Hot Items
This page contains items that are new or breaking news in the financial aid application process. Below are items related to all academic years for which you can currently apply for financial aid. Please make sure you are viewing the items related to the year for which you are applying.
2016-2017 Academic Year
New FSA User ID to Replace the Federal Student Aid PIN
Update on this item 4/14/15: Implementation of the FSA ID will be on Sunday, May 10, 2015.
Original Announcement: Fall 2014
This text is an edited version of an announcement from the United States Department of Education. You can read the entire announcement here.
In spring 2015 we will implement a new login process for our student and borrower-based websites, including FAFSA on the Web, NSLDS® Student Access, StudentLoans.gov, StudentAid.gov, and the TEACH Grant website. The new FSA ID, which will be comprised of a user-selected username and password, will replace the Federal Student Aid PIN as the process by which students, parents, and borrowers authenticate their identity to access their federal student aid information.
We are making this change to eliminate the need for individuals to enter personal identifiers (Social Security number, name, and date of birth) when accessing Federal Student Aid's systems.
Existing users will be able to link their PIN information to the FSA ID.
IRS Data Retrieval Tool
2016-2017 Academic Year
The IRS Data Retrieval Tool
Again in 2016-2017 most applicants will need to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (IRS DRT) when completing the FAFSA. This online tool allows you to transfer your completed IRS tax return data directly to your FAFSA while using FAFSA on the Web to complete your FAFSA. Please note the these items:
- If you estimate your income when completing your FAFSA, around March 15th, you will receive an e-mail reminder to update the FAFSA with completed tax information. This is really from U.S.E.D. and is not a 'phishing’ email. You should make this update if you are able at that time.
- Students and parents who were eligible to use the IRS DRT but didn’t, will receive an e-mail notification encouraging them to return to FAFSA on the Web and use the DRT. These e-mails will be sent around the beginning of April 2016 or within 60 days of when you file your FAFSA.
Verification Changes for 2016-2017
If your FAFSA is selected for verification, you are required to provide your school with documents to verify the accuracy of your FAFSA data.
- Beginning with the 2016-2017 year, verification requirements will be more specific to the student. If your FAFSA is selected for verification, you will be placed into one of five groups defining the specific items you are required to provide. Don't worry, the Messiah University Financial Aid Office will inform you of exactly what you need to send us. You just need to wait to hear from us.
- In the past, income information was verified by the submission of signed copies of the IRS 1040. This is no longer acceptable. The best way to meet this requirement is to complete the IRS DRT as described above. If the DRT option does not work for you, an IRS transcript will be required for verification instead of a copy of the 1040. You will need to contact the IRS and order a tax transcript by one of these methods:
- On-Line: The IRS online ordering method, Order A Transcript, makes ordering simple.
- Phone: You may also request transcripts at 1-800-908-9946.
- By Mail: Use IRS Form 4506T Request for Transcript of Tax Return.
- If you are a non-tax filer and you are selected for verification, you will need to send your school a copy of IRS Form W-2 for each source of employment income received for tax year 2015. You will also need to submit a signed statement certifying that you have not filed, and are not required to file, an income tax return for tax year 2015. This statement must detail the sources of income earned from work as reported on the FAFSA and amounts of income from each source for tax year 2015 that is not on W-2s. Please note that the information mentioned in this paragraph is collected in Messiah University's Financial Information Verification Form, which will be sent to you if you need to provide this information. It is not necessary for you to send a separate statement.