STUDENTAID.GOV HEADER VIEW

• Select the FAFSA Form from the page header.

STUDENTAID.GOV FAFSA FORM HEADER VIEW

• Select Complete the FAFSA Form.

FAFSA FORM LANDING PAGE VIEW

• The user may land on this page using a direct link to the FAFSA form or selecting the Complete the FAFSA Form link under the FAFSA Form menu on the StudentAid.gov home page.
• The FAFSA Form Landing Page directs new users to the Start Here button and returns users to the Log In button.
• For the purpose of this presentation, the applicant is beginning a new application.

TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF

• Here, the user selects the student role.
• The form asks the user to log in, create an FSA ID, or start the form with personal identifiers. 

PRO TIP

• Student & Parent: Create your FSA ID prior to starting the FAFSA Form. 

ENTER YOUR PERSONAL IDENTIFIERS

• The user selected to use personal identifiers (first name, last name, date of birth, and Social Security number) to access the FAFSA form.
• Once the user enters their personal identifiers, they will select "Continue."

LOG IN

• If the user selects the "Log In to Continue" button, on the Roles page, the user is prompted to enter their FSA ID (account username and password).
• If the user doesn't have an FSA ID, the user can select "Create an Account" to create an FSA ID.

PRO TIP

• Case Sensitive: These fields are case-sensitive. Be sure to write and safely store your username and password.

GET STARTED

• Once the user logs in, they are taken to the Get Started page.
• For the 2023-24 cycle year, the user must indicate for which school year they are applying for financial aid.
• In this scenario, the user selects “Start 2023-24 FAFSA Form.”

CREATE SAVE KEY

• Users must create a Save Key to start their FAFSA form.
• The save key is also used to return and complete their FAFSA form.

PRO TIP

• Shareable: Unlike the FSA ID, you can share the save key. A save key is a temporary password that allows you and your parent(s) to “pass” the FAFSA form back and forth. It also allows you to save the FAFSA form and return it later. The key is especially helpful if you and your parent are not in the same place. 
• Submitting Form: After the FAFSA form is submitted the Save Key is no longer valid.
• Save Key Retrieval: Users can recreate Save Key using their ZIP code.

INTRODUCTION

• If the user needs help completing their FAFSA form, they can review the resources found on the Introduction page.
• The user can click on “Expand All” to view all the resources all at once or can click on the dropdown button to the right of each question to view that question's respective resource.

STUDENT EMAIL & PHONE

• It is beneficial for the student to include an email address on the FAFSA form in order to receive important communication about the student’s financial aid.

STUDENT ADDRESS

• The user enters their mailing address, city, state, and ZIP code.

STUDENT RESIDENCY & ELIGIBILITY

• The user selects yes to both "Residency and Eligibility" questions.
  

PRO TIP

• Student: If you are a permanent resident or eligible non-citizen you will be prompted to enter your alien registration number.

STUDENT EDUCATION

• In this section, the user answers questions related to their high school completion status, college degree they’ll be working on, college grade level, and interest in being considered for work-study.
  

STUDENT DRIVER'S LICENSE

• The user may enter their driver's license number and state.
  

STUDENT FOSTER CARE & PARENT EDUCATION COMPLETION

• The user answers questions if they were a foster youth or in the foster care system at any time.
• The user also answers the highest school completed by both parents.

HIGH SCHOOL SEARCH RESULTS

• The user searches for the name of their high school and selects the correct high school.

CONFIRM YOUR HIGH SCHOOL

• The user confirms the high school information, then selects "Continue" to proceed to the next section.

COLLEGE SEARCH

• The user searches for the state, city, and college name.

PRO TIP

• Rhode Island Colleges & University Codes: Rhode Island school codes are below listed by school.

COLLEGE SEARCH RESULTS

• The user selects the school in the search results.
  

SELECTED COLLEGE SEARCH & HOUSING INFO

• The user can reorder schools on this page, which won't affect federal student aid but can affect state and school aid.

• The user can select one of the following housing plans: On Campus, With Parent, or off-campus.

• The user selects “On Campus” as their housing plan choice.

PRO TIP

• Removing & Adding Schools: It is not necessary to remove schools if you decide not to apply or attend.
• The school can just disregard your FAFSA form if not applied or are not accepted.
• Schools can be removed at any time to make room for new schools.
• 10 schools can be added at a time.
• Applying to 10 or More Schools: If applying to more than 10 schools, you have a few options to add more schools to the FAFSA form.
• LEARN MORE

DOES THE STUDENT HAVE DEPENDENTS?

• This view collects information to determine the dependency status of the student.
• The user answers “No” to both questions if the student does not have a child.

STUDENT ADDITIONS DEPENDENCY QUESTIONS

• This view collects additional information to determine the student's dependency status.
• The user selects "None of the Above."
  

PRO TIP

• Student & Parent: Help with information about dependency status.
  • The U.S. Congress sets the dependency guidelines. They are different from the guidelines the IRS uses. 
  • Even if you live on your own, support yourself, and file taxes on your own, you may still be considered a dependent student for federal student aid purposes. If you are a dependent student, you’ll need to report information about your parent(s).
  • If you are an independent student, you won’t have to provide parent information, and you can skip the next step.
  • The government considers any student under the age of 24 years old a dependent student. 
  • LEARN MORE about dependency status.

STUDENT HOMELESSNESS FILTER QUESTIONS

• This view collects information to determine the dependency status of the student.

DEPENDENT STUDENT STATUS

• This view displays if the student is considered a dependent student.
• If the user selects "I will provide information about my parent(s)" and "Continue," then they will continue to the "Parent Demographics" section.
• If the user selects the "I am unable to provide information about my parent(s)" option and "Continue," the user will need to provide additional information.

PRO TIP

• Parent: Parent information is required unless the student meets the independent requirement status.

WHOSE INFORMATION SHOULD I PROVIDE

• This view is the first view of the "Parent Demographics" section and provides the user assistance to determine what parent information to report on the FAFSA form.

PARENT MARITAL STATUS

• This view collects the parents' marital status information.
• The user selects "Married or Remarried" and enters the month and year their parents were married or remarried.
  

PRO TIP

• Parent: A reminder to divorced parents that the custodial parent is considered the first parent when completing the form. A custodial parent provides more than 50% of support.
• Parent: If the custodial parent is remarried, the new spouse will be listed vs the student's biological parent.

PERSONAL INFORMATION FOR FIRST PARENT

• This view collects Parent 1's information (i.e., Social Security number, last name, first initial, date of birth, and email address). 

PERSONAL INFORMATION FOR OTHER PARENT

• This view collects the other parent's information (i.e., Social Security number, last name, first initial, and date of birth).

PARENT STATE OF LEGAL RESIDENCE

• The view collects parents' state of legal residence information.

ENTER INFORMATION FOR YOUR PARENT'S DEPENDENTS

• This view collects information about the parent’s other dependents.
• The parent has additional dependents.

PARENT HOUSEHOLD INFORMATION

• Household size is calculated based on previous answers.
• The applicant will enter the number of household members in college, including himself or herself.

PARENT TAX FILING STATUS

• This is where the user receives a message to determine if they would like to link to the IRS for the parents' financial information.

PRO TIP

• Parent: It is recommended to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to complete the application with current, accurate information and avoid additional questions from schools.
  

• Parents:  The user may be unable to use this tool due to identity theft, name change, marital status changes, or entering the incorrect social security number.
• If this is the case, the user will have to manually input the required information.

PARENT ELIGIBLE FOR IRS DRT

• This view displays prior to sending the user to the IRS website informing the user that they are eligible to use the IRS DRT, and recommends that they use it to retrieve tax information.

PARENT LOG-IN TO IRS DATA RETRIEVAL TOOL

• This view shows if the user decides to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool.
• Additionally, this view only displays if the parent was not already authenticated.

PRO TIP

• Parent: The parent that creates a FSA ID will be the same parent for IRS Data Retrieval Tool.

PARENT IRS INFORMATION

• If the parent is ineligible or decides not to use the IRS DRT, they will be required to enter the parents' financial information manually.
• Since the user opted to not use the IRS DRT, they must enter their parents’ adjusted gross income for 2021.

PRO TIP

• Parent: If the parents file separately, they must add each parent's current tax forms together to have an accurate Adjusted Gross Income.

PARENT INCOME FROM WORK

• This view collects the parents' income from work.

PRO TIP

• Parent: This information can be found on your W-2 in box 1.

PARENT-SIMPLIFIED PATH DETERMINATION

• This view collects the parent financial information used to determine if the student’s application qualifies for the simplified needs path.
• The user selects "No" because the parent didn't file a Schedule 1 or only filed a Schedule 1 to report the following: unemployment compensation, educator expenses, IRA deduction, student loan interest deduction, or Alaska Permanent Fund dividend.

PARENT SKIP THE REMAINING QUESTIONS

• The user has the option to select "No" or "Yes." If "Yes" is selected, the user will be able to skip the remaining questions about the parents' income and assets.

PRO TIP

PARENT ADDITIONAL IRS INFORMATION

• The user enters the amount of the parent's income tax for 2021.

PARENT QUESTIONS FOR TAX FILERS ONLY

• The user enters the following parent financial information: combat pay, or special combat pay; student college grant and scholarship aid reported to the IRS in the parents' income; education credits; untaxed portions of IRA distributions and pensions; IRA-deductions and payments to self-employed SEP, SIMPLE, Keogh, and other qualified plans; and tax-exempt interest income.

PARENT ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION

• The user enters the following parent financial information: child support the parents paid, earnings from working under a Cooperative Education Program, and taxable earnings from need-based employment programs.

PARENT UNTAXED INCOME

• The user enters the following parent financial information: child support received for all children; housing, food, and other living allowances paid to members of the military, clergy, and others; payments to tax-deferred pension and retirement savings; veterans noneducation benefits; and other untaxed income not reported.

PRO TIP

• Parent: Payments to tax-deferred pension can be found in W-2 in box 12 or box 14 for those who are state or town employees.

PARENT ASSETS

• The user selects "no" to skip questions about the parents' assets (i.e., the total balance of cash, savings, and checking accounts; the net worth of the parents' investments; and the net worth of the parents' current businesses and/or investment farms).

PRO TIP

• Parent: Parents should include stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and 529. DO NOT include retirement accounts.
• Parent: A 529 account must be reported if it is in the parent and student's name.
  

STUDENT ELIGIBLE FOR IRS DATA RETRIEVAL TOOL (DRT)

• This view displays prior to sending the user to the IRS website, informs the user that the student is eligible to use the IRS DRT, and recommends that they use it to retrieve tax information.

STUDENT IRS INFORMATION

• If the student is ineligible or decides not to use the IRS DRT, they will be required to enter the student's financial information manually.
• The user enters the student's adjusted gross income for 2021.

STUDENT INCOME FROM WORK

• The users enter the amount the student earned from working in 2021.

STUDENT ADDITIONAL IRS INFORMATION

• The user enters the amount of the student's income tax for 2021.

STUDENT QUESTIONS FOR TAX FILERS ONLY

• The user enters the following student financial information: combat pay or special combat pay; student college grant and scholarship aid reported to the IRS in the student's income; education credits; untaxed portions of IRA distributions and pensions; IRA-deductions and payments to self-employed SEP, SIMPLE, Keogh, and other qualified plans; and tax-exempt interest income.

PRO TIP

• Students: The answers to these questions will typically be zero for students.

STUDENT ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION

• The user enters the following student financial information: child support the parents paid, earnings from working under a Cooperative Education Program, and taxable earnings from need-based employment programs.

STUDENT UNTAXED INCOME

• The user enters the following student financial information: child support received for all children; housing, food, and other living allowances paid to members of the military, clergy, and others; payments to tax-deferred pension and retirement savings; veterans noneducation benefits; and other untaxed income not reported.

STUDENT ASSETS

• The user selects "No" to skip questions about the student's assets (i.e., the total balance of cash, savings, and checking accounts; the net worth of the student’s investments; and the net worth of the student’s current businesses and/or investment farms).

FAFSA SUMMARY | STUDENT DEMOGRAPHICS

• This view is displayed after the student fills out the FAFSA form.

FAFSA SUMMARY | SCHOOL SELECTION & DEPENDENCY STATUS

• This view is displayed after the student fills out the FAFSA form.

FAFSA SUMMARY | PARENT DEMOGRAPHICS & PARENT FINANCIALS

• This view is displayed after the student fills out the FAFSA form.

FAFSA SUMMARY | FAFSA SUMMARY | STUDENT FINANCIAL & SIGN AND SUBMIT

• This view is displayed after the student fills out the FAFSA form.

DEMOGRAPHIC SURVEY

• The demographic survey is new for the 2023 –24 FAFSA cycle and is only presented once per transaction. Before the user can sign and submit their FAFSA form, they must respond to the survey.

PRO TIP

• Student & Parent: This survey is optional and ok to choose to "Decline" to answer.

STUDENT AGREEMENT OF TERM

• This view is where the student acknowledges the certification statement.

STUDENT SIGNATURE OPTIONS

• The user indicates how they plan to sign the application and provides their signature from this view.

PRO TIP

• Student: If the student created FSA ID, choose to sign electronically.

SIGNATURE STATUS

• The student will need to sign.
• This view displays the signature status.
• The user can also submit the application from this view if all signatures have been captured.

PARENT SIGNATURE SELECTION

• This view displays the option to indicate which parent is signing the application when more than one parent provides information on the FAFSA form.
• The user can see the parent information reported and select which parent will sign the FAFSA form.

PARENT AGREEMENT OF TERM

• The view is where the parent acknowledges the certification statement.

PARENT SIGNATURE OPTIONS

• In this view, the user can sign by providing their FSA ID or by clicking on “Other Options to Sign and Submit.”
• In this scenario, the user selects “Other Options to Sign and Submit.”

PRO TIP

• Parent: If the parent does not have a social security number and is unable to create an FSA ID click "Other Options to Sign" and then print the signature.

PARENT SIGNATURE OPTIONS CONTINUED

• In this view, the user selects their desired signature option. In this scenario, the parent selects “Submit without signatures” and then clicks “Continue.”

SIGN & SUBMIT

• After the parent has selected a signature option, they are returned to the Sign and Submit page.
• The “Submit My FAFSA Form Now” button is now enabled. The user clicks this button to submit their FAFSA form.

CONFIRMATION PAGE

• The confirmation displays when the FAFSA form is submitted successfully.