FAFSA Night for the Senior Class of 2014

Financial Aid Types Grants are money you don’t have to repay, typically based on financial need. Scholarships are free money, usually based on your area of study or merit. Work-study or student employment programs—federal and college. Loans are borrowed money that you must pay back, usually with interest.

Basic Steps to Financial Aid Prepare for college Apply for financial aid Pay for college Manage your money

GRANTS Cal Grants Federal Pell Grant Cal Grant A: up to $12,192 Cal Grant B: up to $1,551 first year, up to $13,743 thereafter Cal Grant C: up to $3,168 Middle Class Grant Federal Pell Grant Up to $5,550 a year Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant Up to $4,000 a year Federal TEACH Grant

Special Programs Fee waivers and other college-based programs See your college financial aid office Work-study Federal work-study College work-study Student employment programs

FAFSA STEPS Get a Personal Identification Number (PIN) for both the student and at least one parent Sign up for your PIN anytime at www.pin.ed.gov FAFSA application for the 2014-15 college year opens January 1st, 2013 Complete the FAFSA by March 2nd, 2013 Make sure the site you input data to ends in .gov

www.pin.ed.gov Get your PIN Why use a PIN? Who can apply? Sign FAFSA electronically Access your FSA records online Make corrections Who can apply? Students Parents www.pin.ed.gov

Using the PIN Website www.pin.ed.gov REQUIREMENTS: Social Security number Name Date of birth Address Email address (encouraged) Challenge question response A PIN will be issued upon submitting the request. Note: A PIN will be rejected if there is no Social Security Administration match. ALLOWS THE FOLLOWING: Apply for a PIN Check PIN status Request a duplicate PIN Access/Update email address and personal information Change PIN Disable, reestablish, activate PIN Note: Never ask for or give your PIN to anyone.

www.fafsa.gov FAFSA on the Web (FOTW) Using FOTW Ask Questions Browse Help Deadlines Announcements …and more www.fafsa.gov

www.fafsa.gov FAFSA on the Web (FOTW) Contact Us Live “chat” (800) 433-3243 federalstudentaidcustomerservice@ed.gov www.fafsa.gov

FAFSA on the Web (FOTW)

www.fafsa.gov Start Here: Initial FAFSA Corrections Signatures Continuing a Saved FAFSA Renewal FAFSA

www.fafsa.gov Make sure the site you input data to ends in .gov

FAFSA 7 Steps The Student School Selection Student’s Dependency Status Parent Information for Dependent Students Student Income / Assets Signatures and Certification Confirmation

Step 1: Student Demographics Check for: Name matches student social security card Transposed numbers Incorrect data on numeric fields Tip: Use the Help & Hints section on each page. Simple mistakes can delay determining eligibility for aid

Step 1: Student Demographics Students with a high school diploma and who have never attended college must: Identify their high school Select Confirm to find a match. Select the school from the list or select Next to continue.

Step 2: School Selection Add a School Federal School Code Search by: State City Name Housing Plans On campus With parent Off campus

NET PRICE CALCULATOR Congress passed a law requiring all colleges to offer a “net price calculator” on their websites Allows prospective students to figure out how much it will cost them to go to college Compare net price of one school to another school

Step 3: Dependency Determination “No” to all questions: Makes the student “dependent” Must submit parent information Note: child must be supported financially—more than 50%

Foster Care Select Yes if at any time since the student turned age 13, he/she was in foster care even if no longer in foster care today due to: Adoption Reunification Reached the age of majority (18 yrs.) Note: documentation may be required.

Emancipated Minors Select Yes if the student: as of today, is an emancipated minor or was an emancipated minor immediately before turning 18 years old. Note: Documentation issued from a court in the student’s state of legal residence may be required.

Legal Guardianship

Homeless, Unaccompanied Youth Select Yes if any time after July 1, 2013, the student meets all three criteria: “Homeless” or “at risk of being homeless” Lacking fixed, regular and adequate housing. Includes living in shelters, motels, cars, or temporarily living with other people because you had nowhere else to go. “Unaccompanied” Not living in the physical custody of a parent or guardian “Youth” 21 years or younger Still enrolled in high school at the time the FAFSA is completed

Homeless, Unaccompanied Youth A student is eligible for homeless youth status if he/she meets the homeless definition and was determined to be homeless by his/her high school or school district homeless liaison, the director of a runaway or homeless youth center, or HUD Students who meet this criteria are independent A student is also eligible for homeless youth status if he/she meets the homeless definition, but was determined to be homeless by the financial aid office; Students who meet this criteria can use FAFSA on the Web to self-identify.

Step 4: Parent Information Parents must answer both demographic and financial information to determine Custodial parent(s) Ability to contribute to student’s education expenses

Divorced or Separated Provide parent’s information for the parent(s) with whom the student lived with most during the last 12 months If the student spent equal time with both parents, use the information for the parent who provided the greatest amount of financial support for the student

Remarried Parent Agreement of “nonsupport” Prenuptial agreement Provide information about the parent and stepparent regardless of: Agreement of “nonsupport” Prenuptial agreement Divorce decree designating tax filing exemptions Note: parent claiming the student on the tax return need not be the parent required to provide data on the FAFSA

Parent Information Do not provide parent information for Foster parent(s) Student is automatically considered an independent student Grandparents, other relatives or legal guardian(s) Colleges may use professional judgment to allow the student to file as an independent student

Parent Information For Upcoming Year Household Size: Parent provides more than 50% financial support Number in College: Student enrolled at least half-time

Parent Information Definition of a Dislocated Worker Lost job Laid off Self-employed/ unemployed or underemployed Displaced homemaker

Parent Income and Asset Information Same questions asked of students Selecting a box displays additional fields to complete

Parent Income and Asset Information Question displays if the student: Is not eligible for an automatic zero EFC or simplified needs calculation, and Reports a state of legal residence that allows students to skip income and asset questions

Step 5: Student 2013 Income and Assets IRS Data Transfer Transfer information directly from the IRS Requires PIN Available January 31st After filing tax return

Income Reporting and Verification Selected students and parents must submit income and asset documentation Using IRS Data Transfer (unchanged) meets verification requirements for some income information Otherwise only an IRS Tax Return Transcript will meet verification requirements ID Theft updates

Student Income and Assets Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) Amount earned from work Taxes paid Exemptions Cash/Investments Asset Threshold

Step 5: Student Financial Information Students are asked the same questions as parents.

Step 6a: Student Sign and Submit Select Signature Method PIN or printed signature page Terms of Agreement $$$ for education expenses only Not in default on a federal student loan Not owe money Receive one Pell Grant from one college at a time

Step 6b: Parent Sign and Submit Select Signature Method PIN or printed signature page Terms of Agreement Provide documents to verify accuracy of information IRS verification

Step 7 : Confirmation Confirmation Page Confirmation # DRN 2012-2013 Confirmation Page Confirmation # DRN Optional feature: transfer FAFSA data Eligibility information College information Next steps

Student Aid Report (SAR) Received electronically or by mail, Summarizes FAFSA information Displays the EFC and DRN (upper right-hand portion on the SAR) EFC- Expected Family Contribution; used to determine eligibility for federal aid DRN- Data Release Number; used to send SAR to additional schools

www.csac.ca.gov Cal Grants Overview Find out if the school you want to attend qualifies for Cal Grants www.csac.ca.gov

Basic Cal Grant Eligibility

WWW.CSAC.CA.GOV

Low to middle income students who: Cal Grant A Low to middle income students who: Meet the income and asset ceilings Have financial need 3.00 High School GPA minimum AA and BA programs only Maximum annual award amounts Used for tuition and/or fees only Held in reserve while attending community college CSU UC Independent For Profit $ 5,970/yr $ 12192/yr $ 9,084/yr $4,000/yr

Cal Grant B Very low income students who: 2.00 GPA minimum Meet the income and asset ceilings 2.00 GPA minimum AA, BA/BS and Certificate programs Annual Awards $1473 stipend first year Fees/Tuition plus $1473 in 2nd, 3rd, 4th yr Available as Entitlement & Competitive Awards

Cal Grant C Low and Middle income students who: Enroll in vocational courses of study AA and Certificate programs only Can be used for any school expenses including tuition and fees Eligibility determined only after full Cal Grant A and B consideration

Cal Grant C Priority now given based on Occupational Goal Meeting 2 of the 3: High employment need, High employment growth, and High wage

Cal Grant Renewal Eligibility Renewal participants must meet income and asset ceilings. Students must meet satisfactory academic progress standard of school

Cal Grant Income & Asset Ceilings

Cal Grant High School Entitlement Make sure to include the high school name on the FAFSA CSAC can then match between GPA and FAFSA information High School Graduation Confirmation *Required* Students can confirm on-line using WebGrants for Students Schools & school districts can assist to provide post-graduation confirmation of HS graduation Students needing to mail use the High School Graduation Confirmation form, HS transcripts or other authoritative documents

Student Notifications Recipients that submit a FAFSA & GPA will receive a California Aid Report (CAR) via email E-CAR indicates Cal Grant eligibility Sent as early as January Letter notification will be sent if no e-mail address Mark these addresses as not junk: calgrantoffice@csac.ca.gov studentsupport@csac.ca.gov

California Aid Programs UC Student Aid Average grant $14,000 State University Grant Full systemwide fees California Chafee Grant Up to $5,000 a year Child Development Grant Up to $2,000 a year California National Guard Education Assistance Award $1,551 - $12,192 Law Enforcement Personnel Dependents Grant Up to $13,743 a year

Student Notifications Applicants should access WebGrants for Students (WGS) www.webgrants4students.org Use WGS to track awards, GPA and FAFSA Submission

Notification

WebGrants for Students (WGS) WGS is a CSAC web-based application for students that provides: Secure, 24/7, student-friendly access to manage their Cal Grant and Chafee Grant award Links to other related financial aid sites empowers students with critical financial aid information to ensure successful processing of grant application & maintenance of their award status The WGS URL is www.webgrants4students.org

Cash For College Workshop RVHS has applied to host a Cash For College Workshop for January or February 2014 The date will be announced if we are selected. If not selected we will hold a “hands on” FAFSA workshop in the RVHS computer lab so that parents and students have personal assistance submitting their FAFSA application online.

Thank you for attending Loretta Abbott, MSW, PPSC 707-374-6336 x1232 labbott@riverdelta.k12.ca.us