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Helpful FAFSA Information

PIN Website and New PIN Number

The Department of Education has created a website that will allow students to receive a Personal Identification Number (PIN) to access various ED systems. The new website will allow student, former students, and parents to:

• Request a PIN
• Change a current PIN
• Request a second copy of a PIN
• Allow non students to apply for a PIN

The PIN replaces the Electronic Access Code (EAC) starting with the 2001-2002 award year. Students who have already received a six-character EAC may continue using this code. Alternatively, students can apply for a new four digit PIN.

A student's PIN may be used to:

• Serve as an electronic signature when the student completes FAFSA on the Web, Renewal FAFSA on the Web, FAFSA Express, and Corrections on the Web
• View the status and results of any type of previously submitted FAFSA.
• Access National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) to view the student's financial aid history.

Students who completed a FAFSA on the Web or Renewal FAFSA on the Web for the 2004-2005 award year should already have a PIN. If the student completed a paper FAFSA for the 2004-2005 award year, the ULM Financial Aid Office requested the ED to mail the student a PIN number. Applicants will now complete their renewal FAFSA for the 2005-2006 award year on the FAFSA website. Students who submit any type of FAFSA for the 2004-2005 award year will receive a PIN if all the following for conditions are met:

• The student must successfully pass the first and last name, SSN, and date of birth database match with the Social Security Administration.
• The student must provide a complete mailing address.
• The student must have signed his or her FAFSA.
• The student must NOT have already received a PIN as part of the Renewal Application Process.

A parent of a dependent student will also be able to go to the PIN Registration Website and apply for a PIN so that the parent's signature would not be needed on the FAFSA. High school students will also be able to access the PIN Registration Website and request a PIN so that the signature page of the student's initial FAFSA will not be needed.

When requesting a PIN, an individual will have to provide his or her first and last name, SSN, date of birth, and full mailing address. When the submission has been successfully completed, a confirmation number will appear on the screen. If all of the information provided is correct, and is verified with other federal agencies, a PIN will be generated an mailed to you via the U.S. Postal Service. Students and parents will have the option of having their PIN sent via email.

PIN Website: www.pin.ed.gov/

Important Sections on the FAFSA

Complete the application in its entirety. Incomplete and incorrect data will cause delays with both the Department of Education and ULM. Please take the time to double check all sections and all data, and make certain that all information is legible. Errors only cause frustration and delays.

Notice: Those students who are admitted to the Pharmacy Program (not Pre-Pharmacy) and are interested in the Health Professions Loan must complete both the student and parent sections of the FAFSA regardless of dependency status.

Question 8

Make certain your social security number is correct. A wrong number can delay your financial aid awards.

Question 24

Be careful with the changes in numerical coding here. For ULM Students (see table below)

PharmD Students: You MUST be noted on official Registrar records as enrolled in the final section of your program (PHPR).

Important Sections on the FAFSA -continued

Questions 27-28

DO NOT LEAVE THIS QUESTION BLANK

It appears at the end of page three because Step One indicates to leave blank any questions numbered 1 through 30 that do not apply to the student.  In other words.... ANSWER THE QUESTION

34 CRF 668.40

On October 22, 1999, a new law was created to prevent students that were convicted of possession or sale of a controlled substance from receiving any type of federal student financial aid.  A student's first conviction for possession of a controlled substance results in a one-year suspension, while a student's first offense for sale of a controlled substance leads to a two-year suspensions.  If a student is convicted a second time for possession, the student will receive a two-year suspension, while a student that was convicted a second time for sale of a controlled substance would lose financial aid indefinitely.  A third offense for possession of a controlled substance would also cause a student to lose his or her financial aid eligibility indefinitely.

If a student loses financial aid eligibility due to drug conviction, the suspension starts on the day of the student's conviction.

Students who lose financial aid eligibility can regain their Title IV eligibility by successfully completing a drug rehabilitation program certified by ED.  An eligible drug rehabilitation program must:

• Receive, or be qualified to receive, funds directly or indirectly from a Federal, State, or local government program; or from a federally or state licensed insurance company.

• Be administered or recognized by a Federal, State, or local government agency or court.

• Have received, or be qualified to receive, payments directly or indirectly from a state-licensed hospital, or be administered or recognized by a state-licensed hospital, health clinic, or medical doctor.

In addition to the criteria, an eligible drug rehabilitation program must include a minimum of two unannounced drug tests.