Award Year: 2002-2003
Type: Drug Worksheets
FAFSAs and Renewal FAFSAs and Drug Worksheets
November 2001
GEN-01-17
Dear Partner:
The final 2002-2003 drug worksheet titled "Worksheet for Question 35" is now available on the Information for Financial Aid Professionals (IFAP) Website.
The worksheet explains the three codes that a student may use to answer question 35. A code of "1" means that the student is eligible (in regard to drug convictions) for federal student aid for the award year from July 1, 2002 to June 30, 2003. A code of "2" means the student's period of ineligibility will end during the award year, and a code of "3" means the student is ineligible for all of 2002-2003. Students who have completed an acceptable drug rehabilitation program since their last conviction are informed that their eligibility is not affected by question 35. The worksheet also defines an acceptable drug rehabilitation program.
For help in answering question 35, students who have been convicted for possession and/or sale of illegal drugs should go to www.fafsa.ed.gov or should call 1-800-4FED-AID (1-800-433-3243). Students who complete FAFSA on the Web will be able to use an embedded interactive questionnaire that determines the FASFA answer for them. For paper filers, both the 800 number and the website at www.fafsa.ed.gov will also offer interactive formats, which are easy for students to use and which can calculate an eligibility date for a student who may become eligible at a later time.
If a student calls the 800 number, he or she can choose either to use an interactive voice response unit (IVRU) that leads the student through the questions, or can speak with a live operator who will help determine the FAFSA answer based on the student's information. Both the IVRU and the operator will calculate an eligibility date for the student.
A student who visits the worksheet website can use a stand-alone interactive questionnaire that uses information entered by the student to determine the proper code to write on the FAFSA and calculate an eligibility date for students who have one. As a further option on the website, we will post a PDF file of the final paper drug worksheet.
Students who answer question 35 "yes"or leave it blank will receive a "Worksheet for Question 35" with their Student Aid Report (SAR).
Renewal FAFSA applicants who responded to question 35 with a "3"or "blank"on the previous year's application will also receive a "Worksheet for Question 35"with their 2002-2003 Renewal application.
We hope this information will help you in assisting your students during the upcoming award year.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Douglas
General Manager for Students