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8 FAFSA Rules Military Officers Should Know Thumbnail

8 FAFSA Rules Military Officers Should Know

College Planning

Preparing for college can take a lot of paperwork, research, and fortitude. With the rising costs to attend college, even when accounting for the GI Bill, securing financial aid is becoming more important than ever. To be able to be considered for financial aid, grant money, and a number of possible scholarships, you are required to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. If this is your first time filling out a FAFSA form, it can seem daunting, but the eight must-knows below can help you prepare for what to expect and may help the process go a little more smoothly.

1. Everyone Should File - Even Senior Officers and Military Retirees

Even if you think the income in your household is too high to qualify, you might be surprised. College can be expensive, and FAFSA takes this into account as well as the number of people in the household and basic living costs that a family can face. You may be entitled to scholarships, grants, or even low-interest loans with much more borrower-friendly terms, so it is definitely worth the short period of time it takes to file. 

2. It Needs to Be Filed Every Year

Unfortunately qualifying one year does not mean qualifying the next as income and expenses can change over time. Much of the information they request for FAFSA is from your tax return. The good news is that after filing the first time, most of the information will be pre-filled, so all you have to do is make adjustments.

3. If You Are Granted Aid You Will Still Need to Accept It

Once your FAFSA application has been reviewed, your child will be given a letter showing him or her the aid that is available to him or her and this same information will be reported to the college he or she plans to attend. Receiving this letter does not start the funding. You or your child will be required to accept what aid you wish to utilize before it can be disbursed.

4. File as Early as You Can

A FAFSA can be submitted as early as October 1st, and if it's been a while between your kids going to college, you now use information from the two years prior. So for the Fall 2019 term, you'll use the data from your 2017 tax return. Some forms of financial aid have more limited funds and will offer it to students on a first come, first serve basis.

5. You Will First Need to Register for an FSA ID

Before you begin working on your FAFSA forms, you will be assigned an FSA ID which will identify you throughout the paperwork process. It is important to note that each person on the application will need to obtain their own ID, so both the student and a parent will need to file for an FSS ID. Make sure to write down this ID as it will be used multiple times throughout the filing and acceptance process. This ID will also serve as your electronic signature during the filing process. 

6. You Can Edit Your FAFSA

If anything changes that was submitted on the FAFSA form, you or your child are required to edit it even if it has already been submitted. This can include a change in dependency or the number of household members. You also will be able to make any corrections that were simple errors during filing. This can be done for every section accept the social security number.

7. Include All the Schools You Have Interest in

Even if your child  has his or her heart set on one school, it does not hurt to fill in any other school he or she might consider attending. You can enter up to 10 schools, and each of these schools will receive his or her FAFSA information. Schools will use this information to let you know which scholarships and other financial aid he or she may qualify for that is specific to their school. Sometimes the amount may be just enough to sway your decision. 

8. Report Everything Accurately

The FAFSA form is a government form that is thoroughly checked for accuracy. By failing to report everything accurately, in hopes of qualifying you for more, can get you banned from applying for financial aid in the future and actually result in legal consequences. To avoid costly mistakes, make sure that you have all of your financial information and tax returns in front of you so you can ensure the best accuracy.

Don't forget to include your tax free income.  If you're still on Active Duty, include your BAH and BAS, plus any other tax-free allowances or tax-free Combat Pay.  If you're retired, don't forget your VA Disability Compensation, if you receive it.

Take advantage of the benefits FAFSA can provide for your child's college funding by making sure to file for it each year. By knowing what to expect and being properly prepared you will find the process less daunting and more likely to be rewarding. 

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