If you didn’t file for 2003-04, you’ll submit the 2004- 2005 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)— either through the Internet (using FAFSA on the Web) or by completing a paper FAFSA.

FAFSA on the Web. You can apply by going to www.fafsa.ed.gov.

We recommend using FAFSA on the Web, if possible:

• FAFSA on the Web immediately identifies potential errors and prompts you to make on-the-spot corrections.
  
  
• You get online instructions for each question, and you can “chat” live online with a customer service representative if you have further questions.
  
  
• Once you submit your application, your information goes immediately into the U.S. Department of Education’s Central Processing System (CPS). (You’ll know this because you’ll get a confirmation right away when you click on “Submit My FAFSA Now.”) The CPS will process your application in three to five days, provided you (and your parents, if applicable) have provided electronic signatures (see the PIN discussion below).

The paper FAFSA. If you don’t have Internet access, you can get a paper FAFSA from your high school, local library, postsecondary school, or from the Federal Student Aid Information Center. Mail the FAFSA in the pre-addressed envelope that’s in your FAFSA packet. Your application will be processed in two to four weeks. Or, before mailing it, you could check to see if your school, or a school that interests you, will submit your FAFSA information electronically.

I’ve heard about a PIN. What is it and what is it used for?
A PIN is an electronic access code number that serves as your identifier. A PIN lets you access your personal federal student aid information online in various U.S. Department of Education systems.

If you apply using FAFSA on the Web, having a PIN allows you (and your parents, if they have a PIN and you’re a dependent student) to “sign” your FAFSA electronically, which means the student aid process can be completed totally online. FAFSA on the Web filers who are new applicants (and their parents, if applicable) can request a PIN at www.pin.ed.gov.

You should get a PIN before completing FAFSA on the Web, so you (and your parents, if applicable) can electronically sign your application before it’s submitted. If you don’t request a PIN, you can always print out, sign, and mail in a signature page within 15 days of submitting your FAFSA, but the application process will take longer.

Even if you file electronically and don’t request a PIN, or even if you file a paper FAFSA, you’ll receive a PIN if certain personal data (see below) matches the Social Security Administration’s records. A PIN has other uses besides signing an application electronically. You can use your PIN to

• access your Student Aid Report (SAR), which is your processed FAFSA data;
  
  
• make corrections to your application information;
  
  
• electronically sign a master promissory note for a federal student loan;
  
  
• complete a Renewal FAFSA; and
  
  
• access your applicant data records online. You can, among other things, check your student loan history through our National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) and access your Direct Loan account through Direct Loan Servicing.

When requesting a PIN, you’ll need to provide your name (as it appears on your Social Security card), your Social Security Number, date of birth, and mailing address. After that information has been verified with the Social Security Administration’s records, a PIN will be generated. If you provide an e-mail address, you’ll get an e-mail response that contains a link to your PIN. If you don’t provide an e-mail address, you’ll get your PIN through regular mail.

Your PIN not only serves as your electronic signature (which has the same legal status as a written signature), it provides access to your personal records, so don’t give your PIN to anyone. Be sure to remember your PIN; you’ll be able to use the same one for future electronic FAFSAs and federal student aid records access.

What if I have questions about the PIN?
You can get answers about the PIN process by going to www.pin.ed.gov. Or, you can call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-4-FED-AID.

Can I request a PIN from the Federal Student Aid Information Center?
No, you can only request a PIN by going online.

I applied for federal student aid in 2003-2004. Can I use a Renewal FAFSA?
Yes. Using a Renewal FAFSA means you’ll have fewer questions to answer than if you applied with a new application, because most of the Renewal FAFSA will be filled in with information you provided on your 2003-2004 application. You’ll only have to update any information that has changed since 2003-2004 and fill in a few new answers.

Depending on several factors, you’ll receive either a paper Renewal FAFSA for 2004-2005 or a reminder notice that it’s time to reapply for federal student aid. If you get a reminder notice, you’ll use a PIN to access your Renewal FAFSA on the Web, and you’ll apply electronically. When reapplying for aid, review the information that’s on the form, add what needs to be filled in or changed, sign it, and submit it. You’ll receive either the paper Renewal FAFSA or the reminder notice in November or December 2003, but you can’t submit your application before January 1, 2004 (click here for more information).

Check with your financial aid administrator if you have questions about the Renewal FAFSA or contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center.

What information do I need to complete a FAFSA accurately?
You’ll need the following:

• Your Social Security Number (can be found on your Social Security card)
  
  
• Your W-2 Forms and other records of money earned
  
  
• Your 2003 Federal Income Tax Return (and that of your spouse, if you’re married)¹
  
  
• Your parents’ 2003 Federal Income Tax Return (if you’re a dependent student)¹
  
  
• Any foreign tax return or tax return from Puerto Rico
  
  
• Your 2003 untaxed income records—Social Security, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, welfare, or veterans benefits records, for example
  
  
• Your 2003 bank statements
  
  
• Your 2003 business and investment mortgage information; business and farm records; and stock, bond, and other investment records
  
  
• Your alien registration card (if you are not a U.S. citizen)

As you fill out the FAFSA, read the instructions carefully! Most mistakes are made because applicants don’t follow instructions. Pay special attention to questions on income; most errors occur in that area.

Photocopy your application (or print out a copy of your FAFSA on the Web application) so you’ll have a copy for your records. Save all other records and materials used to complete the FAFSA because you might need them later to prove the information you reported is correct. The process of documenting your information is called verification. If verification is required, and you don’t provide the proof your school requests, you won’t receive aid from our programs, and you might not receive aid from other sources.

What if I need help filling out my application?
If you apply using FAFSA on the Web, help is built into the program. You can get help live online as well.

You can also go to www.studentaid.ed.gov/completefafsa .

You can contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center with questions on either the paper or electronic FAFSA. Or, contact your high school guidance counselor or your postsecondary school’s financial aid office. Remember, you can get the help you need for free from one of these sources; you don’t have to pay for assistance.

Will I need to fill out forms in addition to the FAFSA to receive aid?
The FAFSA (or Renewal FAFSA) is the only form you need for federal student aid. To be considered for nonfederal aid, such as aid from your school or a private scholarship, you might have to fill out additional forms. Check with the various schools you’re considering about their forms and make sure you know the deadlines for applying.

Parents who want to apply for a PLUS Loan will have to complete different forms (click here for more information).

When do I apply for federal aid?
You can apply beginning January 1, 2004. If you apply before this date, your FAFSA will be rejected. You should apply as early in 2004 as you can. Try to have the necessary 2003 income tax returns finished (see the information above) because you can complete the FAFSA more easily and accurately. If you submit your application before you complete a tax return, you’ll have to make corrections later if your income or tax information isn’t accurate, which will delay the application process. Also, you’ll have to return any federal aid you received based on incorrect information.

How do I know if my application has been received?
If you applied through FAFSA on the Web, you’ll get a confirmation notice after you click on “Submit My FAFSA Now.”

If you submitted a paper FAFSA and you want confirmation it was received, send in the postcard that comes with the application. Just fill in the required information and mail it along with the FAFSA. (Don’t forget the postage!) When the FAFSA processor receives your application, the postcard will be stamped with the date it’s received and mailed back to you for your files. If you don’t hear anything about your application within four weeks of the date stamped on the postcard, you can check the status through the FAFSA on the Web site (www.fafsa.ed.gov). You can also check by contacting the Federal Student Aid Information Center.

What happens after I apply?
You’ll receive one of the following within a range of a few days to four weeks:

• A Student Aid Report (SAR), if you applied using the paper FAFSA and didn’t provide a valid e-mail address; or
  
  
• A SAR Acknowledgement, if you applied using FAFSA on the Web but didn’t provide a valid e-mail address, or
  
  
• An e-mail containing a secure link so you can access your SAR on the Web, if you provided a valid e-mail address when you applied (regardless of your method of application). If you have a “blocked” folder in your e-mail files, check it. The e-mail from us might come there instead of to your inbox.
  
  

If you’re a dependent student, you applied electronically, and your parents provided their e-mail address, they will also receive an e-mail when your FAFSA has been processed. They won’t receive your data, but they’ll know your status. If either you or they forgot to sign your FAFSA, the e-mail your parents receive will include information about how to sign.

Your SAR (in whatever form) will list all the information you reported on your FAFSA. If there are no corrections or additional information required, the SAR will contain your Expected Family Contribution (EFC), the number used in determining your eligibility for federal student aid. Your EFC will appear in the upper right-hand portion of your SAR. Whether you applied electronically or by paper, we will send your data electronically to the schools you list on the FAFSA.

What do I do with my SAR?
You must review it carefully to make sure it’s correct and complete. If it is, and it contains your Expected Family Contribution (EFC), your school will use your information to determine your eligibility for federal—and possibly nonfederal—student aid funds.

If you need to make corrections to the SAR, you can do so in a number of ways:

• With your PIN, you can make corrections online through the Department of Education’s FAFSA on the Web site, even if you didn’t apply using FAFSA on the Web.
  
  
• Your school might be able to submit the corrections electronically. Check with your school.
  
  
• You can make corrections on the paper SAR (if you received one) and return it to the address provided. If you don’t have a copy of your SAR, you can request one by calling the Federal Student Aid Information Center.
  
  

Note that you can’t use a SAR Information Acknowledgement to make corrections (only to check the information reported). You’ll make your corrections using FAFSA on the Web.

You can change your address, change the schools you want to receive your FAFSA information, or change your answer to Question 31 (concerning a drug conviction) by calling the Federal Student Aid Information Center. You cannot make any other changes over the phone. To have the Federal Student Aid Information Center change your schools, you must provide your Data Release Number (DRN), located in the lower lefthand corner of the first few pages of the SAR.