FAFSA: Who Can Apply, Required Documents, and More

Filling out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form is the official procedure for obtaining financial aid for university students in the United States of America.

This means that, if you need financial aid to pursue higher education, you must pay attention to the deadlines for submitting the form.

Currently the open forms are for the periods 2023/24 and 2024/25, and the official dates must be respected, in order to guarantee receipt of benefits.

But, as important as knowing the dates is knowing the eligibility criteria, after all, who can fill out the FAFSA form?

Throughout the following content we will see everything about this issue, in addition to clarifying other information related to filling out, so don’t miss out!

What are the amounts paid through the FAFSA?

To understand what amounts are paid through the FAFSA, it is important to first see what this form is about.

The FAFSA is a form intended for higher education students in the United States of America who need financial assistance to cover educational expenses.

This means that the benefits granted are generally offered through financial resources, ranging from $100.00 to $4,000.00 per year.

The exact amount received is calculated according to the student’s profile, especially considering their family income.

This means that the greater the need, the greater the value of the benefit.

For this reason, it is very important to fill out the form correctly, so that the aid is calculated fairly to the need.

In addition to financial aid, it is also possible to obtain discounts and student scholarships through the FAFSA, in partnership with colleges.

Likewise, it is worth remembering that this is federal student aid, so it is also possible to participate in state programs, which increases the benefit received.

However, these vary according to the state, so it is essential to consult the colleges in your region.

What are the criteria for receiving the FAFSA?

Throughout the previous explanations, it was evident that filling out the FAFSA form is aimed at low-income students.

This is because the aid amount is calculated according to family income, so financially wealthy people will not be included.

Furthermore, it is important that the student is in higher education, enrolled in a recognized university in the United States of America.

And, by the way, only native students or those with official residence in the country can receive the benefit.

This means that exchange students, who are in an irregular situation in the country, or who study at a foreign institution cannot receive the aid.

Therefore, pay attention to these criteria before filling out the form, as they are extremely important for your classification.

Data required to register for the program

To complete the FAFSA form there are some basic criteria related to documentation and access.

Therefore, the first thing you should pay attention to is creating an accountStudentAid.gov, as this will make filling out easier, as well as ensuring the security of the information.

This account must be in the name of the student, or in the name of legal guardians and the student, if the student is a dependent.

Speaking now of documentation, to ensure completion of completion you must send the following documents:

• SSN of the student (and parents, if dependent);
• Driver’s License Number (if you have one);
• Tax Declaration;
• Record of Alimony Received (if applicable);
• Account balances in the name of the student and parents;
• Assets and investments.
• Income records;
• Tax Information;
• Among others.

It is important to say that more documents may be requested if necessary to assess your situation.

Furthermore, filing as a dependent may require some additional documents and information, so be careful.

As for the filling itself, this must be done on the official website, through the StudantAid account, and it is essential to fill in each information requested.

Before sending, you must review the form to ensure that everything is correct.

Remembering that, if it is necessary to correct any data, simply access the form within the correction period, which lasts untilSeptember 14, 2024 (2023/24) andSeptember 14, 2025 (2024/25).

So, pay attention to the period of your application, in order to ensure that it is completed correctly and that you receive financial aid!

Daniel 29 de April de 2024