FAFSA Completion Tools

Hi guys, welcome to our rock. The Fasa Webinar Series this month here in October at the uas campus for doing this virtual so that we can make him to you wherever you are. Today's topic is faster completion tools.

So just a couple of housekeeping things.

And you'll see that here on your screen here during this presentation you can see us, but we can't see you if at any point during this presentation you have a question, Please send it via the chat. We have missed me. Conroe are scholarship coordinator moderating the chat and still be watching that throughout the presentation. And then at the Q&A session at the end, will go through those for you and we can walk through those. And I'm trying answer your questions, and if not, we can set up a one on one appointment to discuss those. This presentation is being recorded and will be made available to you afterwards, and so that you can share with your friends if they weren't able to be here.

And all students who complete their fast so will be entered into a drawing to win one of five $1000 scholarships for the 2021-2022 academic year.

Attendees of our webinars series will also be entertaining a rock. The fasted door prize.

So as I said, today's topic is tools for completing the facts are presented myself. Miss Debbie Beckham and then Tammy Conroe are scholarship coordinator is a modern chat.

So before the tools we, let's talk about the material. So what is the faster? The faster is the free application for federal student aid and it's the application that you complete in order to be eligible for Pell Grant federal student loans, federal grants and work study.

Everyone should complete the FAFSA regardless if you think you're going to be eligible for federal student aid. Several different scholarships rely on your need that is calculated by the fast. If so, you should definitely complete the faster every year regardless if you believe you're eligible for Phil Grant, etc.

A facet is free, so there's no there should be no reason that you can't complete it as 'cause you're not having to pay for it.

And then your faster data is private. That information is only eligible to see by federal student aid disclosure left on your Fasa and some demographic data will appear to state agencies that need to know if you've completed it or not.

Tool number one. the FSA ID.

So the FSA ID is your account with federal student aid.

Your portal to all things federal student aid before, during and after school.

You know your login here. Federal student aid dashboard and it's also your way in your parents way of signing your FAFSA electronically.

Parents and students need one, especially if.

You're a student completing the FAFSA. Apparent signing the FAFSA, or apparent filling out for a parent plus loan application.

And then anyone with a valid United States Social Security number is eligible to have an FSA ID.

On some frequently asked questions is how often will I use this? You'll use at least once a year when you complete the bathtub, but you could use it more, especially if you're even complete entrance counseling or log into studentaid.gov or sign any documents there.

If you've gotten married since creating your FSA ID, you do need to update it to your married name so that it matches with. So Security Administration an matches with your universities data system.

Um?

If you're a parent, you'll only need one federal student aid ID or FSA ID because it's hard to your Social Security number and so you can use that one FC ID to sign many faxes or many parent plus loans. Whatever you needed to sign for your students.

So tool #2 is the IRS data retrieval tool.

This is for students and parents, but data retrieval tool is a tool that you can use in the facet that will allow you to pull data from the IRS directly into your FAFSA application. One thing that's really cool about that is there's a lot of fields that you have to enter directly from your taxes and this will do that for you, and it's a very secure method of transfer.

Anyone who has previously filed taxes using a valid Social Security number and it's not a victim of identity theft and his marital status has not changed since filing is eligible to use the data retrieval tool.

Your information is very safe when being transferred using the IRS DRT. Securely transferred between the Internal Revenue Service or IRS and federal student aid, or FSA your data. Once imported, will be masked from viewing during the application process to protect your privacy.

And now Miss Debbie is going to tell you bout till 3.

OK, that's the you're a W2 or the 1090 nines. Those are ones that you get from your employers at the end of the year, so you want to make sure you always hang on to those W 2 so that way you have them available when you do fill out your faspe. What you'll do is you'll look at the information on there and it will give you like the wage and income and that sort of thing that you'll fill that out. There are questions that are going to be on the fast, but after you get the data retrieval tool and that's where your 1099 or W twos will come in handy for that.

OK tool for your tax return. So this is what you're going to use that data retrieval tool. That's going to be the information when you do use the data retrieval tool. One of the things you want to make sure you do is if you used abbreviations or use all capital letters. That sort of thing when you fill out your 1040 form. When you use the data retrieval tool, you want to make sure that you use that same format whether all capitals, abbreviations, that sort of thing. The other thing with your tax return. This is going to be a prior prior year.

So for the 2021-2022 academic here, you're going to use the 2019 tax information that you filled out last year.

25 your schools financial aid office basically where your lifeline to that. So anytime you have questions you need help with anything. You can always contact us or in some cases your school. Wherever you're choosing to go, we're here to help you. We have questions you can send emails. You can send this phone call, we do get our phone calls through our emails. So anytime you get the voicemail, go ahead and leave us a message and will get back to you on that.

OK questions.

So we're here for any questions you have. You can drop those in the chat and as Miss Tammy over here is reviewing moderating those, they'll pop up this for us to see. To be able to route answer those for you.

No question is a dumb question.

So one thing I do want to point out if maybe you're thinking about your questions, or if you know if you're thinking about things. If you need additional help when you don't feel comfortable necessarily asking it in this format, you can definitely schedule an appointment with us. You can email finaid FINAID at uafs.edu or call us at 479-788-7090 with your past questions order request a virtual appointment with the financial aid staff member.

Did you see? We have a question.

There isn't really a way to mess this up. Is there no? As long as you're following the instructions that are on there, you can definitely work for the application yourself. Or if you want someone to walk through with you for more than happy to do that every year. And that's why we're here for you, we are free service so that you can get the application successfully. One thing that I would point out that's very beneficial during the fast application is every single question has a check mark next to it. You can click or another market question mark. You can click that question mark.

And it will definitely help you to answer that question correctly, but we understand that not everyone's life situations are the same, and so we're definitely here to help. If those questions don't really making a lot of sense.

So if you have previously created a FSA ID and you haven't used it in a few years, it's just like really any other online account you will just do forgot password forgot username and if you need assistance doing that, by all means reach out to us. We're here to help so that we can. Yeah we can help you get through that. And even if you need us to sit on a phone call with you while you call FSA so that you can get log back into your account and sign the fastest successfully.

So Samantha ask, how long does it usually take to fill out? Typically, if you're filling it out and you have all the information you need, I would say 15 to 20 minutes at the very longest. If you have all the information you need, sometimes it can take upwards of an hour depending on if you have to create an FSA ID. If your parent has to create an FSA ID, things like that, but I mean typically, that's that's what would be a good time frame.

Um?

Is there an average of people who do not don't receive from Fasa? So that's one thing that's kind of a common misconception about the FAFSA or free application for federal student aid. So if you complete the FAFSA and everything works out as in your not in default on any kind of former student loans or and you check out on all the boxes and tune into next weeks to find out what those boxes are going to be packaged with some sort of federal eight, that federally might just be loans. A lot of that is dependant based on.

Your EFC Orest.

Why did my contribution that is calculated from completing the fasa but everyone is packaged with federal student aid?

Sure, Alan wants to know should he wait until yes class schedule before completing the FAFSA application? No, we would actually advise against that. We would advise you to complete the process as soon as possible so that you can get to your student. Their financial aid office at your institution so that it can begin processing a lot of times there may be additional requirements with the Pfaff set. Want to consider system you might be selected for verification, which is where we have to verify the data on your FAFSA is accurate. So definitely make sure to complete that as soon as possible.

The fast it does open up October 1st, which is this week and one of the really cool things is there's multiple ways to complete the facet. You can do that.

India on your phone. There's an app for that. You can also do it of course offset on the web and then there are additional options. If neither of those are options for you.

Ah.

So Mark asked, do you log in as a student or parent to fill it out? You would. You can do either one so you can start by putting in the students identifiers, but ultimately you'll have to log in as both throughout the application because the student has to sign their portion agreeing saying that the fashion is accurate to the best of their knowledge and you're not purposefully putting wrong information. Things like that and then the parent has to sign as well. So ultimately you're going to need both student the student in the parents will log in and sign the fact that.

So, Savannah, ask when you can start filling out the application the application opens on October 1st each year. So for 1920, which was last year at open on October 1st, 2018 for 2021, it opened on October 1st, 2019. For this for this upcoming year, which is the 2122 year it opens October 1st, 2020 which is this year.

So.

Play with student asking what do we do if your parents make good income but they're going to retire soon. Your dad retires in March and we're paying everything out of pocket.

I also have heard you to complete the FAFSA because like we said, several scholarships do look at need that is calculated and a lot of them just need me. Just need that need calculation. It doesn't necessarily have to show need, they just need a number there.

If you are paying out of pocket, you're not required to complete the faster, but we definitely encourage you to, as it would be an alternative form of payment. And if after you complete the FAFSA and you believe that it doesn't accurately reflect your situation, you can definitely contact our office. But what's doing what's called a special circumstance so that we can take a look at your fast? Then there's a set criteria there to determine you know what would mean an extenuating circumstance for us to revisit your Fasa.

So Karen, ask us what is my parent doesn't have a Social Security number? How can they sign the FAFSA? It's an excellent question, so if your parent doesn't have a Social Security number, but you do, you can complete the fast as normal when you get to the part that requires a parent signature, then you'll be able to print off what's called a signature page, and you can Mail that the federal student aid and they'll be able to process that physical signature page. But I would definitely encourage you to complete that sooner rather than later.

Because the processing time, once a physical signature pages, is significantly longer than if you sign it electronically.

Does anyone else have any other questions or anything that they would like to ask us? No question is a dumb question.

When is the deadline? There is no hard deadline to complete the map set. However, we would encourage you to complete it by March 1st. That's typically when we have our our file deadline that allows us ample time to process your Aiden everything and try and have your financial aid package that in place before you leave for summer break so that you know everything is set and ready to go for the fall semester.

I mean just jump in real quick. There's also one 800 number 2. If you do have questions about the fasfa, I do believe they also have multilingual sometimes to be able to assist with that. Typically their phone number and is answered from about 7:30 in the morning, our time until about 9:30 at night. So there there even after parents and they have different shifts to be able to come home from work and be able to talk to someone.

Oh

so so when I ask, is there a certain amount it will take to find out if we get it or not? Or sort of time? So typically the fact that is processed within two to three days, you're given an immediate estimate when you complete the FAFSA, but it's only an estimate and your schools financially office will make the final calculation of how much you're eligible for.

Depending on when you complete it, if you complete your fast in the month of October, typically it's not going to be pulled into our system until November December, but that's just because you know every school's computer system has to be updated to be able to pull in that New Year data, but after that typically it's within 48 to 72 hours after you complete the fact that you'd be packaged at your school or notified if you had additional requirements.

Does anyone else have any questions?

OK Oh and ask how do I apply for a scholarship here at uof San? When is the deadline? Do I have to complete a FAFSA application to apply?

So to apply for scholarships here at uas, there's a couple different things. If you're applying for one of our freshman merit scholarships, all you have to do is apply for admissions. That is your application for merit scholarships an after the November 15th deadline. We will review students who meet the criteria for our freshman merit scholarships and we will get those awarded to people who are eligible as long as funding remains.

For our freshman procedure scholarships same thing you need to complete an admissions application. However, if you're eligible to apply for a procedure scholarship based on your AC T GPA and major, you'll receive an additional application at the end of your admissions application to complete the procedure scholarship application, but it is optional. You don't have to if you don't want to, and the deadline for that is November 15th as well, and that is to have all of your admissions criteria and be admitted. And then also all of your procedure scholarship application in and all the criteria in it.

Additional documents to go with that.

So.

Karen asked the registration information for this event mentioned a scholarship for early. FAFSA completion can you tell us more about that? Yes. So we're doing five $1000 scholarships here at UA FS for the 2122 school year at the end of this event. We will be drawing for that student and so we'll get to that here in just a minute, but that scholarship is able to be used towards tuition fees books or anything on your account and will be doing those will be giving away 5 scholarships.

Along with the door prize so that.

The scholarship drawing will be later on the door. Prize drawing will be today.

So Vanessa ask if we're saying that our parents and the student applying both have created an FSA ID that is correct, as long as both you and your parents have a Social Security number, then you'll love me to create an FSA ID to complete the faster because you and your parents have to sign it. If your parent doesn't have a Social Security number, that's OK. You can definitely do the paper signature page, but like I said, you want to complete that sooner rather than later so that we can get that mailed in.

Elijah ask does applying for FAFSA automatically interview for other eight?

Potentially it just really depends on it would apply you for all federal student aid, but if your school has a need based scholarship that they offer, doing so and meeting the additional criteria that Bayliss might qualify you for additional.

And also, if you're an Arkansas resident, you do have to complete the fast at least your first year to receive the Arkansas academic challenge, also commonly known as the lottery scholarship.

Ethan asked, does it apply for the lottery scholarship? It doesn't apply you for the lottery scholarship. You have to complete the application on ADHD's website and that's the Arkansas Department of higher Ed. But it's one of the qualifying factors that you have to complete in addition to their application.

Does anyone else have any questions? No question is a dumb question.

That being are happy to answer any question you have.

OK.

OK so you are Elisa ask.

Uh.

You won't qualify for need based aid based on what you just told us, but you were told you something to fast together scholarships like maritime going out of state, so that's that's for the most part, true? I mean, it's up to each institution. If you're going to qualify for merit scholarships or other scholarships that are housed on their campus, they set those requirements. So like I know, one of our scholarships, the academic opportunity is need based and so the you have to complete if Abscess so that we can have.

We're going to meet your need and see if you're eligible to receive that. In addition to academic opportunities at the Sebastian County academic opportunity. For residents of Sebastian County.

Savannah asked, where do we go to fill out the application that question you can go to fafsa.gov or you can download the federal student aid app on your phone. Both of those are valid ways to do it. They're both official ways to do it, but just make sure if you're doing it on your computer to verify the web address, it should be FA fsa.gov and you should never ever pay to do the Fasa.

Is there any reason to fill it out sooner than later? Yes and no. So the sooner it's filled out, the sentence processed so you can know if you're selected for verification and several scholarships have time deadlines. So the sooner you get it filled out, the sooner that you know you get all the requirements completed for those scholarships. If you're eligible, and so that could potentially result in you getting award over another student who might wait till later, especially if the fact that is a requirement for the scholarship.

OK, so it is about 422 while y'all are thinking of your other questions or go ahead and you are drawing for our door prize so I'm going to randomize our participants.

Let's see here.

So it looks like today's winner is going to be.

Mark meter tuning in from Arkansas, so will be reaching out to you. To do that door prize. So we have your contact information from when you registered for this event, and so we will definitely reach out to get with you to give you that door prize. Get back to the chat real quick. Here we go. So mark will be reaching out to you. You can expect that to come from someone at Uafs. Just make sure to check the email address.

Um?

So Vanessa ask and we get to. Can we also go to the ufs page then financially had been clicked the fast link and fill it out there? Yes, that is fine. We have verified all the links on our website will take you to a valid websites to complete the FAFSA, and if you're unsure, by all means feel free to reach out to our contact info on the screen and would be happy to provide that link for you there as well.

If you mark ask if you feel like your taxes and fall in September, will they get pulled into the Pfaff set? So as long as your taxes have been processed by the IRS, they should be eligible to be pulled in. But if not, and you have them there, we can definitely still do that. You're not required to use the data retrieval tool, it's just encouraged so that you know it accurately transfers all that data from the IRS. But if you just have your taxes there in the IRS, data retrieval tool won't work.

For you, then we can definitely manually input that.

Does anyone else have any other questions?

Alright, well I think that concludes today's fast the event. If you have any questions in the mean time or if you're watching this video is a recording. Please do not hesitate to reach out to our office for happy to help. However we can. We definitely know that during this time of varying unknowns that we're trying to explore as flexible as possible to meet you in the middle, whether that be a virtual appointment, phone appointment, email. However, we can reach you.

So if anyone else has any questions, please shoot us an email or give us a call. And other than that, have a great day and go Lions.