Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Questions

How do I complete the FAFSA?
While paper copies of the FAFSA are available, ASU strongly encourages students to complete the FAFSA application online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. If you are applying for the first time, you will be required to use a PIN number if you wish to sign your FAFSA electronically. In order to obtain a PIN number, you should apply online at www.pin.ed.gov. Your PIN will be emailed to you. Once received, you can complete and sign your FAFSA online. There is a FAFSA Worksheet available online and in paper form that may assist you in filling out your FAFSA Application.

Am I required to use my parents’ information on the FAFSA?
First, you need to determine if the Department of Education views you as a Dependent or Independent student. Whether you are a Dependent student or an Independent student will determine if you need to use your parent(s) income tax and household size information to complete the FAFSA. If you can answer “yes” to any of the seven questions below, you are considered an Independent student and should not use your parent’s information when completing the FAFSA. If you answer “no” to all of the questions, you are required to use your parent’s information.

• Were you born before January 1, 1983?
• At the beginning of the 2006-2007 school year, will you be working on a master’s or doctorate program?
• As of today, are you married? (Answer yes if you are separated, but not divorced.)
• Do you have children who receive more than half of their support from you?
• Do you have dependents (other than your children or spouse) that receive more than half of their support from you now through June 30, 2007?
• Are both of your parents deceased, or are you (or were you until the age 18) a ward/dependent of the court?
• Are you a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces?

If my parents are divorced or separated, whose financial data should I use when completing the FAFSA?
If your parents are divorced, use the parent with whom you lived for the greater amount of time in the last 12 months preceding the date you file your FAFSA. If you lived with neither parent, or lived with each parent an equal amount of time, use the parent that provided the most financial support to you over the past 12 months. 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. If the parent whose information you use has remarried, you must also include the stepparent’s financial information on the application.

I would be considered a dependent student; however, I have unusual circumstances that make it unreasonable to think that my parents would contribute to my educational expenses. What should I do?
First, please be aware that the following reasons DO NOT qualify as “unusual circumstances”:

• Parents refuse to contribute to your education.
• Parents are unwilling to provide information on the FAFSA or for verification;
• Parents do not claim you on as a dependent for income tax purposes; and/or
• You demonstrate self sufficiency.

If you can document your other unusual circumstances, you may be eligible for a dependency override. These unusual circumstances include child abuse, sexual abuse or parental abandonment. Eligibility for a dependency override is determined by the Director of Financial Aid. Students must submit a Special Circumstances form and all supporting documentation in order to apply.

Do I have to reapply for financial aid every year?
Yes. You are required to apply for financial aid every year. If your financial circumstances change, you may receive more or less aid. After your first year, you renew your FAFSA on the web. The “renewal” contains preprinted information from the previous year's FAFSA. You will only need to update income information and review the entire renewal form then make any other necessary changes. Note that your eligibility for financial aid may change significantly, especially if you have a different number of family members in college.