FAQ Knowledge Base
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Financial Aid List of Categories
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HOW much money can I get form Pell Grants?
Pell Grants for the 2004-2005 award year ( July 1, 2004 to June 30, 2005 ) will depend on program funding. The maximum Pell Grant for the 2003-2004 award year was $4,050.
How much you get will depend not only on your EFC but also on your cost of attendance,* whether you're a full-time or part-time student, and whether you attend school for a full academic year* or less. You may receive only one Pell Grant in an award year, and you may not receive Pell Grant funds from more than one school at a time.
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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.
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.
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WHAT happens after I apply?
You'll receive one of the following within a range of a few days to four weeks, depending on whether you applied electronically or mailed in a paper FAFSA:
- A Student Aid Report (SAR), if you applied using the paper FAFSA and didn't provide a valid e-mail address; or
- A SAR Information 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. 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
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HOW do I qualify?
As discussed on page 8, we use a standard formula, established by Congress, to evaluate the information you report when you apply. The formula produces an EFC number. Your SAR contains this number, in the upper right portion of page 1. This number will determine if you're eligible and how much you can receive.
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WHAT is a Federal Pell Grant?
Unlike a loan, it doesn't have to be repaid. Generally, Pell Grants are awarded only to undergraduate students —those who haven't earned a bachelor's or graduate degree. In some limited cases, however, you might receive a Pell Grant if you're enrolled in a post baccalaureate teacher certificate program.
Pell Grants are usually a foundation of federal student aid, to which aid from other federal and nonfederal sources might be added. If you're eligible for a Pell Grant, you'll receive the full amount you qualify for.
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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 .
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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 previous page) 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.
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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 2004 Federal Income Tax Return (and that of your spouse, if you're married)1
- Your parents' 2004 Federal Income Tax Return (if you're a dependent student)1
- Any foreign tax return or tax return from Puerto Rico
- Your 2004 untaxed income records—Social Security,
- Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, welfare, or veterans benefits records, for example
- Your 2004 bank statements
- Your 2004 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.
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Can I request a PIN from the Federal Student Aid Information Center?
No, you can only request a PIN by going online.
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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 go to www.studentaid.ed.gov. At this site, click on “Get Your PIN ” in the left column, right above the FAFSA logo. Or, you can call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-4- FED -AID.
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