FAFSA    

The first step is to file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA form is available on the web at http://www.fafsa.gov. The application determines your eligibility for grants, loans, and work study. It must be completed EVERY YEAR. For maximum consideration, you must complete (with signatures) the FAFSA by March 1. The FAFSA for the upcoming academic year becomes available October 1.

If you plan to attend College From	You will Submit this FAFSA	You can submit this FAFSA From	Using Income and Taxes From
8/1/20 thru 7/30/21	2020-21	10/1/19 thru 6/30/21	2018
8/1/21 thru 7/30/22	2021-22	10/1/20 thru 6/30/22	2019

The FAFSA requires two years' prior tax information to be used:

• The 2020-2021 FAFSA requires 2018 tax information.
• The 2021-2022 FAFSA requires 2019 tax information.

Do not change the tax information entered on your FAFSA; however, you may submit documentation to the Concord University Financial Aid Office, and a professional judgment can be performed (form can be found HERE). Please keep in mind the following that may be considered for changing the EFC.

The following conditions may be considered:

• Loss of Employment/Reduction of Income
• Separation/Divorce
• Death of Parent/Spouse
• Reduction/Loss of Child Support
• Healthcare and Dental Expenses Out of Pocket, Paid in Full
• One-time Income Used for Essential Items

The following conditions generally may not be considered:

• Information on the FAFSA resulted in a 0 Expected Family Contribution (EFC)
• Loss of overtime or bonus
• Bankruptcy, foreclosures or collection costs associated with outstanding debts
• Consumer debt (credit cards, car payments, loans, etc.)
• Payments on back taxes owed to the IRS
• Debt forgiveness that reflects as income on a tax return
• Lottery or gambling winnings or losses
• One-time income used for non-life essential items (e.g. family vacation)

Click here to find out who counts as a parent on your FAFSA.

An FSA ID is a username and password that you must use to log in to certain U.S. Department of Education (ED) websites. Your FSA ID identifies you as someone who has the right to access your own personal information on ED websites such as the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) site at fafsa.gov.

It’s important to understand that the student and the parent may not share an FSA ID: Your FSA ID is your signature, so it has to be unique to you. If you are a parent of a dependent student, you will need your own FSA ID if you want to sign your child’s FAFSA electronically. If you have more than one child attending college, you can use the same FSA ID to sign all applications, but each child must have his or her own. Please note: Each FSA ID user must have a unique mobile phone number and/or e-mail address.

If you’ve forgotten your username or password, there are options for you to recover your account information. On most of the log-in pages, you’ll find links that say something like “Forgot My Username” and “Forgot My Password” so you can start the process of recovering your information.

Click the “Forgot My Username” (or similar) link on the site you want to log in to, and select one of the following options:

Option 1: Text a secure code to my mobile phone (your mobile phone must be verified to use this option).

• Enter your mobile phone number and the month and day of your birthday.
• Enter the secure code from your mobile phone.
• Your username is shown on the screen.

Option 2: Email a secure code.

• Enter your email address and the month and day of your birthday
• Enter the secure code from your email.
• Your username is shown on screen.

Option 3: Answer my challenge questions.

• Enter your SSN, last name, and date of birth.
• Answer your challenge questions correctly.
• Your username is shown on screen.

You can follow the same steps for "Forgot Password".