<p>FAFSA is not just to check your income. It vets you on a number of other things that makes it a federal issue if you are lying. THings like if you are a citizen, registered with selective service, on the lam from some things. It is a vetting device and clearing house.</p>
<p>My experience is like dentmom4’s. My D received merit aid without filling out the FAFSA. At many schools, there is no need to fill out any financial forms to receive this type of aid. You should definitely check with the specific schools your child is applying to, though, as there is a subset of schools that does want this for merit consideration As I stated earlier, I have never filled out any FAFSA or CSS forms for any of my 3 kids, as I knew we did not qualify for need based aid of any kind. We had the college savings safely put away that we had been accumulating from the time my kids were born and there was absolutely no reason for us to do it. So all I am saying is, yes, most people should fill out FAFSA, but a minority of people really don’t have to and should not be on automatic pilot with this, but should do their homework.</p>