FAFSA & VITA GO HAND IN HAND Who else to better help a client with FAFSA than someone who does taxes?! Helping clients complete their FAFSA applications is just another service we can provide. 
What is FAFSA? Free Application For Student Financial Aid. This is the application that college, university, and trade school students need to complete to qualify for the Pell Grant, and now many scholarships also require this application to be completed.  Having said that, this isn't just for lower income families anymore.  Because so many people leave money on the table--meaning many who qualify for grants do not apply, or finish their application once its started, that now many merit based scholarships and student loans require the FAFSA to be completed as a requirement. 
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In the Fall: October 1st the new FAFSA applications opens up and it is recommended that students apply soon after. you see, schools also offer scholarships and some have limited funds so its more of a first-come-first serve basis and they look at FAFSA application date for some of these.  Anyways, many high schools hold FAFSA completion events and would welcome help during those events. Parents and students complete the application and sometimes just have questions about how to answer a question, especially during the financial section. This is where you could be  real asset--you know how to read a tax return! 

Another way to help is having a FAFSA cheatsheet at your VITA site. I just created this  for the 2017 tax return that is being used to complete the FAFSA for those enrolling in the 2019-2020 college school year.  I figure, if we know the client is going to attend, or has dependents that are going to attend college, we could help them by completing these forms at tax time, putting it in their tax envelope for when they go to complete their FAFSA.  So, I will create one to be used for the 2019 tax season for those attending college in 2021-2022.

FASFA Cheatsheets:

FOR 2019-2020 School year--2017 TAX RETURN

FOR 2020-2021 School year-2018 TAX RETURN

FOR 2021-2022 School year-2019 Tax Return (created based on prior year screen shots as its not out yet)

FAFSA Resources For Volunteers, Parents & Students

From SWFL Community Foundation-Futuremaker's Coalition--FAF$A First! Campaign

DSemo Site: Get familiar with the FAFSA application by using their Demo Site-click image to learn out how.

SW Florida Community Foundation created the following resources to help parents & students. Feel free to share.

Want more information? 
Use these reference guides to help you complete the FAFSA.

• FAFSA FAQs – learn more about FAFSA, what financial aid is available and what information you need to apply
  Download here: English | Spanish | Creole

• Myth vs. Fact – the facts about filing your FAFSA 
  Download here: English | Spanish | Creole

• How to Create an FSA ID – before you can complete your FAFSA, you will need an FSA ID 
  Download here: English | Spanish | Creole

• FAFSA Cheat Sheet – tips and tricks to save time and avoid mistakes
  Download here: English | Spanish | Creole

• FAFSA Glossary – common terms and acronyms to know 
  Download here: English | Spanish | Creole

• Verification: FAQ – learn more about what verification is, what you need to do and next steps 
  Download here: English

More questions? 
Contact your high school counselor for additional help.

Complete Your FAFSA Online!! For Students and Parents to Complete the FAFSA--its the LIVE site!!