Maintained for Historical Purposes

This resource is being maintained for historical purposes only and is not currently applicable.

Tip of the Week --- FAFSA/Renewal App on the Web Status

PublicationDate: 8/21/98
Summary: Tip of the Week --- FAFSA/Renewal App on the Web Status
Author: CPS - Central Processing System (CPS)

Posted August 21,1998

TO: All Destination Points
FROM: CPS Customer Service
RE: Tip of the Week --- FAFSA/Renewal App on the Web Status

This week's tip highlights a new feature of FAFSA on the Web: FAFSA/Renewal App on the Web Application Status Check

The Department of Education recently introduced the Application Status Check, a new feature of FAFSA/Renewal App on the Web. The Application Status Check gives web applicants the opportunity to verify their FOTW or Renewal FOTW application was submitted successfully.

Web applicants can use this new feature by going to http://www.fafsa.ed.gov and selecting the tab labeled "Application Status Check." In addition to the tab on the introductory page, there is also a direct link to the Application Status Check on the Confirmation Page, which is generated after applicants submit their FOTW or Renewal FOTW.

Immediately after the student submits their FAFSA or Renewal FAFSA via FAFSA on the Web, they can go to the Application Status Check on the Web to make sure their application has been received by entering their Social Security Number (SSN), the first two letters of their last name, date of birth and the application cycle year. At this time only 1998-1999 applications can be checked.

There are four possible status check messages an applicant can receive:

1) The application data was found, and has been sent to the CPS Hold File (screen shows date sent); OR
2) The application data was found, but has not yet been sent to the CPS Hold File (this means data was just submitted); OR
3) The application data was not found because the application was never submitted or received; OR
4) The application data was not found because it has been 21 days since the application was submitted (application data is removed from the status check web server after 21 days, regardless of its processing status).

The Application Status Check is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, providing web applicants with more flexibility to help fit this important process in their busy schedules. Applications submitted by a medium other than FOTW or Renewal FOTW (I.E. paper FAFSA, FAFSA Express, EDExpress, etc.) cannot be checked using this web status check feature.

NOTE: If students do not get a Confirmation Page, with a Confirmation stamp, after filling out a FOTW or Renewal FOTW application, the CPS has not received the application. Advise students about the Confirmation Page and remind them to print it out and keep it for their records.