Application Process Checklist

Applying for financial aid doesn't have to be difficult. Follow the steps below to help insure you are considered for all the various types of financial aid available.

Financial Aid Awards cover the fall and spring semesters ONLY unless your degree program requires summer enrollment. If you think you will attend a summer session, you should budget your award to cover summer expenses. Very limited funding is available for summer semester.

1. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online at http://www.fafsa.gov/. If you received a renewal application from the U.S. Department of Education, you do not need to complete a FAFSA. You should complete and mail the renewal application according to the instructions. You can also complete your application online at: http://www.fafsa.gov/. The FAFSA code number for UAB is 001052!!  
   1. The Central Processor will send a Student Aid Report (SAR) to the student's address indicated on the application. It will take approximately thirty (30) days for the student to receive a SAR. If you file online you should receive a SAR in approximately twenty-one (21) days.
   2. Check the information on the SAR. If the information is incorrect, contact the aid office for instructions.
2. The U.S. Department of Education mailed a PIN to students who have applied for aid. The PIN serves as your identifier to let you access your personal information in various Department of Education systems. If you are a new applicant and you or your parents do not have a PIN, be sure to request one at http://www.pin.ed.gov/. If you have questions about the PIN process, call 1-800-433-3243.
3. If your eligible noncitizen status is not confirmed by Immigration & Naturalization (INS), you must submit proof of eligible non-citizenship to the aid office. An Alien Registration Card must be presented for review and a copy will be maintained for your file.
4. All first time borrowers of a Federal Direct Stafford Loan must complete entrance counseling prior to signing a promissory note or receiving funds. A first time borrower is a student who does not have an outstanding, Federal Direct Stafford Loan, or a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan. You will receive additional information when your award is finalized. Currently enrolled students will accept awards on BlazerNET. New students who have not applied for a Blazer ID will accept awards on Banner Self Service.

   A first time borrower can fulfill the entrance counseling requirement online at: www.studentloans.gov

   If you are required to sign a promissory note, you will do this electronically.

5. If you are approved for a Federal Perkins Loan, you will receive additional information from Student Accounting Services after your award is finalized, and you have accepted the award.
6. Parents of dependent undergraduate students who want to apply for a Federal Direct Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (Federal Direct PLUS) should complete the appropriate worksheet below. You must also complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
   
   PLUS Loan application 2010-2011
   PLUS Loan application 2011-2012
   

 

7. 2012-2013 Verification Requirements
   

   1. If you are selected for verification by the U.S. Department of Education you will be required to submit the following documents so UAB can verify the information you supplied on the FAFSA. [You can determine if you have been selected by reading your Student Aid Report (SAR) or contacting the aid office.]
   2. The preferred way to complete your verification requirement is to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool at www.fafsa.gov to transfer your 2011 tax return information directly onto your FAFSA.
   3. If you either cannot use or choose not to use the tool the Department of Education no longer allows Schools to accept a signed copy of tax forms as proof of income earned and taxes paid. The new Department of Education regulations beginning in the 2012-13 school year and subsequent years are as follows:
      1. If you meet the federal definition of a dependent student, you must submit to Student Financial Aid yours and your parent’s Federal Income Tax Return Transcript directly from the IRS from the previous year. This Tax Transcript can be requested at www.irs.gov or by calling the IRS automated system at 1-800-908-9946. If you are unable to use the automated system for any reason, you can call the IRS at 1-800-908-9946.
      2. If you meet the federal definition of an independent student, you must submit to Student Financial Aid yours (and your spouse’s, if married) Federal Income Tax Return Transcript directly from the IRS from the previous year. This Tax Transcript can be requested at www.irs.gov or by calling the IRS automated system at 1-800-908-9946. If you are unable to use the automated system for any reason, you can call the IRS at 1-800-908-9946. Before you submit the Tax Transcript to Student Financial Aid, be sure the student ID number is written on the form.
      3. All selected students must complete and sign a Verification Worksheet. These worksheets are available through BlazerNET. Dependent students must make sure that the form is signed by them and a parent.
      4. If you, your spouse, or your parents did not file a Federal Income Tax Return and are required to file, you must submit each of the following: a) a copy of your Application for Automatic Extension of Time To File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return (IRS Form 4868), b) a copy of IRS Form W-2 for each source of employment income received for the previous tax year or, c) a signed statement by a self-employed individual certifying the amount of the AGI and the income tax paid for the previous year.
      5. If you, your spouse (if married independent student),and your parents (if an independent student) did not file a Federal Income Tax Return and are not required to file, you must submit the applicable IRS Form W-2 for each person for each source of employment income received for the previous tax year. You also want to make sure it is so noted on the Verification Worksheet.
      6. After reviewing the documents stated above, often we find the need to request additional information. We regret the need to do this, but sometimes we must do so in order to satisfy the federal requirement to eliminate discrepancies and to ensure the quality of application data.

2011-2012 Verification Requirements
Each year the U.S. Department of Education selects approximately one-third of all applications to verify the accuracy of the information submitted (if you have been selected, it will be indicated on your SAR, or you will see the requirements on BlazerNET). If you’re selected for verification, you’ll be required to submit one or more of the following documents:

1. If you meet the federal definition of a dependent student, you must submit a signed copy of your and your parents’ federal income tax return from the previous year.

2. If you meet the federal definition of an independent student, you must submit a signed copy of your (and your spouse’s, if you’re married) federal income tax return.

3. All selected students must complete and sign a verification worksheet. These worksheets are available on BlazerNET. Dependent students must make sure that the form is signed by them and by a parent.

4. If you, your spouse, or your parents didn’t file a federal income tax return and are required to file, you must submit a copy of your Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return (IRS Form 4868).

5. If you, your spouse, or your parents didn’t file a federal income tax return and aren’t required to file, make sure this is noted on the verification worksheet.

After reviewing the documents stated above, sometimes we find there’s a need for us to request additional information. We of course prefer not to have to ask this of anyone, but sometimes it’s a necessary step to take in order to satisfy the federal requirement to eliminate discrepancies and to ensure the quality of application data.