According to data from the National College Attainment Network, the percentage of Indiana high school seniors completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, is down 10 percent from last year.
Angela Workman, vice president of programs at the Community Foundation of St. Joseph County, said the stress the pandemic has placed on families over the last year may play into why fewer high schoolers are applying for the FAFSA.
“Some of these sorts of things that were part of life a year ago are just a little bit tougher to get done and may not be a top priority,”Workman said.
But, she said the FAFSA is one of the most important tools for helping students get federal, state and institutional aid to pay for college.
She said that’s why the Community Foundation wanted to offer an in-person event to help students and families complete the application, which she says requires several documents and can be overwhelming.
The foundation will partner with Ivy Tech and statewide nonprofit INvestED to offer free, one-on-one assistance on Monday, March 29. The event will be held at Ivy Tech's South Bend campus from 5 to 7p.m. Workman said registration for the event is encouraged, but walk-ins are welcome.
According to a release from the Community Foundation, attendees will need to bring the following documents to the event:
FSA ID
In advance of this event, every student AND parent should apply for a FSA ID at studentaid.gov. This will serve as your electronic signature on the FAFSA.
PERSONAL DOCUMENTS - STUDENTS & PARENTS
• Social Security Number
• Driver’s License Number
• Alien registration number or permanent residence card if you are not a U.S. citizen
PROOF OF INCOME - STUDENTS & PARENTS
• 2019 W-2 forms or other records of money earned or received
• Untaxed income, including workers compensation: child support: housing, food and other living allowances: veterans benefits, etc.
TAX DOCUMENTS - STUDENTS & PARENTS
• 2019 Federal Income Tax Return (IRS tax form 1040). If you have not yet completed your tax return, you can still submit your FAFSA using best estimates (using your 2018 tax return numbers, for example). After you submit your tax return, it’s easy to correct any income or tax information that is different from what you initially submitted on your FAFSA.
ASSETS - STUDENTS & PARENTS
• Bank statements
• Business and investment information: business and farm records: stocks, bonds and other investment records, if applicable
Contact Gemma atgdicarlo@wvpe.orgor follow her on Twitter at@gemma_dicarlo.
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