Changes are in effect with the 2017-2018 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Applicants can submit their FAFSA earlier. You can file your 2017-2018 FAFSA as early as Oct. 1, 2016, rather than beginning on Jan. 1, 2017. The earlier submission date will be a permanent change, enabling the completion and submission of FAFSA as early as October 1 every year. You’ll use earlier income and tax information. Beginning with the 2017–18 FAFSA, students will be required to report income and tax information from an earlier tax year. For example, on the 2017–18 FAFSA, you—and your parent(s), as appropriate—will report your 2015 income and tax information, rather than your 2016 income and tax information.
These changes will be beneficial because the FAFSA will ask for older income and tax information, and you will already have done your taxes by the time you fill out your FAFSA, and you won’t need to estimate your tax information and then go back into the FAFSA later to update it. You may also be able to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (IRS DRT) to automatically import your tax information into your FAFSA. (Learn about the IRS DRT at StudentAid.gov/irsdrt.). This can lead to less pressure due to having more time to explore and understand your financial aid options and apply for aid before your state’s and school’s deadlines.

The process must begin with the creation of your FSA ID.  In order to get your FSA ID you will need your Social Security number (you must have an SSN to get an FSA ID), your full name (must match your Social Security card), and your date of birth. Although you’re not required to provide your e-mail address when you set up your FSA ID, it’ll make retrieving your username and password easier if you forget them. Just make sure you don’t use the same e-mail address as someone else (your parent, for instance). Each e-mail address can be associated with only one FSA ID.

Among other things, you can use your FSA ID to sign and submit, correct, and check the status of your online Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at fafsa.gov., review what federal student aid you have received in the past by logging in at StudentAid.gov/login; or sign federal student loan documents, complete loan entrance or exit counseling, and/or apply for income-based loan repayment at StudentLoans.gov.

Learn more about, and create your FSA ID at https://studentaid.ed.gov or contact Student Services at Eastern Shore Community College in Melfa.  757-789-1789.