Who can assist me with any FAFSA
questions I might have? The Federal Student Aid Information Center (FSAIC) at
1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243) can assist you with questions about the
FAFSA on the Web or paper application process or about federal student
financial aid in general. In addition, FAFSA on the Web filers can get
help at www.fafsa.ed.gov
Why does the Department of Education
ask for income information from the year before I go to school? The Department of Education has done studies which have
determined time and time again that verifiable income tax information
from the base year (for example, 2005 for the 2006-07 award year) or (2006 for the
2007-2008 award year) is more accurate than projected information when
determining and calculating the Expected Family Contribution (EFC).
What should I (the student) do if my
family has special circumstances that aren't mentioned in the
application?
You should file the FAFSA using the base year’s information that is
required. However if you or your family has unusual circumstances (such
as loss of employment, loss of benefits, death, or divorce) you should
talk to the financial aid administrator (FAA) at the school you plan to
attend. If your family's circumstances have changed from the base year,
you may file a Petition for Special Circumstances form and submit it to
the FAA at your Financial Aid Office. The FAA may decide on a
case-by-case basis to adjust data elements used to calculate your EFC.
Any adjustment the FAA makes must relate only to your individual
circumstances, and not to any conditions that exist for a whole class of
students. The FAA's decision is final, and cannot be appealed to the
U.S. Department of Education.
What's the difference between cash
support and in-kind support?
A person that did not work during the base year and has no untaxed
income to report but received help from family and/or friends must
determine the value of that support in a dollar amount. Cash support is
support given either in the form of money or money that is paid on your
(the student's) behalf. You must report cash support as untaxed income.
For example if a friend or relative gives you grocery money, it must be
reported as untaxed income on Worksheet B. If the friend or relative
pays your electric bill or part of your rent, you must also report those
payments. Examples of in-kind support are free food or housing that a
person receives, usually in exchange for work or services. You usually
don't report such support.
I'm going to get married this summer.
How do I answer the question that asks if I am married? You must answer Question 50 based on your status the day that you
have completed and signed your FAFSA. If you indicate on Question 50 of
the FAFSA that you are single by answering "No" and then marry after you
originally file, you cannot change your answer to Question 50 for that
academic year.
If my parents are divorced, whose
information do I need? Report the information of the parent with whom you lived the most
during the 12 months preceding the date you completed the FAFSA. It does
not make a difference which parent claims you as a dependent for tax
purposes. If you did not live with either parent or lived equally with
each parent, the parental information must be provided for the parent
from whom you received the most financial support during the preceding
12 months or the parent from whom you received the most support the last
time support was given.
My parents separated four months ago.
I live with my mother. My parents filed a joint tax return and
claimed me as an exemption. Do I report both their incomes, or just my
mother's? Report only your mother's income and asset information because
you lived with her the most during the past 12 months. Use a W-2 Form or
other record(s) to determine her share of the income reported and taxes
paid on the tax return.
What are Cal Grants? Cal Grants are free money for college awarded to students who
meet eligibility, income and academic requirements. They can be used for
any UC, CSU, private or California Community College as well as most
vocational schools in the state. Cal Grants do not have to be paid back.
![[Home Page]](../images/interface/header-home-off.gif){kind=small}
![[Campus Map]](../images/interface/header-campmap-off.gif){kind=small}
![[Contact Us]](../images/interface/header-contactus-off.gif){kind=small}
![[Directory]](../images/interface/header-directory-off.gif){kind=small}
![[Search]](../images/interface/header-search-off.gif){kind=small}
![[Site Map]](../images/interface/header-sitemap-off.gif){kind=small}
![[CC Online]](../images/interface/campus-ccon-off.gif){kind=small}
![[Eastern Sierra Center]](../images/interface/campus-escc-off.gif){kind=small}
![[Indian Wells Valley]](../images/interface/campus-iwv-off.gif){kind=small}
![[Kern River Valley]](../images/interface/campus-krv-off.gif){kind=small}
![[South Kern]](../images/interface/campus-sk-off.gif){kind=small}
Top
(888) 537-6932