Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on the Web Preview

Disclaimer This is a preview of the FAFSA on the Web site. The Web site is subject to change pending Office of Management and Budget approval. FAFSA on the Web will be available for applicants to use on January 1,

Disclaimer Some slides in this presentation have additional notes, which can be accessed through the notes view. Slides with notes are denoted with the image shown here: Some slides in this presentation indicate if a change affects both the and applications. This is denoted with the image shown here: and

FAFSA Schedule of Events

FAFSA Schedule of Events November 2012 –  Postsecondary schools, high schools, libraries and community agencies can place orders for the FAFSA on the Web Worksheet from FSA’s bulk publications system located at FSAPubs.gov. Late December 2012 –  Demonstration Site will be available December 30, (Details on how to access at end of PowerPoint)  PDF version of the FAFSA on the Web Worksheet (English or Spanish) may be obtained from fafsa.gov and StudentAid.gov.  FSA will begin shipping orders of the FAFSA on the Web Worksheet from the FSA Pubs order system.  Students and families will be able to request up to three copies of the paper FAFSA (English or Spanish) by calling the Federal Student Aid Information Center. 5

FAFSA Schedule of Events January 1, 2013 –  The application will become available on FAFSA on the Web. January 2, 2013 –  The Central Processing System (CPS) will begin processing applications. January 17 - January 24, 2013 –  Renewal Reminders will be sent electronically to renewal-eligible applicants who have not yet filed a FAFSA. February 3, 2013 –  The IRS Data Retrieval Tool will become available to applicants. 6

FAFSA on the Web Changes

Eligibility Criteria Rule Change

New ATB rule eliminates federal student aid eligibility for students without a certificate of high school graduation or recognized equivalent effective July 1, It does not affect students who were enrolled in a Title IV-eligible program prior to July 1, New text on the FAFSA4caster “College Cost Worksheet” page, the FAFSA on the Web “Confirmation” page, and the Confirmation will inform applicants that eligibility for federal student aid is dependent on meeting eligibility guidelines. The “Am I eligible for student aid?” help topic will be modified to reflect new eligibility rules. 9

10 Eligibility Criteria Rule Change

“eligibility criteria” hyperlink opens the updated “Am I eligible for student aid?” help topic. 11 Eligibility Criteria Rule Change

12

Require Response to High School Question

FAFSA on the Web applicants who answer “High School Diploma” to the High School Completion Status question will be required to answer the following questions regardless of grade level: –High School Name –High School City –High School State Questions will display based on responses to related questions within the FAFSA. 14

High School Required Logic 15 For , high school name, city and state must be entered if applicant indicates he/she has or will receive a high school diploma, regardless of grade level.

Encourage Self Service

Clarify Next Steps The “Confirmation” page, “My FAFSA” page, and student and parent Student Aid Report (SAR) processing notifications will be modified to improve the messaging for applicants about the next steps to take after completing the FAFSA. 17

Clarify Next Steps New text: –You will be notified when your FAFSA is processed. –Your FAFSA information will be made available to your school(s), and they will use it to determine the aid you may be eligible to receive. –Your school(s) will contact you if they need more information or when they are ready to discuss your financial aid award. –If you have questions about your financial aid package, contact your school(s). 18

Next steps are identified on the “Confirmation” page 19 Clarify Next Steps

Next steps are identified on the “My FAFSA” page. 20 Clarify Next Steps

Next steps are identified on the FAFSA Processing Results e- mail. 21 Clarify Next Steps

Clarify Income Entry for Estimators Instructional text will dynamically display in both application and correction entry for a student or parent that selects “Will file” as the filing status. The new text will provide instructions on estimating tax and financial information. Help topics will clarify instructions for answering income questions. 22

23 This message will display on the Student or Parent Finances 2 page if the user selects ‘Will File’. Clarify Income Entry for Estimators

24 Applicants who selected ‘Will file’ and access corrections will be prompted to update their tax return status. If an applicant selects ‘Already Completed’ he or she may be eligible to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool. Clarify Income Entry for Estimators

Enhance IRS Data Retrieval Tool Functionality

Improve IRS Data Retrieval Tool Instructions Two aspects of the IRS Data Retrieval Tool will be updated to improve instructions to applicants. The changes include:  Redesigned IRS Data Retrieval Tool filtering questions.  Enhanced help text. 26

27 Enhanced IRS Data Retrieval Tool help topic will provide details about who might be able to use it and how it should be used. Improve IRS Data Retrieval Tool Instructions

The IRS Data Retrieval Tool filtering questions will be revised by replacing the checkbox format with questions requiring a “yes” or “no” response. The “recently filed” question will include more detailed information to define who should answer “yes.” 28

Current functionality for displays check boxes to determine eligibility to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool. The first two questions display for married filers only. 29 Improve IRS Data Retrieval Tool Instructions

30 New functionality for displays radio buttons. The first two questions display for married filers only. Improve IRS Data Retrieval Tool Instructions

The “Leaving FAFSA on the Web” page that students and parents see when linking to the IRS site will be enhanced to clarify what will happen to income information already entered on the FAFSA if IRS data is transferred. This change affects both application and correction entry and

Improve IRS Data Retrieval Tool Instructions 32

Add IRS Request Flag as Criteria for Certain Edits

The system will be updated to no longer trigger certain edits that require applicant resolution when data is transferred from the IRS and not changed. –Rejects 3 and 12 –Rejects C and G –Cross Year edit –Adjusted Gross Income warning edit (both parent and student data must be retrieved from IRS and remain unchanged) 34

Add IRS Request Flag as Criteria for Certain Edits 35 Reject/WarningReasonAffected Applicant Reject 3Student’s Taxes Paid is greater than zero and equal to or greater than Student’s Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) Dependent student Independent student Reject 12Parents’ Taxes Paid is greater than zero and equal to or greater than Parent’s AGI Dependent student Reject CStudent’s Taxes Paid is greater than zero and greater than or equal to a fixed percentage of the AGI, but not equal to or greater than Student’s AGI OR Parents’ Taxes Paid is greater than zero and equal to or greater than Parent’s AGI Dependent student Independent student Dependent student Reject GStudent’s Taxes Paid is greater than zero, and greater than or equal to a fixed percentage of the AGI, but not equal to or greater than Student’s AGI Dependent student AGI WarningStudents AGI is greater than zero and equal to the Parents’ AGIDependent student

Enhance Browser Detection Logic

Supported Browsers – Browser detection logic will be updated so all new browsers are considered to be supported. The unsupported browser message that was displayed previously on the “Login” page will be removed. Only browsers with known compatibility issues with FAFSA on the Web will be blocked. 37

Enhance Browser Detection Logic The “Incompatible Browser” page will be renamed “Blocked Browser” page. Wording on next steps for the user will be revised to provide clearer messaging. Browser version text will be revised to state that the earliest supported version of each browser and above can be used. 38

39 Enhance Browser Detection Logic Help topic that explains compatible browsers.

Social Network Sharing Functionality

Social Network Sharing Applicants using FAFSA on the Web will have the opportunity to update Facebook and Twitter after they have completed the FAFSA. The “Confirmation” page will have:  A Facebook “Share” button  A Twitter “Tweet” button  A prefilled message included in the language in which the user is viewing the Web site (English or Spanish). 41

Social Network Sharing 42 The social networking functionality will be located on the bottom of the “Confirmation” page.

Social Network Sharing 43 Example Twitter messaging Example Facebook message

Retired Web Site URLs

Retired Web Sites Existing links to studentaid.ed.gov, college.gov, federalstudentaid.ed.gov, and ombudsman.ed.gov will be replaced with links to StudentAid.gov The “PSA” page will be removed from FAFSA on the Web and the current home page link will be replaced with links to new videos on StudentAid.gov and the FSA YouTube page and

Emphasize Electronic Signatures and Eliminate PIN Mailers

Increased Emphasis on PIN Signatures For a student in an original application and a parent in an initial, renewal or correction transaction, “Sign Electronically With My PIN” will be the default signature option.  The exception is individuals who possess a Social Security Number of all zeros (applies to parents only) or beginning with 666. Users will be able to view other options for signing by clicking the new “Other options to sign and submit” link.  The system will display options to “Print A Signature Page” or “Submit Without Signatures”, along with text explaining the benefits of electronic signatures. 47

48 Increased emphasis to use PIN for electronic signature. Increased Emphasis on PIN Signatures

49 After clicking the other options link, the “Print A Signature Page” and “Submit Without Signatures” options display. Other Signature Options

50 If the preparer’s response is “Yes”, special messaging displays with all three signature options. Increased Emphasis on PIN Signatures

Eliminate PIN Mailers PIN mailers will no longer be generated.  All other PIN options will remain ( , display on the screen, or self-select). PINs will no longer be automatically generated for FAFSA filers if a valid address is not provided. 51

Web Demonstration Site FAFSA on the Web and FAA Access to CPS Online demonstration sites available December 30, 2012 –To access sites, go to –Enter: User Name: eddemo Password: fafsatest 52

Summary This presentation provides information and screen shots that identify FAFSA on the Web enhancements. FAFSA on the Web will be available for applicants to use on January 1, You may use the Demonstration site to preview functionality beginning December 30,

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