Step-by-step guide to FAFSA application.

MUW Team

// July 12, 2023

Financial aid application process, Financial education

Introduction

The application helps determine your eligibility for federal student aid and how much money you can get to pay for college. It’s a significant financial aid form, and many things must be considered when completing it. From eligibility requirements to online filing options

Find out if you’re eligible.

To begin the process of applying for federal student aid, the first step is to determine if you’re eligible. You can do this by visiting the Federal Student Aid website and entering your information or calling 1-800-433-3243. You’ll also need to contact your state’s Department of Education if you want to apply for state aid and check with your school’s financial aid office–they may have additional requirements that need to be covered by FAFSA (such as proof of citizenship).

If you find out that either one or both of these organizations has determined that you’re not eligible for any assistance from them, don’t despair! There are still options available to help pay for college costs without taking out loans or dipping into savings accounts:

Complete the FAFSA4caster and print your results.

The FAFSA4caster is a free tool that allows you to estimate your federal aid eligibility. You will need to respond to some questions regarding your financial status to proceed with the application for federal student aid. and college plans. You’ll be asked for information such as your income, assets, family size, number of students in college at any given time (including yourself), and other details about how much money you spend on housing and meals each month.

Much aid you might receive from federal progress information can be utilized to ascertain or assess, such as Pell Grants or Federal Work-Study Jobs Programs if they apply to you; however, all applicants must remember: these estimations are not official offers of financial assistance! They’re just meant as a way for students planning on applying for federal grants to get an idea of what sorts of resources may be available based on their particular circumstances before actually filling out an application form online through UMass Amherst’s portal called “UMass Amherst Financial Aid Portal” where actual applications are submitted electronically using client software known as “WebAdvisor.”

Complete your FAFSA application online or by mail.

Online is the easiest way to apply and can save you time, money, and stress. You’ll be able to complete the application in one sitting without printing or filling out any paperwork.
Online is the fastest way to apply–the FAFSA website will guide you through each step of completing your FAFSA application with helpful hints along the way.
Online is also most accurate because it automatically checks for errors as they occur in real-time instead of waiting until after you submit an incomplete application or make corrections later on.
Finally, submitting electronically is more secure than sending paper documents through postal mail due to increased security measures implemented by federal agencies like IRS and SSA (Social Security Administration).

Submit supporting documents with your FAFSA application.

The Department of Education will use your FAFSA to determine how much money you are eligible to receive in federal student loans and grants.

The application requires documentation from your parents’ tax returns and W-2s. However, if those aren’t available because they were lost or destroyed, there are ways that you can still provide proof of income with substitute documents:

Copies of original tax returns (or transcripts) must be submitted for verification purposes.
Current pay stubs showing income received within the last 30 days

Check the status of your FAFSA application online.

Once you’ve completed your FAFSA application, You can do this by clicking “View My Financial Aid Status” on the Student Aid website and signing in with your Federal Student Aid ID (FSA ID).

Once logged in, you’ll be able to see whether or not any additional documents are needed for verification purposes. If so, review these documents carefully to ensure they match what was reported on your FAFSAsmart application and are appropriate for submission (for example: don’t submit bank statements if requested).

You’re done if you do not see any documents that need to be submitted! You can go ahead and submit your FAFSA application. If so, you’ll have the option to select a date when you want your FAFSA processed. The next step is waiting for an email confirming your FAFSA has been processed.

Correct mistakes, update information and submit corrections to your FAFSA file.

Correct mistakes.
Update information.
Submit corrections to your FAFSA file.

If you make a mistake on your FAFSA, you need to fix it as soon as possible. For example, if you accidentally omit your income or report an incorrect amount of financial aid, submit corrections immediately. The fastest way to update your FAFSA is to log in to the application and upload new information. You can also call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243) during business hours (8 a.m.-5 p.m., Eastern time).

Renew your FAFSA application while avoiding duplication of work in subsequent years, if necessary.

If you are participating in a Federal Work-Study program and working part-time, you should renew your FAFSA application every year. This is because your work status may have changed from the previous year, affecting how much money you’re eligible for in federal student aid.

To renew your FAFSA, log into the online portal and click “I want to renew my application.” Then follow the simple steps outlined by TurboTax or H&R Block (depending on which service provider was used last) until completion of all required forms and verification of income sources listed on page 2 of IRS Form 1040A or 1040EZ

Filling out the FAFSA form is a helpful way to determine if you’re eligible for federal student aid and how much money you can get to pay for college.

The FAFSA form is a required part of the application process for federal student aid. It’s available online or by mail and used to determine your eligibility for federal student loans, grants, and work-study jobs.

The FAFSA also makes it easier to apply for state aid programs where you live if they require using this form. And many colleges use the FAFSA as an application requirement, even if they provide their financial aid forms instead of asking students to complete one from the government directly.

Conclusion

Many resources are available if you’re looking for help with the FAFSA form. You can start by looking at our step-by-step guide above and other articles on this topic.