions on fafsa.gov, applicants may be able 

to skip the questions about assets. 

However, for purposes of determining eligibility for state financial aid, some states require asset and 

income information. Students who are residents of such states will be asked those questions regardless 

of their eligibility for the federal Simplified Needs Test formula or for an automatic-zero EFC. Students 

who are not residents of such states will be asked whether they want to skip the optional questions. Some 

schools, too, require the student to complete those questions to determine eligibility for institutional aid, 

so the student should check with the schools to which he or she is applying before deciding to skip those 

questions. (Providing all income and asset information will not negate the student’s eligibility for the 

Simplified Needs Test formula or for the automatic-zero EFC.)
Federal Student Aid Page 25 of 44

Automatically Retrieving Income and Tax Data

Applicants who fill out the FAFSA form online may be able to automatically transfer their income and tax 

data from the IRS into the FAFSA form via the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (IRS DRT). The tax information 

the individual transfers from the IRS into the FAFSA form will not be displayed. Instead, the label 

“Transferred from the IRS” will show in the appropriate fields on fafsa.gov, the IRS DRT web page, and 

on the Student Aid Report. Not displaying the tax information prevents potential identity thieves from 

accessing it. 

Filling Out the FAFSA® Form Without Access to Parent Information 

Dependent students are asked for information about their parents when filling out a FAFSA form. (For 

details about what determines dependency status, visit StudentAid.gov/dependency.) The online 

FAFSA form asks whether the dependent student is able to provide information about their parents. If not, 

and if the student indicates that they have special circumstances such as having left home due to an 

abusive situation, having incarcerated parents, or being homeless but not meeting the FAFSA definition 

of homeless youth, fafsa.gov allows the student to submit the application without entering data about the 

parents. 

It is important for the student to understand that although the application will be submitted, the student will 

not receive an EFC and must contact the financial aid administrator at the school the student plans to 

attend. The financial aid administrator will ask for additional information to determine whether the student 

can be considered independent and have an EFC calculated without parent data. For more information 

about dependency status and dependency overrides, see pages 35–36. 

Details about reporting parent information on the FAFSA form are at StudentAid.gov/fafsa-parent. 

Filling Out the FAFSA® Form When Parents Refuse to Provide Information

In situations in which the parent refuses to provide information on the FAFSA form and no longer 

supports the student, federal law allows the student to submit the application without parent information 

and—after review by the financial aid administrator at the student’s chosen school—potentially to receive 

DID YOU KNOW

A surprisingly common problem FAFSA® applicants have arises from entering the wrong 

person’s information on the form. For instance, a parent might provide the student’s FSA ID 

instead of the parent’s own FSA ID when trying to retrieve parent tax information using the IRS 

DRT. Please remind students and parents to read all questions and instructions and enter 

information carefully.

NOTE

We encourage you to connect homeless students with agencies that can provide an official 

determination of homelessness. An official determination will ease the path for the student, 

who’ll be able to indicate their status on the FAFSA® form and be considered an independent 

student. Dependency status is discussed on pages 35–36 of this handbook.
Federal Student Aid Page 26 of 44

only a Direct Unsubsidized Loan at dependent student levels. The student indicates on the FAFSA form 

that they wish to apply only for the unsubsidized loan. The form is then submitted without parent 

information; and the student must follow up with the financial aid administrator to find out what to do next 

to receive the loan.

If the financial aid administrator chooses, they may use “professional judgment authority” to allow the 

student to receive the loan. The financial aid administrator will ask for a written statement from the 

parents, indicating that they refuse to provide their information on the FAFSA form and that they no longer 

support the student. Forms of support include allowing the student to live in the parent’s home, including 

the student on the parent’s auto or health insurance, providing a car to drive on anything other than an 

occasional basis, and payment of the student’s tuition or fees (including via a PLUS loan or college 

savings or prepaid tuition plan).

Note: Although this flexibility will make an important difference in some students’ ability to attend 

postsecondary school, we encourage you to advise your students to think carefully before attempting to 

take advantage of it. A dependent student whose FAFSA form is submitted without parent information will 

not receive an EFC. Remember that some nonfederal aid programs look at the EFC in order to determine 

a student’s eligibility for their funds; therefore, a student without an EFC cannot be considered for those 

aid programs. Similarly, some nonfederal scholarship programs require that a student be eligible for a 

Federal Pell Grant in order to qualify; a student without an EFC cannot have Pell eligibility determined 

and therefore cannot receive funds from those programs. Please stress to students and parents that if a 

dependent student does not provide parent information on the FAFSA form, the student is giving up a 

chance at many sources of aid. Also, providing that information on the FAFSA form does not obligate the

parent(s) to pay for the student’s education.

Saving the FAFSA® Form or Sharing It With a Parent Using the Save Key

Students do not have to complete the FAFSA form in one sitting. At the beginning of the process, the 

student is asked to supply a password called a “save key.” If the student is interrupted or needs to leave 

the application before completing it, or if the site automatically logs the student off due to 15 minutes of 

inactivity, the information will be saved and will remain available via the save key for 45 days. The student 

should keep the save key in a safe place. If the student forgets the save key, the student may return to 

fafsa.gov to reset it.

A common use of the save key is the sharing of the FAFSA form between the student and parent. If the 

student and parent are in different locations and unable to complete the FAFSA form together, the 

student should start the form, put in their information, select the “Save” button, and exit; and then the 

parent can log in at fafsa.gov by entering the student’s information (NOT the student’s FSA ID) and the 

save key, and picking up where the student left off.

The save key is different from the password for the student’s FSA ID: the FSA ID allows the student to 

sign the FAFSA form or to access processed FAFSA data, whereas the save key is created solely to 

access the incomplete application at a later time. It’s okay for the student to share the save key with the 

parent.

Signing the Application With an FSA ID or Signature Page

At the end of the FAFSA form, the student (and the dependent student’s parent) signs electronically using 

their FSA ID. 

The student and parent don’t have to sign during the same session. For instance, if the student fills out 

the FAFSA form at school, at a Form Your Future event (formyourfuture.org), or at another mentoring 

event at which the parent isn’t present, the student may sign and then has a couple of options:

1. (Recommended process) After the student signs, they save the FAFSA form. Later, the

parent goes to fafsa.gov and enters the student’s identifiers (the student’s name, date of
Federal Student Aid Page 27 of 44

birth, and Social Security number). The parent also must enter the student’s save key (not 

the FSA ID; see above for information about the save key). The FAFSA form then displays 

the “Sign and Submit” page, where the parent enters their own FSA ID to sign.

2. (Alternate process) After the student signs, they indicate that the parent will sign later, and 

the student submits the FAFSA form. The parent then has 14 days in which to sign. The 

parent goes to fafsa.gov, enters the student’s identifiers and save key, accesses the “Sign 

and Submit” page, and enters their FSA ID to sign.

A student or parent without an FSA ID has the option to apply for an FSA ID, receive it instantly, and 

immediately use it to sign a first-time (original) FAFSA form. If the student or parent is unable to create an 

FSA ID due to not having an SSN, and therefore cannot use an FSA ID to sign, they should print, sign, 

and mail a signature page to the CPS. The student should be sure to submit the FAFSA form after 

printing the signature page. If the student does not sign (either electronically or with a signature page) 

within 14 days of submitting the application, or if the student indicates on the FAFSA form that theywill not 

sign via FSA ID or signature page, the student will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) in the mail 

requesting the appropriate signatures. The student (and parent, if appropriate) must sign the SAR and 

return it to the CPS before an EFC can be calculated. 

Note: See page 28–29, under “PDF Application Method,” for information about using a high school 

counselor’s or financial aid administrator’s signature instead of a parent’s signature.

Submitting the FAFSA® Form and Getting an Estimated EFC

When the student submits the FAFSA form, a confirmation page appears. The confirmation page verifies 

that the application was submitted successfully, displays an estimated EFC (unless the student is 

dependent and is submitting the FAFSA form without parent information), and indicates estimated 

amounts of Pell Grant funds and other federal aid for which the student might be eligible. The 

confirmation page also includes graduation, retention, and transfer rates for the schools the student listed 

on the FAFSA form.

From the confirmation page, the student can link to an application for aid from their state (if that state has 

made such a link available). There also is a link for the parent to begin a FAFSA form for another of that 

parent’s children; the parent’s information will be prepopulated in the new FAFSA form. Note that the link 

to prepopulate the additional application with the parent’s information is available only once, at the time 

the confirmation page appears and only if the parent is logged in under the parent role. If the additional 

student is not able to complete the FAFSA form at that time, the student can enter enough information to 

get it started, create a save key to access it later, and save it. 

It is important to note that the EFC on the confirmation page is only an estimate; the official EFC will 

appear on the SAR. Once the student’s FAFSA form has been processed, the student may view the 

official EFC results at fafsa.gov. (The student must log in using their FSA ID to access the results.) 

Note: The confirmation page is automatically emailed to the student for their records (if the student 
Federal Student Aid Page 28 of 44

provided a valid email address on the FAFSA form).

Applying Through the School

Students also may file the FAFSA form at some postsecondary schools. The student provides the 

necessary information, and the school enters the information electronically and sends it electronically to 

the Central Processing System (CPS). The student should contact the financial aid administrator at the 

school they plan to attend to ask whether this option is available at that school.

PDF Application Method

Students may print out and complete a FAFSA PDF (available at StudentAid.gov/resources for 

download; also available pre-printed, in English or Spanish, from the Federal Student Aid Information 

Center at 1-800-4-FED-AID [1-800-433-3243]) and submit it for processing. The PDF lists an address to 

which the student should send the completed application. Be sure your students do not submit FAFSA 

PDFs marked “DRAFT.” Emailed or faxed copies of the FAFSA form will not be accepted, nor will the 

FAFSA on the Web Worksheet. Students should keep a photocopy of the completed form for their own 

records.

Note: Applicants should send only the application itself to the processor. They should not send copies of 

their tax returns or any other documentation.

A high school counselor or a postsecondary school’s financial aid administrator may sign the FAFSA PDF 

in place of parents when

• the parent(s) are not currently in the United States and cannot be contacted by normal means; 

• the current address of the parent(s) is not known; or 

• the parent(s) have been determined physically or mentally incapable of providing a signature. 

Substituting the signature of a counselor or financial aid administrator is a way to move the application 

through the processing system. The counselor or financial aid administrator must provide their title in 

parentheses next to their signature and briefly state the reason they are signing for the parent(s).

By signing in place of a parent, the counselor or financial aid administrator is assuring a minimum level of 

credibility for the data submitted. However, the counselor or financial aid administrator does not assume 

NOTE

For technical assistance with the FAFSA site, students can access live online customer service 

at the site by selecting the “Help” icon and then selecting the “Federal Student Aid Information 

Center” link at the bottom of the page, or they can call the Federal Student Aid Information 

Center at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243).

DID YOU KNOW

If you're helping a student fill out the FAFSA form, you can select the "I am a preparer helping 

a student fill out his or her FAFSA form" option, where you'll be asked to enter your FSA ID. 
Federal Student Aid Page 29 of 44

any responsibility or liability in this process.

How the FAFSA® Form Is Processed

FAFSA data is transmitted to Federal Student Aid’s Central Processing System (CPS). The CPS uses this 

information to calculate the Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The student will receive a printed output 

document (either a Student Aid Report [SAR] or a SAR Acknowledgement) or an email with instructions 

on how to access the SAR from the CPS within a few days to three weeks of submitting the FAFSA form, 

depending on a variety of factors (see table on page 31). Descriptions of the SAR and SAR 

Acknowledgement are on pages 32–33. Because the two documents serve almost the same purpose, for 

simplicity’s sake we refer to “the SAR” to mean “one of these two output documents” throughout most of 

this chapter.

When processing the application, the CPS uses a series of edits to check the consistency of FAFSA 

information. For instance, it would be inconsistent for an independent student to report that he or she is 

single and has no dependents but then to report a household size of two or more people. If the FAFSA 

responses are inconsistent, the CPS might be unable to calculate the EFC or might calculate an EFC 

based on assumptions. If assumptions have been used, they are indicated on the student’s SAR; the 

student must make sure the assumptions are correct. The SAR includes instructions for making 

corrections.

Data Matches

In addition to checking the FAFSA data against predetermined edits, the CPS also performs several 

database matches. If discrepancies arise, the student’s record is flagged and the student may not be 

eligible to receive federal student aid until the discrepancy is resolved. Resolving such a discrepancy 

usually requires the student to submit additional documentation to the school to which they are applying. 

The SAR includes the appropriate instructions for the student.

Social Security Administration (SSA) Matches

The CPS matches FAFSA data against SSA records to check the validity of a student’s Social Security 

number (SSN). If the SSN is invalid, the student will receive a SAR with a comment instructing them to 

review the SSN and explaining how to resolve the discrepancy. The student also will receive a SAR 

comment if the SSN is a valid number but the name or date of birth reported on the FAFSA form doesn’t 

match the SSA’s records. The student must resolve the discrepancy before they can receive federal 

student aid. Resolution can be achieved by correcting the information if it is incorrect or reentering the 

information if it is correct. The student also might receive a SAR with similar comments if some or all of 

the parent’s information doesn’t match the SSA’s database. For advice about the best course of action, a 

student should follow the guidance on the SAR or contact the financial aid administrator at the school

they plan to attend.

If the student indicates on the FAFSA form that they are a U.S. citizen, ED also conducts a match with the 

SSA to verify U.S. citizenship status. The results of the citizenship match appear on the student’s SAR. 

When a student’s reported data conflict with the SSA’s database—or when no citizenship match can be 

performed—the SAR will indicate that there is a conflict. The student must then provide the school with 

documentation confirming U.S. citizenship status. 

The SSA database match also checks whether the SSA has a date of death listed for the person with that 

SSN. The match is intended to detect when someone might be fraudulently attempting to receive federal 

student aid.
Federal Student Aid Page 30 of 44

Department of Homeland Security Match

The CPS also matches FAFSA records against citizenship records maintained by the U.S. Department of 

Homeland Security (DHS). If the student reports on the FAFSA form that they are an eligible noncitizen 

(and, therefore, could be eligible for federal student aid) and reports an Alien Registration number, that 

information is checked against the database maintained by the DHS. If the match does not confirm the 

student is an eligible noncitizen, the studentwill receive a comment on the SAR and will have to submit 

their immigration documentation to the school. A student is not eligible for federal student aid until their

status as an eligible noncitizen is resolved.

National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS®) Match

The CPS also matches FAFSA data with the NSLDS® database, which identifies students who have 

defaulted on any federal student loans. If a student is found to be in default and hasn’t made satisfactory 

arrangements to repay, the student will receive a comment on the SAR. A student isn’t eligible for federal 

student aid until the default status is resolved. The NSLDS match also reveals whether a student owes a 

refund due to overpayment of a federal student grant, as well as simply reporting a history of any federal 

student aid received by the student in the past.

Other Matches

The CPS also performs a match against veteran status information maintained by the U.S. Department of 

Veterans Affairs (for students who say they are veterans). There also is a match against a Department of 

Defense database to identify students who may be eligible either for a maximum Pell Grant or for an 

award under the Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant Program (see page 8). Finally, students who have 

been convicted of drug offenses in U.S. courts and sentenced to debarment of federal funds are identified 

by matches with Department of Justice records. 

What to Expect After Applying

Checking the Status of a FAFSA® Form 

After filing (either electronically or on paper), a student can check the processing status or any corrections 

made to their FAFSA form at fafsa.gov by logging in. 

A student without access to the internet can check the status of the FAFSA form by calling 

1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243) and answering questions asked by an automated system. 

Where the Processor Sends the FAFSA® Information

Within 72 hours after the CPS receives a completed application and signature, schools listed on the 

student’s FAFSA form have access to the student’s information. The schools download the processed 

FAFSA data in electronic format on a report called an Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR). 

The CPS also sends the student’s information to the state agency (or agencies) in the student’s state of 

legal residence and to the state agencies of the states in which the schools listed on the FAFSA form are 

located. This maximizes the student’s chances of receiving state-based and school-based financial aid.

NOTE

Only the student’s information is matched with DHS records. The parents’ citizenship status is 

not taken into account on the student’s FAFSA form.
Federal Student Aid Page 31 of 44

What the Student Receives After Applying

Each applicant receives an output document—either a Student Aid Report (SAR) (paper or electronic) or 

SAR Acknowledgement. 

• If the student’s information isn’t confirmed by the SSA, they will receive a SAR. 

• To determine which document the student will receive if the information is confirmed, consult the 

table below. 

• If an email to the student is returned as undeliverable, a paper output document will be sent. 

• If the student fills out a Spanish FAFSA form, the output document also will be in Spanish.

Type of FAFSA 

form submitted

Email

supplied? 

Type of SAR received When SAR arrives (at latest)*

FAFSA form

submitted at 

fafsa.gov

Yes Email link to SAR information 

online

If FAFSA form signed with FSA ID(s): 

3–5 days; if signature page used: 2 

weeks

FAFSA submitted No Paper SAR Acknowledgement If FAFSA form signed with FSA ID(s): 

7–10 days; if signature page used: 2 

weeks

FAFSA form

submitted by school

Yes Email link to online SAR 3–5 days

FAFSA submitted 

by school

No Paper SAR Acknowledgement 7–10 days

FAFSA PDF Yes Email link to online SAR 

2 weeks

Paper FAFSA No Paper SAR 3 weeks

Corrections at 

fafsa.gov

Yes Email link to online SAR 1–5 days (If changes don’t require 

data match, updated SAR 

immediately available at fafsa.gov) 

Corrections at 

No

Paper SAR Acknowledgement 7–10 days (If changes don’t require 

data match, updated SAR 

immediately available at fafsa.gov)

*The time frames in this table indicate how long it takes for the SAR to arrive after the FAFSA form is 

submitted.

DID YOU KNOW

The Institutional Student Information Record does not show a school the other schools the 

student listed on the FAFSA form.

State agencies do see the full list of schools the student entered.
Federal Student Aid Page 32 of 44

See Part 1 of this handbook (“How Is Financial Need Determined?” on pages 15–16) for a description of 

the procedure a school’s financial aid office uses to determine the offer of aid for a student. Most schools 

won’t send the student an aid offer until the student has applied for admission and been accepted.

Reviewing the SAR and SAR Acknowledgement 

A student can review their SAR at fafsa.gov. A student also can request a paper copy of the SAR by 

calling the Federal Student Aid Information Center (FSAIC) at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243). 

The student doesn’t need to take or send the SAR to a school that has already received the student’s 

Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and FAFSA information electronically on the Institutional Student 

Information Record. If a student wants an additional school to receive the information, the student can 

add that school to the list (see page 34–35) or give the school permission to add itself. The school must 

receive the student’s information through one of the above methods before the student may receive 

federal student aid at that school.

Student Aid Report (SAR) 

Viewing SAR Information Online

Once the FAFSA form is processed, a link to the electronic SAR is sent to the student if they supplied a 

valid email address on the FAFSA form. Applicants with FSA IDs can log in at fafsa.gov to view SAR 

information. The SAR is available via the “My FAFSA” page, after logging in to the FAFSA site, whether 

the student applied electronically or not and whether the student provided an email address or not. 

The student can view the SAR by selecting on the “View SAR” button on the “My FAFSA” page the 

student sees upon logging on to the FAFSA site. The SAR will be in HTML but will provide an option to 

view it in PDF. The following description refers to the PDF version.

Unless the student’s SAR is identified as needing corrections or additional information, the EFC appears 

on the front page at the upper right. The SAR tells the student whether they are eligible for a Pell Grant 

and explains that the school’s financial aid office will determine the student’s eligibility for other aid.

The Data Release Number (DRN) also is found at the upper right of the SAR. The student will need the 

DRN if they want to add a school to their record by having a school add itself electronically or by calling 

the Federal Student Aid Information Center (FSAIC). When the student provides the DRN to the financial 

aid administrator or the FSAIC, the student is providing permission for the financial aid administrator or 

the FSAIC to access their application record. Alternatively, as noted on page 34–35, the student can use 

their FSA ID to log in and add schools at fafsa.gov. 

The SAR provides a summary showing the information the student supplied on the FAFSA form (with the 

exception of any tax return information imported via the IRS Data Retrieval Tool [IRS DRT]; see page 25). 

The SAR instructs the student to enter any necessary corrections in the fields provided in the “Make 

Corrections” section of fafsa.gov (see pages 33–36).

Finally, the SAR displays a section of data from the National Student Loan Data System, listing any 

federal student aid the student previously received.

Paper SAR

The paper SAR is laid out similarly to the electronic SAR, with the EFC and DRN at the top and the bulk 

of the document taken up by the summary of FAFSA data. Any data elements questioned by the CPS are 

highlighted in bold type, and there is space for the student to correct the information (with the exception of 

tax return information imported via the IRS DRT) if necessary. The student then must mail the SAR to the 

CPS for processing.
Federal Student Aid Page 33 of 44

SAR Acknowledgement 

A paper acknowledgement is sent when the student applies electronically but doesn’t supply a valid email 

address. The SAR Acknowledgement allows the student to review the processed FAFSA information and 

results. If changes or corrections are needed, they must be made at fafsa.gov (using the FSA ID to 

access the student’s data) or through the school, or the student may request a paper SAR to make a 

correction. 

Rejected SAR

If a student receives a rejected SAR, the form (or the “My FAFSA” page on the FAFSA site) will specify 

information the applicant must provide before the CPS can determine their eligibility. A rejected SAR 

doesn’t include an EFC. A rejected SAR is sent when an application (a) has inconsistent or insufficient 

data to calculate an EFC, (b) lacks required signatures, or (c) has an invalid student SSN or—in the case 

of a dependent student—lacks a valid SSN for at least one parent.

Note: If you want to ensure your students receive the aid for which they are eligible, we suggest that you 

urge them to read all directions carefully and ask for help if they need it. They must complete the FAFSA 

process before they can receive aid. You should particularly stress the errors listed above that will cause 

a rejected SAR.

Verification

The effectiveness of the federal student aid programs depends on the accuracy of the data reported by 

applicants, directly affecting the eligibility of millions of students. Because of this, the CPS follows 

procedures established by federal regulations to select students for a process called verification.

The CPS places an asterisk next to the EFC on the SAR to identify students who have been selected for 

verification. Additionally, a comment on the first page of the SAR informs the student that the student has 

been selected. A code also is provided on the Institutional Student Information Record sent to schools. If 

the student is selected for verification, a school’s financial aid administrator will check the information the 

student reported on the FAFSA form, usually by requesting documentation that confirms the FAFSA data. 

Many schools also select applications to be verified in addition to those selected by the CPS. 

If a student is selected for verification, the school will contact the student to indicate what documentation 

the student must submit to the school and by what date. The student should be sure to provide all 

documentation promptly. It’s unlikely that the school will process financial aid for the student until the 

required documentation is received.

If a student uses the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (IRS DRT), they might not have to verify financial and tax

information. If the student doesn’t use the IRS DRT and is selected for verification, they may have to 

submit a tax return or tax transcript. Information about obtaining tax transcripts can be found at 

irs.gov/transcript. 

Making Changes

There are situations in which the student will have to change information that was reported on the 

application. This might involve correcting errors or updating certain information.

Corrections and Updating 

Errors may occur if the student enters incorrect information on the FAFSA form. The student must correct 

this information so it’s accurate as of the day the FAFSA form was originally signed.

What Information May (and May Not) Be Changed

The student must update a change in 
Federal Student Aid Page 34 of 44

• dependency status (see discussion on pages 35–36); 

• the number of family members in the household (must be updated only if the student is selected 

for verification); and 

• the number of family members enrolled in postsecondary schools (must be updated only if the 

student is selected for verification). 

Note: If the student’s dependency status changes as a result of a change in marital status, the student 

must speak to the financial aid office to determine whether the student may update the FAFSA form.

The student may not update income or asset information to reflect changes to the family’s financial 

situation that took place after the FAFSA form was filed. For example, if the student’s family spent some 

of their savings after filing the FAFSA form, the student may not update their information to show a 

change in the family’s assets.

The student should speak to the school’s financial aid office directly if there will be a significant change in 

the family’s income for the present year or if the family has other special circumstances that can’t be 

reported on the FAFSA form. (See page 36.)

How to Make Changes

The student can quickly and easily correct or update information by logging in at fafsa.gov. Any student 

with an FSA ID can access their data online, whether the student applied electronically or on paper.

The FSA ID the student uses to access the data acts as an electronic signature. If a dependent student 

changes information about their parent(s), one of those parents must sign electronically using the parent’s 

own FSA ID or must sign a signature page.

A student who didn’t provide an email address on the FAFSA form will be able to add it on the site and 

will then receive any emails relevant to his or her account. 

If a student makes changes that don’t require the CPS to perform a data match, the changes will be made 

immediately, and the student can view the online SAR information immediately. If a data match is 

required, the student’s SAR will be available once the match is complete and the changes are processed. 

A student without internet access can make corrections using a paper SAR or can ask the school to 

transmit corrections electronically using its access to the CPS. Even if the student didn’t originally apply 

through the school, a school may still be able to make the corrections electronically if the student takes 

the corrected information to the school. 

The student’s corrections will be made available automatically to the schools listed on the FAFSA form.

Adding a School 

If a student wants to make their FAFSA information available to an additional school after their FAFSA 

form is processed, they can add a school by doing the following steps:

1. Go to fafsa.gov. 

DID YOU KNOW

The online FAFSA form allows the student to change all data elements except the Social 

Security number and any tax information transferred using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT). 

Tax information transferred via the IRS DRT cannot be corrected except by the financial aid 

office at a college or career school.
Federal Student Aid Page 35 of 44

2. Select the “Log In” button and enter their FSA ID.

3. Select their role.

4. On the “My FAFSA®” page, select “Add/Change Schools” and then select “Continue.”

5. Create a save key.

6. Change your information.

7. Submit your information. 

The student can also use the paper SAR to add the new school. Alternatively, the student may call FSAIC 

to add the school or may give the school permission to add itself. In these cases, the student will need to 

provide the DRN from the SAR.

Note: No more than 10 schools can be listed on the student’s FAFSA form at one time. (The FAFSA PDF 

has space for only four schools, while fafsa.gov allows 10 to be listed.) When a student adds an eleventh 

school, the new school code overwrites a previous school code. The student can choose which school to 

remove; on the FAFSA site, the student inserts the new school code in the field where the code of the 

school to be removed appears, thus deleting the old code. On the paper SAR, the student crosses out the 

old school code and writes in the new one. The school removed from the list will not have automatic 

access to any new information.

Dependency Status and Overrides 

Most students entering a postsecondary school straight from high school are considered financially 

dependent on their parents. This means their parents must provide information on the FAFSA form. 

(Pages 25–26 of this handbook explain how a student without access to parent information can fill out the 

FAFSA form.)

Dependency status is determined by criteria specified in the law. To help students understand 

dependency status and whose information to report on the FAFSA, give them copies of Am I Dependent 

or Independent? and Who Is My “Parent” When I Fill Out the FAFSA Form? fact sheets (available at 

StudentAid.gov/resources).

In special circumstances, a financial aid administrator can override the student’s dependency status on 

the FAFSA form.

A student can’t be determined to be independent just because

• the parents don’t want to provide information on the FAFSA form due to privacy concerns;

• the parents don’t feel it’s their responsibility to provide financial assistance for college or career 

school;

• the parents no longer claim the student as a dependent on their taxes; or

• the student no longer lives at home and/or demonstrates total self-sufficiency. 

The student should contact the financial aid administrator at their college or career school to discuss 

dependency status if the student 

• has no contact with the parents and doesn’t know where they are (and the student hasn’t been 

adopted by someone else); 

• has left home due to an abusive situation; or 

• is older than 21 but not yet 24, is unaccompanied (not in the physical custody of a parent or 

guardian), and 

• is either homeless or self-supporting and at risk of being homeless.
Federal Student Aid Page 36 of 44

The lists above are examples and are not to be taken as complete and definitive. A financial aid 

administrator is required to assess situations on a case-by-case basis and then make any adjustments to 

the FAFSA form based upon special circumstances that the student can appropriately document. 

The best thing you can do to help a student who believes he or she should be considered independent is 

to encourage the student to gather as much written evidence as possible and to provide it to the financial 

aid office at the school they plan to attend. Documentation to support a request for independent status 

could include a letter from a third party (such as, a social worker or a member of the clergy) who knows 

the student’s situation.

Note: Students should be aware that the school isn’t required to perform dependency overrides, and if the 

financial aid administrator determines that an override isn’t appropriate, the decision cannot be appealed 

to the U.S. Department of Education.

Adjustments Due to Unusual Financial Circumstances

In some circumstances, the financial aid administrator may choose to adjust certain items on the FAFSA 

form to account for financial difficulties. The student should contact the financial aid administrator at 

theircollege or career school to discuss his or her situation if

• the family has unusually large medical bills or nursing home expenses that are not covered by 

insurance, 

• the family is paying unusually high elementary or secondary school tuition or dependent care 

expenses, or

• the student or a parent has recently lost his or her job.

As with the examples in our discussion of dependency overrides, the list above is not to be taken as 

complete and definitive. A financial aid administrator is required to assess situations on a case-by-case 

basis and then make any adjustments to the FAFSA form based upon special circumstances that the 

student can appropriately document. 

A student who has unusual financial circumstances should gather as much written evidence as possible 

and provide it to the financial aid office at the school they plan to attend. Unusual financial circumstances 

might be demonstrated with items such as medical or childcare bills or with proof of the loss of 

employment of a family member.

Please make it clear to students that the financial aid administrator isn’t required to adjust financial 

elements on the FAFSA form. The financial aid administrator’s decision is final and cannot be appealed to 

the U.S. Department of Education.

2023–24 Deadlines 

Here are some important deadlines and timeframes for the 2023–24 application cycle for students and 

schools. A 2023–24 FAFSA form must be submitted to the application processor no earlier than Oct. 1, 

2022, and received no later than June 30, 2024. 

Note: State-imposed deadlines for state-funded aid appear on both the FAFSA site and the FAFSA PDF. 

Schools often have their own deadlines for federal campus-based and school financial aid. 

The following actions are expected to have a deadline in mid-September 2024: 

• corrections made and received by the Central Processing System (CPS) 

• signature pages signed and received by the CPS

• duplicate Student Aid Reports (SARs) requested
Federal Student Aid Page 37 of 44

The following actions are expected to have deadlines in late September 2024: 

• the school receives the SAR or Institutional Student Information Record (deadline is the late 

September date or the date the student is no longer enrolled for that award year, whichever is 

earlier)

• verification of the student’s information is completed (deadline is the late September date, 120 

days after the student’s last day of enrollment, or the deadline the school sets, whichever is 

earliest)

Verification is considered complete for Federal Pell Grants when the school receives a valid SAR, SAR 

Acknowledgement, or Institutional Student Information Record on which all information used to calculate 

the EFC is correct. Therefore, although a student has 120 days or until the September 2024 deadline to 

provide documentation, the student also must have any corrections processed by this deadline. Note that 

the disbursement of funds from certain other programs might be restricted to shorter periods.

Part 3: Completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid

(FAFSA®) Form

As mentioned in Part 2 of this handbook, if a student wishes to receive federal student aid to attend a 

postsecondary school, the student must complete the FAFSA® form. Many states and schools also rely 

on FAFSA information to award their state and institutional student aid funds. 

Please be sure your students understand that a student shouldn’t pay to have the FAFSA form completed 

or processed. If the student is asked to pay a fee for help with the application, they should remember that 

free advice on student aid is widely available and should consider what services are being offered by the 

company charging the fee. Encourage students to consult a high school or TRIO counselor, a college 

financial aid administrator, or the Federal Student Aid Information Center (FSAIC) before paying for 

advice or an application service.

A student can complete and submit the FAFSA form electronically (see Part 2 of this handbook) at 

fafsa.gov. 

A student also can submit the FAFSA form electronically by asking the financial aid administrator at the 

school to transmit the information on their behalf. Not all schools have this capability. 

If neither of these options is available, a student can print out and complete a FAFSA PDF (see page 28–

29) and mail it to the address specified on that version of the FAFSA. The FAFSA PDF is available at

StudentAid.gov/resources. 

Pointers for Completing the FAFSA® Form

The FAFSA PDF for 2023–24 is on white paper with yellow and purple highlights. Yellow sections are for 

students to complete; purple sections are for parents to complete. 

The FAFSA on the Web Worksheet is available for applicants who want to fill out the FAFSA form online 

but prefer to jot down their answers on paper first. The worksheet lists only the questions that the majority 

of applicants will need to prepare to fill out the online FAFSA form. You can find the FAFSA on the Web 

Worksheet in PDF at StudentAid.gov/resources. If you want to see every FAFSA question, download a 

FAFSA PDF at StudentAid.gov/resources. 

To avoid mistakes and delays in processing, it’s crucial that students and parents carefully read and 

follow all directions on the FAFSA form. Help with the application is available via a live, one-on-one online 

“chat” with a customer service representative as the student completes the FAFSA form at fafsa.gov. To 

access this feature, the student should select the “Help” icon and then select the “Federal Student Aid 
Federal Student Aid Page 38 of 44

Information Center” link at the bottom of the page. Students who fill out the PDF form may call the 

Federal Student Aid Information Center for help at 1 800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243).

General Student Information

Purpose: This section of the FAFSA form collects information used to track and identify a student (name, 

Social Security number [SSN], and so on) as well as other information that affects a student’s basic 

eligibility for federal (or state and some institutional) student aid. For instance, a student must report 

citizenship status in Question 14 because the student must be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen to 

receive federal student aid.

Student Income and Tax Information

The income and tax items collect information on the “base year.” The base year for applicants for 2023–

24 is the 2021 calendar year. Line references to the 2021 federal tax forms from the IRS are provided.

Student Dependency Status

Purpose: The items in this step determine whether a student is a dependent student or an independent 

student for purposes of calculating the Expected Family Contribution (EFC). If the student indicates that 

one or more of these criteria apply, the student is classified as an independent student, even if the 

student is still living with their parents. If the student isn’t living with theirparents but doesn’t meet any of 

the criteria, the student is dependent and must include their parents’ information on the FAFSA form. See 

pages 25–26 if you’re working with a student who has no access to their parents or whose parents refuse 

to provide their information on the FAFSA form.

A school’s financial aid administrator has the authority to override a student’s dependency status on the 

initial application or by correcting the Student Aid Report if the financial aid administrator decides that a 

dependent student should be considered an independent student. The financial aid administrator’s 

decision is final and cannot be appealed to the U.S. Department of Education. For more information 

regarding dependency overrides, see pages 35–36. 

Parent Information

Purpose: These items collect information about a dependent student’s parents, their income and taxes, 

and their household. 

Note: A portion—and only a portion—of the parents’ income and assets is included in the Expected 

Family Contribution as being available for the student’s education costs. 

Before completing the “Parent Information” section, the student should understand who is considered a 

parent for purposes of the FAFSA form. For your convenience, we have provided a fact sheet titled Who 

Is My “Parent” When I Fill Out the FAFSA Form? at StudentAid.gov/resources. We encourage you to 

use it as a reference and to distribute it to students.

Many students have questions about the parent information section of the FAFSA form because they do

not consider their parent(s) to be their primary source of support. Perhaps the student lives with another 

relative and is no longer in touch with their parents, or perhaps the student left home due to an abusive 

situation and has been self-supporting for years. In cases such as these, the student should contact the 

financial aid administrator at the school they plan to attend. If the student reports a (nonparent) relative’s 

information or simply leaves this section blank, processing of student aid could be delayed. Please 

remind the student that any decision made by the financial aid administrator regarding dependency status 

is final and cannot be appealed to the U.S. Department of Education. (See pages 35–36 and 25–26 for 

more information about dependency status, special circumstances, and submitting the FAFSA form 

without parent information.)
Federal Student Aid Page 39 of 44

Colleges to Receive Information 

Purpose: These questions collect information about which postsecondary schools the student is 

interested in attending. The Central Processing System (CPS) will send the student’s information (except 

for the list of schools) to each school listed.

Note: The CPS will send data to no more than 10 schools at a time for one student. For example, if a 

student originally listed 10 schools on the application, then replaced some or all 10 schools with new 

schools, then updated or corrected information on the Student Aid Report or fafsa.gov, only the remaining 

set of schools would automatically receive the updated or corrected data.
Federal Student Aid Page 40 of 44

Appendix A: Sources of Additional Information

Useful Websites

Sites for Students

StudentAid.gov 

Our StudentAid.gov website offers students and their families free information on choosing a career, 

selecting a school, identifying resources to pay for school, and repaying federal student loans. Simply 

worded explanations are supplemented by videos and infographics to clearly present important topics.

Other Student Sites

• Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) site—The official online application is at

fafsa.gov. 

• Link for creating an FSA ID (account username and password)—Students can create an FSA ID 

at StudentAid.gov/fsa-id/create-account/launch. 

• Federal school codes (to be entered on the FAFSA form) can be found at StudentAid.gov/fafsaapp/FSCsearch. 

• College Navigator allows the student to search a database of more than 7,000 colleges and 

universities by name, location, program, degree offerings, or a combination of criteria. It is at

nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator. 

• Education and training for individuals with disabilities—try these sites:

o Vocational rehabilitation state agency list at rsa.ed.gov. 

o Information about disability programs and services nationwide at

dol.gov/agencies/odep/topics. 

• Tax Information for Students—Has federal income tax credit information and other useful 

information for students at irs.gov/individuals/students. 

• AmeriCorps—Details about a variety of national service options and how students can earn 

financial awards to be used for education are at americorps.gov. 

• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services financial aid for college or professional school is 

described at hhs.gov/programs/education-and-training/index.html. 

• GI Bill benefits—The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers extensive information about 

education benefits for veterans and their families at benefits.va.gov/gibill. 

o Montgomery GI Bill–Active Duty 

o Montgomery GI Bill–Selected Reserve 

o Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program (DEA) 

o Veterans Educational Assistance Program (VEAP) 

o Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP) 

o Post-9/11 GI Bill 

• U.S. Army assistance in return for active duty—Visit goarmy.com/benefits/educationbenefits.html.

• Navy education programs—Visit navy.com/what-to-expect/education-opportunities. 
Federal Student Aid Page 41 of 44

• Air Force education programs—Visit airforce.com/education. 

• Marine Corps education programs—Visit marines.com/search.html?q=education. 

• State grant agencies—A list is at www.ed.gov/sgt. 

• Scholarship scam avoidance—A student considering using a for-fee scholarship advice service 

can research the company on the Better Business Bureau website at bbb.org. 

• Scholarship scam complaints—A student who has been a victim of financial aid fraud should 

complain to all of the following entities:

o The Better Business Bureau at bbb.org

o The Federal Trade Commission at ftc.gov/scholarshipscams

o The U.S. Department of Education Office of Inspector General at oighotline.ed.gov

o The U.S. Postal Inspection Service Fraud Complaint Unit (if the company’s offer arrived 

by mail) at uspis.gov

o A state attorney general’s office, which will be listed at naag.org

• Occupational Outlook Handbook—An encyclopedia of careers describing a range of occupations. 

Students can learn what to expect from a job, including the nature of the work, training needed, 

and earnings. A free search is at https://www.bls.gov/ooh. 

Sites for Counselors and Mentors

• Financial Aid Toolkit—Provides federal student aid information especially for high school 

counselors and other college access mentors. Offers access to publications, training information, 

announcements, PowerPoint presentations, and ways to promote federal student aid and college 

access. Visit the site at FinancialAidToolkit.ed.gov. 

• FAFSA demonstration site—Allows counselors to increase their own understanding of the FAFSA 

site and to show it to students and parents before they apply. To access the demo site, go to

fafsademo.test.ed.gov. 

• College Affordability and Transparency Center—Includes statistics on schools with the highest 

and lowest costs, state appropriations for higher education, and for-profit schools receiving more 

than 90 percent of their revenue from federal student aid. Find this information at

collegecost.ed.gov. 

• FSA Training Center is a comprehensive introductory web-based course that teaches the 

concepts and procedures involved in managing the federal student aid programs. To access FSA 

Training Center, go to fsatraining.ed.gov. 

• TRIO program information—The TRIO programs help prepare disadvantaged students for 

successful entry into, retention in, and completion of postsecondary education. TRIO information 

is at www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/trio. 

• GEAR UP information—Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs 

(GEAR UP) is an early-intervention initiative designed to encourage low-income students to have 

high expectations, stay in school, study hard, and take the right courses to prepare for college. 

Learn more about GEAR UP at www.ed.gov/gearup. 

• FSA Partner Connect Knowledge Center—A library of federal student aid information geared 

toward college financial aid administrators. High school, TRIO, and GEAR UP counselors who 

regularly help students apply for aid may find the Federal Student Aid Handbook particularly 
Federal Student Aid Page 42 of 44

useful, especially in finding detailed information about student eligibility criteria. FSA Partner 

Connect Knowledge Center is at fsapartners.ed.gov/knowledge-center. 

Sites for Parents

• The “Parents of Students” page at StudentAid.gov links to information on saving for college or 

career school, borrowing for college, and tax benefits for education. The page is at 

StudentAid.gov/parent. 

• The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority provides information on 529 plans and other ways to 

save for college at finra.org/investors/learn-to-invest/types-investments/saving-foreducation. 

Free Informational Materials

A number of publications about federal student aid are available for counselors and mentors on the 

Financial Aid Toolkit website. The topics listed below (among others) are covered in such formats as fact 

sheets, videos, infographics, booklets, PowerPoint presentations, sample tweets and/or Facebook posts, 

and more, in a searchable library at FinancialAidToolkit.ed.gov/resources. (Note that students should 

visit StudentAid.gov/resources to access materials appropriate for them.)

• Preparing for college or career school 

• Information needed for the FAFSA form

• Dependency status for the FAFSA form

• Who counts as the dependent FAFSA applicant’s parent (and therefore who should provide 

information on the FAFSA form) in cases of divorce, remarriage, absent parents, etc.

• Responsible borrowing

• Federal student loan repayment plans

One-on-One Help: The Federal Student Aid Information Center

For information on any federal student aid program discussed in this handbook, you or your students may 

email or call the Federal Student Aid Information Center (FSAIC):

• Email: customerservice@studentaid.gov

• Chat: StudentAid.gov/help-center/contact

• Toll-free number for questions about federal student aid: 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243) 

The FSAIC helps callers by

• helping complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form;

• explaining the Student Aid Report (SAR) produced from the FAFSA form and how to make 

corrections;

• checking on the processing status of the FAFSA form;

• changing the student’s address or the schools that receive the student’s information (the student 

will need the Data Release Number [DRN] from the SAR or SAR Acknowledgement);

• explaining who is eligible for federal student aid;

• explaining how federal student aid is awarded and paid; and
Federal Student Aid Page 43 of 44

• mailing a printed-out copy of the FAFSA PDF in English, Spanish, or Braille.

The FSAIC is NOT able to

• make policy,

• expedite the federal student aid application process,

• discuss a student’s federal student aid file with an unauthorized person, or

• influence an individual school’s financial aid policies.
Federal Student Aid Page 44 of 44

Appendix B: Abbreviations

COA cost of attendance

CPS Central Processing System

DHS U.S. Department of Homeland Security

DRN Data Release Number

ED U.S. Department of Education

EFC Expected Family Contribution

FAFSA Free Application for Federal Student Aid

FSAIC Federal Student Aid Information Center

FSEOG Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant

FWS Federal Work-Study

GEAR UP Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs

GED General Educational Development [certificate]

HHS U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

IRS Internal Revenue Service

IRS DRT Internal Revenue Service Data Retrieval Tool

ISIR Institutional Student Information Record

NSLDS National Student Loan Data System

ROTC Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (when ROTC appears alone, often refers specifically to 

Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps)

RSA Rehabilitation Services Administration

SAR Student Aid Report

SSA Social Security Administration

SSN Social Security number

TEACH Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (as in TEACH Grant)

TRIO not an abbreviation; see www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/trio for information on the 

programs

VA U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs