How to Apply
Common FAFSA Mistakes (07-08)
Attention: Parents of Dependent Students
You are required to provide:
- date(s) of birth in FAFSA item 61 or 65.
- Social Security Number(s) in FAFSA item 58 or 62.
- last name and first initial in FAFSA items 59/60 or 63/64.
Not supplying a parent’s date of birth or Social Security Number will cause the student’s FAFSA to be rejected.
In the 2007-08 school year, we will focus our verification efforts on the following items that tend to be incorrectly reported on aid applications. You/your parents may be asked to document such items. Item numbers pertain to the paper FAFSA.
Do NOT submit copies of tax returns to Student Financial Affairs (SFA), unless we request them. When you receive your Federal Student Aid Report (SAR) from the federal processor, disregard any comment that indicates you have been selected for verification.
We will notify you if you are selected for verification by our office.
Marital Status (Questions 16, 50, and 56)
Please also see "Adjusted Gross Income/Income Tax Paid" below.
You must report marital status as of the date you file the FAFSA for all individuals about whom you give information. If you are not married as of the date you sign the FAFSA, check "unmarried"even if you plan to marry during the award year. Intended spouses cannot be included in household size, and this item cannot be updated after filing the FAFSA. If your natural mother and father are divorced and the responsible parent has remarried, when indicating the responsible parent’s marital status, mark the box that says "married"AND include income/asset information for both parent AND stepparent.
Number in Household (Questions 66 and 90)
Include only the number of people that you/your parents now support and for whom you/your parents will continue to provide more than 50% support between July 1, 2007, and June 30, 2008 (including your unborn child, if that child will be born before or during the award year). Also include your parents’ other dependent children who will be attending postsecondary schools in 2007-2008. Always include yourself (the student).
Number in College (Question 67 and 91)
Include only household members who will attend college between July 1, 2007, and June 30, 2008, at least six credit hours per term or 12 clock hours per week. Students must be working toward a degree or certificate leading to a recognized educational credential at a college eligible to participate in federal student aid programs. Do not include parents attending college.
Untaxed Income Worksheet "A"- Questions 40 and 84
- Earned Income Credit. In questions 40 and 84, report the totals from Worksheet A, which includes your (and your spouse's/your parents') Earned Income Credit from IRS Form 1040, Form 1040A, Form 1040EZ or Telefile.
- Social Security Benefits. When entering Social Security benefits, include benefits received for every child in the family. If Social Security checks are made payable to the parent for the student, be sure to place the benefit amount under the parent's untaxed income totals.
Worksheet "B"- Questions 41 and 85
- Payments to tax-deferred pension and savings plans.
- Untaxed portions of IRA and Keogh payments, 401(k) and 403(b) plans.
- Child support received for all children [total amount of child support you/your parent(s) received from Jan. 1, 2006, to Dec. 31, 2006.]
- Tax exempt interest income.
- Untaxed portions of pensions (excluding "rollovers,"which must be identified as such on the IRS return).
- Military/clergy housing, food, living allowances.
- Cash support or any money paid on your behalf (include rent/mortgage,
tuition, insurance paid by someone other than the parent, if
dependent).
Adjusted / Income Tax Paid Information (Questions 35/36 and 79/80)
- Use a completed 2006 tax return if at all possible when completing the financial aid application.
- If your tax filing is delayed, estimate your information to meet the "on-time"UF aid deadline. If you estimate, be sure to update your application when your tax filing is complete.
- When reporting U.S. taxes paid, do NOT report the amount of tax "withheld"and do NOT include any self employment taxes.
- If your responsible parent is remarried (even if they were not married in 2004), you must include your step-parent's income and asset information.
- If you/your parents are married and filed separate income tax returns, income information from both tax returns must be combined and reported.
- If you or your parents are divorced, separated, or widowed, DO
NOT include information about your or your parent's spouse. For
further assistance, call us at (352) 392-1275.
Asset Information (Questions 43, 44, 45, 87, 88, 89)
When answering questions pertaining to parent/student assets, you must report the net worth of those assets as of the date you complete the FAFSA. These items cannot be updated after filing the original form. Do not include financial aid you received.
Worksheet "C"- (Questions 42 and 86)
Read instructions for Worksheet “C” carefully before transferring your responses to item numbers 42 and/or 80. Information should be reported in this item when you/your parents have paid child support or reported as income Federal Work-Study, scholarships, fellowships and/or grants, Hope and Lifetime Learning tax credits, or AmeriCorps awards.
Question 31
Students must answer this question about drug-related offenses. Do not leave this question blank. A drug-related conviction does not necessarily mean you are ineligible for aid. For more information about the UF’s policy on alcohol and other drug use, as well as the federal policy on drug convictions and financial aid eligibility, see "UF Drug-Free Schools Policy."