FAFSA question

[agnes!]

Ok, this will sound stupid but bear with me...do my HS Senior and I both fill out completely different forms or do we fill out separate parts of the same form? I'm tired and forms don't make a lot of sense to me under the best of circumstances. Why do we both have PINs if we just fill out different parts of the same form?

Sign me confused.
agnes!

 

[Nancy]

If I remember from my past three years they are filling out a continuation of the form you fill out. I would guess the 2 pins are so either one of you can go in and update it if needed. We have never used my kids pin..only mine. I'm starting to fill out the forms again now...Middle DD has a year and half to go and youngest DD is just starting the process. Older DD is all done.


I can't wait till this is all over.

 

[jjarman]

Boy those are so much fun. We have been blessed though. Before my father-in-law died it told my husband and his sister he wanted his money to go to pay for his grandsons' education. Our son's undergraduate degree is paid for. I will still continue to fill out the FAFSA and our state papers but am not nearly as stressed about it.

 

[bballmom56]

It is one form, but different sections - one on student's income and assets and one for the parents' income and assets. And yes, both the student and the parent need to have a pin to sign. Once you do it the first time it will be easier the rest of the way as they have it pre-filled out with the information from the previous year. I filed it for the last time (8 times!) last February. Yay!!!

 

[mamacatnv]

Ugh.....thanks for the reminder, I need to get that done.
One form/filing, 2 pins, multiple sections to include student info and parent info.

 

[Cinderella94]

Someone told me it takes, like, 2 weeks to get a pin...is that true? If so I have a problem .

 

[mamacatnv]

Someone told me it takes, like, 2 weeks to get a pin...is that true? If so I have a problem .

Its been a few years butI don't remember it taking that long, I could be wrong but since I usually wait til the last minute to do this sort of thing I would have remembered that sort of delay.

 

[msmayor]

Someone told me it takes, like, 2 weeks to get a pin...is that true? If so I have a problem .

No...it does not take that long. If I recall correctly, you get it immediately upon completing the application.

At that time, its valid ONLY for signing the FAFSA. It takes a week or two for your information to be verified in order for the PIN to be valid to "sign" any additional forms you may need to complete, such as Entrance Counseling for the Stafford Loan program, or any forms required through the Direct Student Loan system.

 

[golfgal]

Someone told me it takes, like, 2 weeks to get a pin...is that true? If so I have a problem .

If you want them to select one and mail it out but otherwise you select a pin right away and use that SAME pin all through their college years-so pick something you can remember, put it in a file in your file cabinet, etc.

Technically the CHILD is supposed to fill it out and the parents add their information, thus the reason for the separate PIN's. In reality, it doesn't happen this way .

 

[Hannathy]

Technically the CHILD is supposed to fill it out and the parents add their information, thus the reason for the separate PIN's. In reality, it doesn't happen this way .

Thanks for the laugh this Monday morning , the coffee wasn't working.

 

[laurafergie]

Technically the CHILD is supposed to fill it out and the parents add their information, thus the reason for the separate PIN's. In reality, it doesn't happen this way .

Ain't THAT the truth!! This year and next year and I will be done!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[QT Pooh]

Someone told me it takes, like, 2 weeks to get a pin...is that true? If so I have a problem .

No, both my son and I got both of ours within a day.

 

[PUZZLDY5]

When do we start filling out this stuff. My son is a junior in hs right now.

 

[3boymthr]

Boy those are so much fun. We have been blessed though. Before my father-in-law died it told my husband and his sister he wanted his money to go to pay for his grandsons' education. Our son's undergraduate degree is paid for. I will still continue to fill out the FAFSA and our state papers but am not nearly as stressed about it.

I'm blessed in that I'll kind of sorta be in the same boat when my kids move on to college/post highschool ed (I have one who is looking at a trade school path ). My parents have set up trusts so that the money is available to pay for the kid's school in full, but if they are eligible for grants/scholarships the money doesn't offset the grant amount. The only condition on the money is that I can't tell my kids as it's going to be my parent's graduation present to them. I love my parents.

 

[golfgal]

When do we start filling out this stuff. My son is a junior in hs right now.

After Jan 1st of his senior year when you have all your tax stuff. Most states have a deadline of March 1st to turn in the form for most consideration but check the website for specific details. I have most of my tax stuff so I submitted our FAFSA yesterday. You can go back and amend it if necessary but I think I have everything right now.

 

[tvguy]

You need 2 pins, because if your child is not an adult yet (over 18), they will be soon.
Once they are an adult you have no legal right to any of their financial (or health or grades) information if they don't want to share it with you. And they have no legal right to any of your financial information. Having two pins allows either of you to keep your information secret from the other.

 

[golfgal]

You need 2 pins, because if your child is not an adult yet (over 18), they will be soon.
Once they are an adult you have no legal right to any of their financial (or health or grades) information if they don't want to share it with you. And they have no legal right to any of your financial information. Having two pins allows either of you to keep your information secret from the other.

Well, secret until you log in to do your FAFSA and you can see all that information with either PIN.