The FAFSA asks for important personal and financial information. It is important that you complete the application correctly and accurately. Have the following information ready:

• Your Social Security number (FAFSA applicants only)
• Your parents' Social Security number (dependent FAFSA applicants only)
• Your driver's license number if you have one

• Your Alien Registration number (if you have one - FAFSA applicants only)

• 2020 Federal tax information

• Untaxed income information

• Information on cash, savings, investments, and business and farm assets (if applicable)

More details on required information for the FAFSA can be found on Federal Student Aid.

The FSA ID is what you will use to sign the FAFSA electronically. Both the student and parent need to have separate FSA IDs and you can sign up at any time. Visit the FSA ID page on the Federal Student Aid website for more information.

The DRT is a way to link your 2020 taxes directly to the FAFSA and provides quick and accurate tax information directly on the FAFSA. Use the following steps to link your taxes:

• Log into your 2022-2023 FAFSA.

• Click on the finances section, and you will see the "Link to IRS" button if you are eligible. Please note that not all students are eligible for this option. If you are, you will have this button.

• Click the "Link to IRS" button and log in with your FSA ID and you will be transferred to the IRS site.

• Enter your information EXACTLY as it appears on your federal tax return (1040, 1040A, 1040EZ). For example if you have "123 Button Street" written on your 1040 and you write "123 Button St" on the IRS website, you will not be able to transfer your taxes. The addresses must be EXACT.

• Check the "Transfer My Tax Information into the FAFSA form" box, and click the "Transfer Now" button. Please note that the default is to not transfer your tax information, so be sure to click the correct box.

• You will know that you have successfully completed the tax information transfer when you see "Transferred from the IRS" rather than the tax information.

• For students and parents who completed their 2020 taxes, you will need to complete this separately: once for you as the student and then again for the parent.

For more information about the DRT, visit the Federal Student Aid website.

All financial aid applicants are considered either "dependent" or "independent." Dependent students are required to include their parents' information on the application. If you can answer yes to any of the following questions, you are considered independent:

• Were you born before Jan 1, 1999?

• As of the day you complete the FAFSA, are you married? (If you are separated but not divorced answer "yes")

• At the beginning of the 2022-2023 school year, will you be working on a master's program at CSUMB?

• Are you currently serving on active duty in the U.S. armed forces for purposes other than training? (If you are a National Guard or Reserves enlistee, are you on active duty for other than state or training purposes?)

• Are you a veteran of the U.S. armed forces?

• Do you now have - or will you have - children who will receive more than half of their support from you directly between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023.

• Do you have dependents (other than your children or spouse) who live with you and who receive more than half of their support from you, now and through June 30, 2023?

• At any time since you turned 13, were both your parents deceased, were you in foster case, or were you a dependent or ward of the court?

• Has it been determined by a court in your state of legal residence that you are an emancipated minor or that someone other than your parent or stepparent has legal guardianship of you?

• At any time on or after July 1, 2021 were you determined to be an unaccompanied youth who was homeless or were self-supporting and at risk of being homeless as determined by (1) your high school or district homeless liaison, (b) the director of an emergency shelter or transitional housing program, or (c) director of a runaway or homeless youth basic center or transitional living program?

If you answered yes to any of the questions above, you are considered an "independent" student and do not need to provide parent information. However, if you are married you need to include your spouse's information.

If you are facing any extenuating circumstances, please stop by the office or call us at 831- 582-5100 so we can further assist you.

Visit the Federal Student Aid website for more dependency status information.

Completing the FAFSA is only the first step in completing the required documents for financial aid. You will receive a confirmation email right away from the FAFSA office with an estimated EFC and an estimated award. Be sure to review your Student Aid Report (SAR) and verify that all information is correct. It takes about 2 weeks for the CSUMB Financial Aid Office to receive the FAFSA. Once we do, we will send either an email asking for more information, or an offer letter with a list of eligible awards.

Be sure to check your email regularly and complete all requirements by the set deadlines.

For more information about general next steps, visit the Federal Student Aid website.

In order to be eligible to complete the CADAA you must meet the following criteria:

• Attended a high school (public or private) in California for 3 or more years
• Graduated from a California high school or attained the equivalent (i.e. passed GED, Caliornia High School Proficiency Exam, etc.) prior to starting at CSUMB.
• Enroll at CSUMB
• Males between the ages of 18 and 25 are required to be registered with Selective Service.
  • If you have a Social Security Number, you can register online on the Selective Service website
    • If you don't have a Social Security Number, you can get a registration form at any U.S. Post Office and mail it leave. Leave the Social Security part blank. For more information visit the Selective Service website.
• California residency must be established with CSUMB. Please visit the webpage for more information on this.

For more information about CADAA requirements, visit the California Student Aid Commission's DREAM Act Application website.

The CADAA will ask for personal and financial information for both you and your parents (dependent students). You should have the following information ready:

• Your Social Security Number (if you have one)
• Your Driver's License Number (if you have one)
• Your parents' Social Security Number (if they have one)
• Federal tax information - including W2s and/or 1040, 1040A, or 1040EZ
• Untaxed income information such as child support received, interest income, and veterans non-education benefits for you and your parents (if applicable)
• Information on cash, savings, investments, and business and farm assets (if applicable)

All CADAA applicants are either "dependent" or "independent." Dependent students are required to provide information about their parents on the CADAA. Independent students do not need to include their parents' information; however, if married, information about the spouse needs to be included.

If you can answer "yes" to any of the following questions only, then you are considered an "independent" student:

• Were you born before January 1, 1999?
• As of the day you complete the CADAA, are you married? (If you are separated but not divorced answer "yes")
• Do you now have - or will you have - children who will receive more than half of their support from you directly between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023.
• Do you have dependents (other than your children or spouse) who live with you and who receive more than half of their support from you, now and through June 30, 2023?
• Are you a veteran of the U.S. armed forces?
• At any time on or after July 1, 2021 were you determined to be an unaccompanied youth who was homeless or were self-supporting and at risk of being homeless as determined by (1) your high school or district homeless liaison, (b) the director of an emergency shelter or transitional housing program, or (c) director of a runaway or homeless youth basic center or transitional living program?

For dependent students, a parent signature is required. Be sure to visit the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) to receive a PIN that will be used to sign the CADAA.

If you are facing any extenuating circumstances, please stop by the office or call us at (831) 582-5100 so we can further assist you.

Completing the CADAA is only the first step to applying and receiving financial aid. Once you submit the CADAA by the March 2nd deadline, CSAC will send you an email with your nine-digit Dream ID number. If you do not receive this email, be sure to check your spam/junk mail folders. Be sure to review your California Student Air Report (CA-SAR) for accuracy. This will also list your estimated Expected Family Contribution (EFC) which is used to calculate your financial aid award. It takes about 2 weeks for the CSUMB Financial Aid Office to receive the CADAA. Once we do, we will send either an email asking for more information, or an offer letter with a list of eligible awards.

Be sure to check your email regularly and complete all requirements by the set deadlines.

For more information, visit the California Dream Act Application website.