If you’re a student trying to get financial aid, you’ll need to fill out a FAFSA. The acronym stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid and it’s an application that helps determine your eligibility for federal grants and loans.
FAFSA Help: Everything To Know
The FAFSA is a federal form that you fill out to get financial aid. You can get financial aid by filling out the FAFSA every year, but it’s a lot easier to do it when you’re younger than when you’re older because most people don’t save much money as they grow older. It’s also easier if your parents or guardians fill out their own forms too, so that their income information can be used in calculating your eligibility for federal grants and loans.
If your family has a low income, this may mean that you qualify for Pell Grants and other types of assistance from your state government. The amount of money awarded depends on several factors including how many people live in your household (i.e., how big it is), what kind of work the adults do if any at all (i
Who should fill out the FAFSA?
The FAFSA is a form that you fill out to apply for federal financial aid, including grants, loans and work-study jobs. The first step in filling out the FAFSA is checking the appropriate box indicating whether or not you want to apply for federal financial aid.
If you are planning on attending college in the next few years, it’s critical that everyone who lives in your household help fill out this form as early as possible because many deadlines are approaching fast!
Even if you don’t plan on going to college right away or have already graduated from high school and aren’t sure what career path you want yet, make sure that everyone living at home fills out their own individual FAFSA forms since some grants may require additional information from other family members besides just parents (think siblings).
How to fill out the FAFSA?
You can fill out the FAFSA online, on paper or by phone. You can also request a paper application in the mail by calling 1-800-4-FEDAID.
You’ll need to provide information about your current family situation (e.g., how many people are currently living at home) and income (e.g., monthly take home pay). The FAFSA also asks questions about your spouse’s income if you’re married and filing jointly with them, or if they plan to file a tax return independent of yours this year—you’ll need this information so that federal aid administrators know how much money is coming in from both of your households’ incomes during any given month.”
When to fill out the FAFSA?
- When to fill out the FAFSA?
There are two dates you need to be aware of when filing your FAFSA: the federal deadline and your school’s deadline. You must submit your FAFSA by October 1st or earlier, but it must be completed before any aid can be awarded. For example, if a college awards scholarships based on merit (those without need-based criteria) they may require that students file their FAFSAs by February 1st or May 1st, depending on when financial aid is released.
Some colleges will also offer “early decision” options that require students to submit their applications prior to October 1st. In addition, some states have specific deadlines for submitting state aid forms as well — check with your college’s financial aid office for details about their own timeline and requirements.
How often do you have to fill out the FAFSA?
You have to fill out the FAFSA every year. It’s free, and you can fill it out online at fafsa.gov. You’ll need to do this even if your family is already receiving financial aid from another source, such as a state grant or scholarship (but not loans). If you don’t submit the FAFSA by the deadline, your chances of getting financial aid are much lower.
The good news is that getting started on your FAFSA now will give you plenty of time to make corrections before you file it at the end of January 2020. That’s because once you submit a completed application, there are no changes allowed—so do yourself a favor and save yourself some stress by being thorough in filling out all fields!
What is the deadline to fill out the FAFSA?
The FAFSA is available from January 1 to March 1. The deadline for filing the FAFSA is the same for all students, schools, and states (see below for details). Even if you’re not sure whether or not you want to go to school or what school you might want to attend, it’s a good idea to fill out the form anyway. This gives your college options more time to consider scholarship opportunities that may be available based on your income level.
Once you submit your application and get an award letter from one of these organizations in return–whether it’s a bank offering low-interest loans or a state agency giving grants–you’ll have funds with which
to pay back any amount owed (plus interest) at the end of next year’s tax season.
Where can I find help filling out the FAFSA?
The best place to start is the FAFSA website. The FAFSA also has a hotline number, which you can call if you have specific questions or concerns about your application. Another great resource is the financial aid office at your school or college—they’ll be able to help you fill out the FAFSA and walk through any problems that might come up during that process.
The financial aid office at your parents’ schools might also be able to offer assistance, especially since they may have access to more information about your family than you do (which will come in handy when completing sections like “income” and “assets”). If possible, contact these offices in advance so they know what kind of help you’ll need once you’re ready to apply for federal student loans or grants from them!
If none of these options work for some reason (e.g., because no one answers their phone), try calling one of these organizations instead:
You can get financial aid by filling out a FAFSA.
- The FAFSA is a form that allows students to apply for financial aid.
- You can get financial aid by filling out a FAFSA.
- Financial aid comes in the form of grants, scholarships, and student loans.
- Financial aid can be used to pay for tuition, books, and other educational expenses. It can also be used to pay for living expenses while attending school.
Conclusion
We hope this blog has answered any questions you may have about the FAFSA and financial aid. If not, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us! We’re happy to help.