With many schools’ FAFSA deadlines quickly approaching, FAFSA season is heating up. Last night, Under Secretary of Education Martha Kanter took to Twitter to answer some pressing questions students & parents had about the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
Hi everyone! I’m Martha Kanter, the Under Secretary of Education. I’m here to answer your FAFSA questions. Tweet Q’s using
#AskFAFSA^MK— Federal Student Aid (@FAFSA) January 26, 2012
Using the hashtag #AskFAFSA, Martha answered more than 20 questions over the course of the hour. She addressed:
Who Gets Aid
@fafsa With getting help to pay for school. Is there a limit in how much a person makes? Thanks Melissa@clarkmclark09— Melissa Clark(@ClarkMclark09) January 24, 2012
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@clarkmclark09 There’s NO income cut-off for federal student aid. Everyone should fill out the FAFSA. 1.usa.gov/yvDtoX#AskFAFSA— Federal Student Aid (@FAFSA) January 26, 2012
#AskFAFSA Are non-U.S citizens (on a student visa for high school) eligible for FAFSA at a international university?— Susanna (@swolau) January 24, 2012
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@swolau In order to receive federal student aid you must be a US citizen or eligible noncitizen: 1.usa.gov/A3NJbG#AskFAFSA— Federal Student Aid (@FAFSA) January 26, 2012
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@swolau But you should check with your school’s#financialaid office. They can help you explore your options.#AskFAFSA— Federal Student Aid (@FAFSA) January 26, 2012
Tax Questions
#ASKFAFSA do I need to have my taxes done to do my FAFSA?— Bertico (@KiNg_0FHeArtS) January 23, 2012
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@king_0fhearts You can submit a FAFSA before you file. Select “will file” then use income estimates & correct your FAFSA later.#AskFAFSA— Federal Student Aid (@FAFSA) January 26, 2012
I’m not sure if I’m going to file my tax in time for some applications & I would like clarification on how to estimate. Thanks
#AskFAFSA— Arvin Lie (@ArvLie) January 25, 2012
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@arvlie Select “will file” & complete FAFSA using your most recent tax info. Once you file your 2011 taxes, correct your FAFSA.#AskFAFSA— Federal Student Aid (@FAFSA) January 26, 2012
If parents no longer claim a student on their taxes, do they have to include the parents’ financial information on the
@fafsa?#AskFAFSA— ♥Trina♥ (@BeautifulMind17) January 26, 2012
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@beautifulmind We don’t have the same requirements as the IRS does for dependency status: go to 1.usa.gov/sDnT9b#AskFAFSA— Federal Student Aid (@FAFSA) January 26, 2012
And everything in between
@fafsa how can I print out my SAR after my application has been processed?— $-CLASS (@NIIICELOOKSEAN) January 25, 2012
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@niiicelooksean fafsa.gov, login, click View Processed Information & enter your PIN. More details bit.ly/xTVgmk#AskFAFSA— Federal Student Aid (@FAFSA) January 26, 2012
@fafsa If my niece is 19 years old and does not live with her parents, but is in contact, can she use her own income on the form?— Shelley Joan Weiss (@ShelleyJoWeiss) January 25, 2012
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@shelleyjoweiss if she answers no to all questions here 1.usa.gov/sDnT9b she’s a dependent student & must provide parent info#AskFAFSA— Federal Student Aid (@FAFSA) January 26, 2012
@fafsa what positions make you eligible for debt forgiveness by the Federal government? What qualifies as public interest?— Matthew (@mullinm1) January 26, 2012
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@mullinm1 You can find the list of public service jobs at studentaid.ed.gov/publicservice#AskFAFSA— Federal Student Aid (@FAFSA) January 26, 2012
Remember, applying is FREE and there is no income cut-off to qualify for federal student aid. However, some aid is distributed on a first-come, first-served basis so it is important to apply early. Kanter closed the discussion by encouraging ALL students to complete the FAFSA.
Thanks for the questions everyone. This was fun! Now that you’re experts, go get started on your FAFSA: fafsa.gov ^MK
#AskFAFSA— Federal Student Aid (@FAFSA) January 26, 2012
To see all the tweets from the event, follow @FAFSA on Twitter.
Federal Student Aid New Media Team
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I’m in a private FAA 149 school. I graduate in June 2012. My school is forcing us to sign another promissory note, with very little explanation. The only thing I was able to get out of the administration was that the DOE mandated it.
It was explained to me that since so many former students were in default on there student loans, the department of education was forcing current students to pay into the system in advance. I find this hard to believe, since nothing was said about it in advance. We were only given one week to comply or face being dropped from the course. This just sounds too much like someone is covering up something.
The criteria for what describes an independent student need to be broadened. Our niece came to live with us in September 2011 after being kicked out of her house by her mother. She has since stopped receiving SS survivor benefits in June 2011 after graduating high school. Since my brother passed away her mother hasn’t spent a dime on her, other than the SS money she receives and certainly supplied nothing after forcing her to leave the family home last fall. My niece worked two jobs and is now going to our local university full time. What makes her dependent on her mother? The system is not working for her.
I agree with Nancy. My father passed away when I was a teenager and my mother walked out of my life when I was 12. I have been providing for myself for a long time. Because my mother was still alive, even though I didn’t have contact with her. I had to fill out so much paperwork and missed out on the opportunity to attend colleges that I had been accepted to because I couldn’t prove my independence and their financial aid department could not work with me. The system needs tweaking!
I have a graduate degree and I would like to go back to school to complete my PhD. Do I still have to complete the FAFSA application and do I qualify for help at this point.