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| FAFSA Hints & Tips This page lists some FAFSA Hints and Tips to help you avoid the most common problems or delays in the process. A “clean” FAFSA can be processed by the college within three days of arrival. FAFSAs with missing, incomplete, or incorrect data could cause a delay of 3 – 6 weeks in the process, or cause you to not get the aid for which you might be eligible. Do the FAFSA early, once each year. | Click here to download a printer friendly (one page) version. Rejection
FAFSA rejection means you need to correct the form and send it back. It happens when you forget to supply the information needed to determine if you can get aid. When the Central Processor (not the college) does not have enough information to determine your eligibility, they will send you a notice that your FAFSA could not be processed. The most common causes of FAFSA rejection are: Cause | Resolution | Missing Signature(s) | Sign the FAFSA or use your PIN if doing the FAFSA on the web. If you are a dependent student, at least one parent should sign. | Missing Parent Data (for dependent students) | Be sure to include your parent data based on how you answer Step Three on the FAFSA. Omitting parental data will cause the FAFSA to reject. | Missing Citizenship response | Remember to complete this question with the correct response. |
| | Verification
Verification happens when the FAFSA data does not “fit” certain parameters established by the central processor OR it can be a random selection. Incorrect responses to the income portions of the FAFSA will trigger verification. To reduce your chance of being selected, pay close attention to the fields listed below: Field | Resolution | Reporting Income Tax Paid | This field trips up most people. Read & follow the FAFSA instructions. Review your tax form and only report Income Tax Paid as referenced on the FAFSA instructions. If this field is wrong, your FAFSA will be selected for verification. | Amount from Worksheet A | Report Earned Income Credit (EIC) and Additional Child Tax Credits here. Worksheet A is the summary of various tax credits and Social Security Benefits. If you got EIC, or Additional Child Tax credit and do not report it here, the FAFSA will get selected for verification. | Exemptions | Put the correct total of exemptions from your IRS tax form. |
| | Other Common Pitfalls
The Central Processor matches your Name, SSN, and birthday with several other federal listings. If they cannot match exactly on Name, SSN, & birthday, it will add weeks to the processing time. Field/Situation | Resolution | SSN | Check your Social Security Number, be sure it is correct! | Birthday | Be sure this date is correct. | | Married? | If you are married at the time you complete the FAFSA, you must report your spouse's income & tax information. | | Separated/Divorced? | If you are separated or divorced at the time you complete the FAFSA, exclude your former spouse income and tax informatin. | Name | Use the full name currently on file with the Social Security Administration. | Legal Guardian | Legal Guardian data does NOT belong on the FAFSA. If you have a legal guardian, please call the Central Financial Aid office. | Working on a Masters/Doctorate Degree | The answer to this question is NO for all JSR students. | Family Size | Read the instructions carefully and report the correct family size. | School Code | Add the JSR school code 003759 in step six so we can get your FAFSA. | Drug Question | If you leave this blank, you will not be eligible for grants or loans. | Foreign Born? | If you were foreign born, be prepared to provide the Central Aid office with copies of documents that prove your US citizenship. | | Annual Amounts! | On worksheets A, B or C; be sure to include annual (not monthly) amounts. |
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page last updated on 10/28/2004 |
