Completing the FAFSA

Determining Eligibility

Eligibility for the FAFSA is determined by financial need as well as a number of other factors. The most basic eligibility requirements to receive federal student aid are as follows:

• Be a U.S. citizen or an eligible noncitizen
• Have a valid social security number
• Register with the Selective Service if you’re a male between the ages of 18 and 25
• Maintain satisfactory academic progress in college or career school.

If you are incarcerated, have a conviction for a drug offense, or are involuntarily committed after serving time for a sexual offense, your eligibility for federal student aid may be limited.

You might lose federal student aid eligibility in a number of ways. Some of the most common are that you:

• Are in default on a federal student loan
• Don’t maintain satisfactory academic progress in college or career school
• Are convicted of a drug offense

Gathering Needed Documents

The FAFSA asks for information about you (your name, date of birth, address, etc.) and about your financial situation. Depending on your circumstances (for instance, when you filed taxes or what tax form you used), you might need the following information or documents as you fill out the FAFSA:

• Your social security number
• Your parent’s social security numbers
• Your driver’s license number (if you have one)
• Completed tax returns for the most recent year from both you (if you worked) and your parents
• Records of untaxed income, such as child support received, interest income, and veterans non-education benefits, for you and your parents
• Information on cash; savings and checking account balances; investments, including stocks and bonds and real estate but not including the home in which you live; and business and farm assets for you, and for your parents if you are a dependent student

Methods to Apply

The Department of Federal Student Aid recommends that students apply for aid online through the FAFSA website. Students may fill out a paper version of the FAFSA and mail the completed document in. Paper forms are available on the FAFSA website or by calling 1-800-4-FED-AID. If you are hearing impaired, contact the TTY line at 1-800-730-8913.

FAFSA Deadlines

The FAFSA becomes available in early January each year, and there are different deadlines for different programs.