FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS FOR FINANCIAL AID

1. How do I begin the process of applying for federal student aid?
   The first thing you should do is to apply for a PIN, a Personal Identification Number assigned to you by the U.S. Department of Education that is an electronic access code that serves as your personal identifier. Your PIN will allow you to:
   • Apply online for federal student aid using FAFSA on the Web;
   • Allow you to "sign" your application electronically and complete the application completely online;
   • Make online corrections to your FAFSA;
   • Access your Student Aid Report (SAR) online and make online corrections to it;
   • "Sign" a Master Promissory Note (MPN) for a federal student loan;
   • Access your federal student aid records online, including your student loan history information on NSLDS.
   It is important to point out that this PIN will be different from the PIN that you will receive from South Georgia College after you have been admitted. Your SGC PIN will allow you to enter SGC's Self-Service Banner student records system so that you can register for classes, make changes to your class schedule, view your financial aid information, view your grades, etc.
   You may apply for a U.S. Department of Education PIN online at www.pin.ed.gov. You should request your PIN before you're ready to apply for aid. If you provide an email address, you will receive an email response that contains a link to your PIN. If you don't provide an email address, you will receive your PIN through regular mail.
   If you are a dependent student, you should also request a PIN for at least one parent so that both you and your parent can electronically sign your FAFSA on the Web application before it is submitted.

2. What is the FAFSA?
   The FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. You can not receive federal student aid unless you have completed a FAFSA for the appropriate aid year and the information on the application is complete and accurate.  

3. Am I required to complete a FAFSA every year?
   Yes, a FAFSA must be completed each aid year.

4. What information do I need to complete the FAFSA accurately?
   You should have the following information readily available when completing the FAFSA:
   • Your Social Security Number, and your parents' numbers, if you're a dependent student;
   • Your W-2 Forms for the calendar year immediately preceding the first year in the FAFSA aid year. For example, students completing the FAFSA for the 2009-2010 aid year will need to report information from their 2008 W-2 forms. You should also have your parents' W-2 Forms if you're a dependent student;
   • Your Federal Income Tax Return for the calendar year immediately preceding the first year in the FAFSA aid year. For example, students completing the FAFSA for the 2009-2010 aid year will need to report information from their 2008 Federal Income Tax Return. You should also have your parents' Federal Tax Return if you're a dependent student. If you are a married student and you and your spouse filed separate tax returns, you should also have your spouse's Federal Tax Return for the same calendar year available when you complete the FAFSA.; Any foreign tax return or tax return from Puerto Rico;
   • Your untaxed income records (examples include Social Security payments, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, welfare or veterans benefits records) for the calendar year immediately preceding the first year in the FAFSA aid year. For example, students completing the FAFSA for the 2009-2010 aid year will need to report information regarding any untaxed income received in 2008. You should also have your parents' untaxed income records for the same calendar year, if you're a dependent student;
   • Current bank statements; business and investment information; business and farm records; and stock, bond, and other investment records.
   • Your alien registration card (if you are not a U.S. citizen).

5. What is the difference between a "Dependent" student and an "Independent" student, and how does that classification impact the application process?
   When you file the FAFSA, the financial information you report will be used to determine if you need financial aid, and if so, the types and amounts you will receive. You will need to determine whose information to report on the FAFSA - yours if you are an independent student, or yours and your parents' if you are a dependent student.
   Independent students report their own income and assets, and those of a spouse if the applicant is married.
   Dependent students must report their parents' income and assets information on the FAFSA in addition to their own. If you're considered a dependent student, your parents are expected to contribute toward the cost of your education. Federal student aid programs are based on the concept that a dependent student's parents have the primary responsibility for paying for their child's education.
   An applicant is considered Independent IF at least one of the following applies:
   • The applicant is or will be at least 24 years old by December 31 of the award year covered by the FAFSA;
   • The applicant will be a graduate or professional student;
   • The applicant is married;
   • The applicant has children or dependents (other than a spouse) for whom the applicant provides more than half support;
   • The applicant is an orphan or ward of the court;
   • The applicant is a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces
   • The applicant is currently serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces for purpose other than training
   If none of these criteria apply, then the applicant is a dependent student.
   Not living with parents or not being claimed by them on tax forms does not determine dependency status for federal student aid.
   If you are required to provide information about your parents, you should report information about your birth parents, adoptive parents, or stepparents. Legal guardians or other family members are not considered parents for the purposes of applying for federal student aid, so you should not provide their information.

6. My parents are divorced or separated. Whose information do I report on the FAFSA?
   You report information about the parent you lived with for the greater amount of time during the 12 months preceding the date you file your FAFSA application.
   If you didn't live with either parent, or if you lived with each parent an equal amount of time, then use information about the parent who provided the greater amount of financial support during the 12 months prior to the date your file your FAFSA application.
   If you didn't receive any parental financial support during that time, you must report information about the parent who most recently provided the greater amount of parental support.

7. Do I report information about my stepparent?
   Yes, your stepparent's financial information is required on the FAFSA.

8. What are some of the most frequent errors applicants make when completing the FAFSA?
   Some of the more frequent errors are:
   • Incorrect parent and student Social Security Numbers;
   • Student Dependent/Independent Status;
   • Divorced/remarried parental information;
   • Income earned by parents/stepparents;
   • Untaxed income;
   • U.S. income taxes paid;
   • Household size;
   • Number of household members in college;
   • Real estate and investment net worth

9. What do I do if I need help filling out the FAFSA application?
   The staff of the Office of Financial Aid can assist you in completing your FAFSA. During most times of the year, appointments are not required. However, please be reminded that you should have all the necessary information with you when you call or visit the office so that we can assist you to the best of our ability.
   In addition, assistance is built into the program if you apply online using FAFSA on the Web at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Free help is also available online at www.studentaid.ed.gov/completefafsa. You may also contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243) for assistance.

10. How do I make sure that South Georgia College will receive my FAFSA information when my FAFSA is processed?
    You can list multiple schools on your FAFSA. Those schools will automatically receive your FAFSA results electronically. As long as SGC is listed on your FAFSA, then we should receive your processed results.
    South Georgia College's Federal School Code is 001592 (zero, zero, 1592).

11. What will happen once South Georgia College receives the processed results from my FAFSA?
    The Office of Financial Aid receives processed FAFSA applications for all applicants who included SGC in the "Colleges" (Step 6) section. When the application is received, it will be reviewed to determine if additional documentation is required in order to verify the accuracy of the information. Applicants will be notified by regular mail if additional paperwork must be submitted. Once the additional paperwork is received, the application will be reviewed for accuracy. If corrections must be made, the aid office will make those corrections electronically on behalf of the student. Once the corrected FAFSA application is received, the aid office will determine the applicant's eligibility and make awards. The student will be notified through regular mail of his/her award package. The applicant is not required to return the award notification to the aid office, unless the applicant wishes to decline or decrease a particular award or award amount.

12. Is there a fee for completing the FAFSA?
    No, applicants do not pay a fee for completing and submitting a FAFSA. However, there are a number of sites on the Internet that advertise FAFSA processing for a fee. Students should remember to complete their FAFSA online at www.fafsa.ed.gov.

13. What is a Student Aid Report (SAR) and why is it important?
    Your Student Aid Report (SAR) shows all the information you gave on your FAFSA. Your SAR will usually 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 paper SAR and at or near the top of an electronic SAR. You might not get an EFC if insufficient information was provided on the FAFSA.
    You should receive your results by email within a few days after your FAFSA has been processed, if you provided an email address when you applied. The email will contain a secure link so you can access your SAR online. If you have a "blocked" of "junk" folder in your email files, check it. The email with the secure link might be placed there instead of to your inbox.
    If you did not provide an email address on your FAFSA, you should receive a paper SAR by mail in a few weeks. Your SAR is sent to you from the Central Processing Service, not from the College's aid office.