<p>Filling FAFSA for first time have few questions.</p>
<p>1) Why its important to file FAFSA earlier like 1/3 or 1/4.. even parents havent got their W2 info yet so why such a rush ??</p>
<p>2) is FAFSA filed by Student or Parent, I guess student since it ask for student SS/DOB.</p>
<p>FAFSA keep throwing me out every few min I guess too much traffic to the Web server..</p>
<p>
Yes, it’s the student to file the FAFSA.</p>
<p>1) Some federal aid is limited such as work-study and SEOG. Filing early supposedly gets you ‘in line’ for some of this if you will be eligible for it. You file with estimates of 2013 income info and actual asset info and with a ‘will file’ taxes status. When your taxes are done, you update and resubmit the fafsa with actual 2013 income info. Don’t update the asset info unless you made an actual error the first time. This time you file with a ‘have filed’ taxes status. You should file as soon in February as possible, this isn’t the year to wait to file. A percentage of FAFSAs will be selected for verification. The earlier you file the earlier the verification process can begin and conclude.</p>
<p>2) The fafsa belongs to the student but both the student and one parent have to sign with their own PINs before it is submitted.</p>
<p>It’s fine to wait a few days until the website quiets down to file. Longer is fine if you won’t be eligible for work-study or SEOG or other limited funds but still meet the school’s deadline.</p>
<p>Filing so early probably only makes a difference if a student is likely to qualify for certain aid with very limited funding such as the Federal SEOG grant, Work Study, Perkins loans. Schools are given very limited funds for these funds and award them on a first come first serve basis. </p>
<p>Most schools process FAFSA based on the date of filing so filing early *may *secure your “place in line”. (and I say “may” because it does not guarantee it - my daughter lost out on the SEOG and Work Study one year despite filing very early because she was selected for verification and, in the short time it took for us to find out she had been selected and submit the forms, they ran out of funds. In other words, the school did not hold the funds for her but continued processing other FAFSAs that had been filed later than hers).</p>
<p>Thanks to all for their replies.</p>
<p>Only thing we interested in is Work Study. Perkins and SEOG dosent apply to us because of our income. We will apply for other Federal loans like Stafford and Direct Loans…</p>
<p>How long it takes to get the PIN, I thought I saw somewhere on the web site to get a PIN but I keep filling the application and now it keep kicking me out every few min while adding the college codes.</p>
<p>PINs, one for the student and one for one parent. There is a link at the top of the fafsa.ed.gov main page to the PIN website. It may not be as busy as the fafsa site.</p>
<p>^ Yes I just apply for the PIN, was quiet easy and infact ask me to choose my own four digit PIN, they will confirm it in 1-3 days but i believe I can use it for FAFSA…</p>
<p>Dadfor, federal work study is a need based award. If you do not have financial need, you cannot get work study.</p>
<p>^ some of the Colleges NPC were assigning me Work Study $$, so I thought my child should get some Work Study $$…</p>
<p>Finally file the FAFSA, they told me my EFC # $18k which is very close to what I was getting from NPCs and mention i am eligible for Stafford loan $5500 plus other loans and Work Study… waiting for SAR so I can Add more then 10 schools after deleting few…</p>
<p>If your EFC is $18,000, a lot will depend on the cost of the college whether you get work study…or not. Everyone is eligible for that Direct Loan.</p>
<p>Good luck! Hope it all works out for you.</p>
<p>@thumper1</p>
<p>Yes I agree that all Colleges dont offer Work Study only few with high tuition were offering Work Study $$…</p>
<p>Does anyone know about the reasidency question? The question in FAFSA is “Have you lived in State for at least 5 years?” My family situation is that our family lived in TX from 2002 to 2008 with legal residency. Then we moved to and lived in CA for 2.5 years from mid 2008 to late 2010. We came back to TX 3 years ago and continue to live in TX as of today. Should I answer Yes or no to this question? Thanks in advance.</p>
<p>I think “State” means USA not a particular state like TX or CA…</p>
<p><a href=“https://fafsa.ed.gov/fotw1314/help/slivedFiveYears.htm[/url]”>https://fafsa.ed.gov/fotw1314/help/slivedFiveYears.htm</a></p>
<p>I think it does refer to a specific state, and is used to help determine residency. However, most schools (including TX state schools) will probably ask their own residency questions. From what I understand, you should answer ‘no.’</p>