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

Summary: 2008-2009 Distribution Update: Frequently Asked Questions

Publication Date: October 22, 2007

Author: Jennifer Douglas, General Manager, Student Aid Awareness and Applicant Services Channel, Federal Student Aid

Summary: 2008-2009 Distribution Update: Frequently Asked Questions


Posted on 10-22-2007


Below you will find answers to some of the questions you may have about the 2008-2009 FAFSA Distribution Strategy.

1.

Is the new FAFSA distribution strategy the same for everyone?
Yes. Postsecondary institutions and high schools, libraries, and other community organizations will not be able to place bulk orders of the 2008-2009 paper FAFSAs.

2.

How were postsecondary institutions notified of this change?
An announcement was posted on the Department’s Information for Financial Aid Professionals (IFAP) web site on September 13, 2007. Click here to review that announcement.

3.

How were high schools, libraries, and other community organizations notified of this change?
A letter was posted to the Counselors and Mentors web site. Click here to review that letter. A hard copy of the letter will also be included in our Toolkit mailing to all high schools, libraries, and other community organizations on our mailing list. The Toolkit will be mailed in November and will include one copy of each of the following:

  • 2008-2009 FAFSA on the Web Worksheet
  • Do You Need Money for College? Completing the FAFSA
  • Start Here Go Further Bookmark
  • FAFSA4caster Hall Pass
  • Funding Education Beyond High School: The Guide to Federal Student Aid

4.

When will the 2008-2009 PDF FAFSA be available for download?
The 2008-2009 PDF FAFSA will be available for download on November 15th.

5.

What websites can I go to and download the PDF FAFSA?
Students can obtain the PDF FAFSA by going to www.FederalStudentAid.ed.gov. Students have the option of obtaining the PDF FAFSA in either black and white or in color and in either English or Spanish. Financial Aid Administrators (FAAs) and Counselors can also download a copy of the PDF FAFSA from www.FSAPubs.org.

6.

Can schools use the PDF version of the FAFSA as documentation for FAA Access submissions or for students that need a dependency override?
Yes. The PDF FAFSA is an official FAFSA that can either be submitted by the applicant to the Department or maintained by a school that chooses to provide the information from the FAFSA to the Department using FAA Access to CPS On-Line.

7.

When can students begin calling the Federal Student Aid Information Center (FSAIC) at 1-800-4-FED-AID to request a 2008-2009 paper FAFSA?
Students can call FSAIC to request a 2008-2009 paper FAFSA beginning November 1st.

8.

How does a PDF FAFSA get submitted?
Students will have to mail in the completed and signed PDF FAFSA. Instructions, including the mailing address, are provided on the PDF FAFSA.

9.

What happens if students submit the PDF FAFSA or paper FAFSA before January 1st?
Students should not sign, date, or mail either paper version of the FAFSA before January 1st. However, if a student submits a signed FAFSA before January 1st Federal Student Aid will process the form but the student will receive a rejected SAR, which will need to be signed and returned.

10.

When can organizations begin to order a bulk quantity of the 2008-2009 FAFSA on the Web (FOTW) Worksheet?
FSAPubs will post the 2008-2009 versions of our publications beginning October 15th. Please see the attachment for a brief publication description, information on the intended audience, the date that you may order, the date the item will begin shipping, and the strategy for distribution of the publication.

11.

What should I do if my organization needs a limited number of the 2008-2009 paper FAFSAs?
If you believe that your organization may need to receive copies of the 2008-2009 paper FAFSA you may make a special request, for up to 50 copies, by visiting our FSAPubs web site at www.FSAPubs.org and clicking on “special request form” or by calling our FSAPubs customer service line at 1-800-394-7084. You will be asked to provide information that will be used by Federal Student Aid to determine if any changes need to be made to our FAFSA distribution strategy.



Please keep in mind that the special request option is not a substitute for bulk orders. We have provided this option so organizations that work with underrepresented populations or students that do not have access to the Internet or to a phone will not be burdened with obtaining a paper form.

12.

Will financial aid preparers be able to order paper 2008-2009 FAFSAs in bulk at any time?
We will not be fulfilling bulk orders for the 2008-2009 paper FAFSA. You may download PDF versions of the paper FAFSA after November 15th. If you believe that your organization may still need to receive copies of the 2008-2009 paper FAFSA, you may make a special request as previously instructed.

13.

What is your plan for notifying students of the 2008-2009 FAFSA distribution change?
We have developed a new publication called Do You Need Money for College? Complete the FAFSA. This publication provides information on how a student can obtain and complete a FAFSA.

Federal Student Aid also participates in outreach events across the country and we use those opportunities to inform students of changes that may affect them. We also know that the financial aid community, which includes colleges, universities, high schools counselors, TRIO, NACAC, Upward Bound, etc., will be an invaluable source in letting students know how they can complete the application.