Embedded Files
WHAT IS FAFSA?
WHAT IS FAFSA?
FAFSA stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid. It’s the online form students fill out to apply for federal financial aid, which can help pay for college tuition, fees, room and board, books, supplies, and transportation. Most students qualify for some type of federal aid. Federal aid is cheaper than private loans, so every dollar you get saves you money. Filing the FAFSA is free, so avoid any websites that try to charge you. The form is easy to fill out and user-friendly, with updates to make navigation simpler. The website also has a helpful FAQ section. Here’s the official FAFSA website: https://studentaid.gov/
FAFSA stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid. It’s the online form students fill out to apply for federal financial aid, which can help pay for college tuition, fees, room and board, books, supplies, and transportation. Most students qualify for some type of federal aid. Federal aid is cheaper than private loans, so every dollar you get saves you money. Filing the FAFSA is free, so avoid any websites that try to charge you. The form is easy to fill out and user-friendly, with updates to make navigation simpler. The website also has a helpful FAQ section. Here’s the official FAFSA website: https://studentaid.gov/
Federal Financial Aid Is Made Up of the Following:
Federal Financial Aid Is Made Up of the Following:
- Grants — funds for college that do not have to be repaid.
- Work study — part-time employment where you can earn funds while enrolled.
- Federal Loans — borrowed funds, which you must repay with interest.
The FAFSA application opens during your senior year. You should file it as soon as possible because most federal financial aid is given on a first-come, first-served basis. Filing early helps make sure you get all the aid you qualify for and gives you time to fix any mistakes without delaying your award. Don’t miss FAFSA deadlines—if you do, you won’t be eligible for federal aid that year. Remember, you only need to file once per academic year.
The FAFSA application opens during your senior year. You should file it as soon as possible because most federal financial aid is given on a first-come, first-served basis. Filing early helps make sure you get all the aid you qualify for and gives you time to fix any mistakes without delaying your award. Don’t miss FAFSA deadlines—if you do, you won’t be eligible for federal aid that year. Remember, you only need to file once per academic year.
Gathering the Documents Needed to Apply:
Gathering the Documents Needed to Apply:
The FAFSA questions ask for information about you (your name, date of birth, address, etc.) and about your financial situation. Depending on your circumstances (for instance, whether you’re a U.S. citizen or what tax form you used), you might need the following information or documents as you fill out the application:
The FAFSA questions ask for information about you (your name, date of birth, address, etc.) and about your financial situation. Depending on your circumstances (for instance, whether you’re a U.S. citizen or what tax form you used), you might need the following information or documents as you fill out the application:
Your Social Security number (it’s important that you enter it correctly on the FAFSA form!)
Your parents’ Social Security numbers if you are a dependent student and if parents have one
Your Alien Registration number if you are not a U.S. citizen
Federal tax information or tax returns including IRS W-2 information, for you (and your spouse, if you are married), and for your parents if you are a dependent student:
IRS 1040
Foreign tax return, IRS 1040NR, or IRS 1040NR-EZ
Tax return for Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, or Palau
Records of your untaxed income, such as child support received, interest income, and veterans noneducation benefits, for you, and for your parents if you are a dependent student
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
Keep these records! You may need them again. Do not mail your records to us or anyone else.
Keep these records! You may need them again. Do not mail your records to us or anyone else.
Have any more questions? Ask Benji!
Have any more questions? Ask Benji!
Benji habla Español tambien!
Benji habla Español tambien!
Benji uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology with its open bot platform to help students get answers to their FAFSA questions instantly—all they need to do is text “Hi Benji.” Benji has been programmed with nearly 700 different types of responses to questions students and parents may have while they are working through their FAFSA. As more Arizona students and parents use this service, Benji will learn and be able to respond to more questions and unique circumstances.
Benji is not an app, and there is no download required. To get help from Benji, a student or parent simply starts a texting conversation with their cell phone (Benji cannot currently communicate with international phone numbers or through some third party platforms such as WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger). Once a person has texted Benji, it will respond to the dialogue with answers to questions or links to resources. Benji is not fluent in Spanish yet, but will be able to direct users to some Spanish language resources on FAFSA and financial aid. Benji will also capture data such as name, high school, and graduation year in order to send timely, relevant nudges to encourage users to complete the FAFSA.
Page updated
Report abuse