What is FAFSA on the Web?
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the form used by the U.S. Department of Education to determine your Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The data collected is used to conduct a “needs analysis” based on financial information, such as income, assets and other household information, which you (and your parents, if you are a dependent student) will be asked to provide. The FAFSA is submitted online at the following address: fafsa.gov.
Because electronic signatures hold the same legal status as written signatures, students and parents of dependent students applying for aid must use their FSA ID to confirm identity when electronically signing the FAFSA.
When should I complete and submit the FAFSA on the web?
The 2020-2021 FAFSA became available on October 1, 2019. Utilize the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to import 2018 tax figures directly from the IRS for maximum accuracy and for faster processing.
UConn’s On-Time Deadline dates are as follows:
- February 15, 2020 for:
- Continuing Undergraduate and Graduate Students
- New Freshmen
- New Transfer Students
- New Graduate Students (not attending School of Social Work)
- School of Social Work (New and Continuing Students)
How do I get an FSA ID?
The FSA ID serves as an identifier to allow students access to their personal information and various U.S. Department of Education systems. The FSA ID serves as an electronic signature. It should not be shared with anyone!
You can apply for an FSA ID from within FAFSA on the Web or at the Federal Student Aid FSA ID Web site.
Students and parents must each request their own FSA ID before completing the FAFSA so that both may electronically sign the application.
You may use your FSA ID immediately to complete, sign and submit a new FAFSA. FSA IDs are considered to be conditional until your information is verified with the Social Security Administration (SSA). Once verification with SSA is completed (1-3 days), you will be able to use your FSA ID to access your personal information on Federal Student Aid Websites.
What else can I use my FSA ID for?
If the SSA confirms your information, the FSA ID is then valid for all its uses, which include:
- Access to your online Student Aid Report
- Access to your data to make corrections
- The option to pre-fill a FAFSA with demographic information from the previous year
- Access to your information on other Federal Student Aid Websites, such as the StudentAid.gov
How do I complete the FAFSA?
What is the IRS Data Retrieval Tool?
FAFSA filers have the option of securely transferring their 2018 financial data directly from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) database to their online 2020-2021 FAFSA. This option will be available to those individuals whose 2018 federal tax return has been processed by the IRS at the time that they are completing their FAFSA. This tool is intended to save time and increase the accuracy of the information entered on the FAFSA. Use of the IRS Data Retrieval Tool is not mandatory and does not absolve the FAFSA filer from meeting UConn’s application deadline to be considered on time.
Do I need to provide parent information on the FAFSA?
What Happens After I Complete the FAFSA?
For any questions about the FSA ID process or for help completing the FAFSA, please contact the Federal Student Information Center at 1-800-433-3243, or visit their website at: fafsa.gov