Time to fill out FAFSA applications is here

By: Jacee WesolowskiStaff-WriterAs the leaves fall from the trees, finals season approaches and students start to look forward tothe holiday season. However, many often forget an annual, important necessity for collegestudents: FAFSA applications.The 2023-24 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form has been available sinceOct. 1.One issue many students encounter each year when filling out the form is gathering andremembering necessary information. For convenience and help preparing, students can find acomplete list of the documents needed to apply at studentaid.gov/apply-for-aid/fafsa/filling-out.When providing the federal tax information for oneself and parents (for dependents only), theFAFSA form provides the IRS Data Retrieval Tool which makes it possible to transfer taxinformation from the IRS directly to your application.Applicants are eligible to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool if the student or parents have filed afederal tax return with the IRS one to two weeks prior to completing the FAFSA for anelectronic tax return, or six to eight weeks for paper tax returns, if they have a valid socialsecurity number and if they have an FSA ID.“Students should complete the FAFSA before April 15 each year to be considered for themaximum amount of financial aid,” the IU South Bend Office of Financial Aid and Scholarshipsstates on their FAFSA information webpage. “Completing the FAFSA late can cause delays infinancial aid processing and, since some awards are limited, may limit the financial aid a studentwill receive.”Additional FAFSA assistance is available on College Goal Sundays, held twice a year at variouslocations across Indiana. The next event will be held on Feb. 26 and is open to all high schooland transfer students, as well as students currently enrolled at IU South Bend or other colleges.Those interested in attending the event with IU South Bend can attend between 2-4 p.m. in theEducation and Arts Building, room 1105.For help completing a FAFSA form, contact the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships at 574-520-4357 or [email protected].