confidentiality of FAFSA?

[fieldsports]

Does anybody have concrete knowledge about what assurance of confidentiality accompanies the FAFSA? What agencies within the federal and state government have access to it, and what the individual colleges might do with the information?

It's an awful lot of very personal information. It's not a universal assumption that one would file it; some people know they are not in the running for aid of any kind, and are not looking for loans.

[dodgersmom]

FAFSA is just used to determine eligibility for student aid. It's not shared with any other agency and it's not part of a government conspiracy to access your financial information. At colleges, it never leaves the admissions/financial aid offices.

[mathinokc]

FAFSA is run by a group from the US Department of Education.

The website says "Under the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended we are allowed to ask for the information on this form so that we can determine whether you are eligible for aid, and, if so, how much. We will share the information with other agencies, such as the Social Security Administration, to verify the information you put on the application. If you do not give us all of the information we need to process your FAFSA, your aid may be delayed or denied."

Also, evidently they give the states access: "When you submit this application, you are automatically applying for financial aid from your state of legal residence and, in some cases, the state in which your school is located. You are giving your state financial aid agency permission to verify information on this form and to obtain income tax information for all people who are required to report income on this form." I hadn't thought about this.

Both quotes are from Privacy - FAFSA on the Web - Federal Student Aid

More details are here: http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/fotw1112/pdf/cps_sorn.pdf

Be aware that certain colleges (I know JHU for sure) say that if you do not file for aid for the freshman year you can't file for subsequent years.

If you think the FAFSA asks for personal information, wait until you see CSS Profile (if you have any Profile schools).

[LBowie]

If you think the FAFSA is nosy, wait until you fill out the PROFILE. Most of the schools my son applied to wanted that one as well. And then there are a few schools who want you to submit your entire 1040 from the previous year.

[sybbie719]

FAFSA states the following

Will this information be shared with any other agency or entity? If so, with which agency or agencies/entities?

Yes. ED may disclose information in this system, without the consent of the individual, in accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act. This includes disclosures under the routine uses listed in the Privacy Act System of Records notice if the disclosure is compatible with the purposes for which the record was collected. Specific routine use disclosures include the following:

To the postsecondary institution that the applicant designates on the application

To state agencies having agreements with the Secretary for the purposes of coordinating student aid and counseling students on FAFSA completion and postsecondary education

To parent(s) of a dependent applicant or an applicant's spouse

To local educational agencies for the purposes of coordinating student aid and counseling students on FAFSA completion and postsecondary education

To secondary schools for the purposes of coordinating student aid and counseling students on FAFSA completion and postsecondary education

For Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Advice Disclosure, to the Department of Justice and the Office of Management and Budget

For Contract Disclosure

For Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution Disclosures

For Research Disclosure

For Congressional Member Disclosure

For Disclosure for Use By Other Law Enforcement Agencies

For Enforcement Disclosure

For Employment, Benefit, and Contracting Disclosure for decisions by the department and for decisions by other public agencies and professional organizations

For Employee Grievance, Complaint or Conduct Disclosure

For Labor Organization Disclosure

For Disclosure to OMB for Federal Credit Reform Act Support

For Disclosures to third parties through legally authorized computer matching programs

For Disclosure to DOJ

For Disclosure to Consumer Reporting Agencies

For Disclosure to third parties in the course of responding to breach of data

These disclosures may be made on a case-by-case basis. Where a computer matching agreement has been authorized, ED, consistent with the requirements of the Privacy Act, may disclose personally identifying information to another agency designated in the computer matching agreement.

If you request us to do so, in order to enable you to obtain information from other Federal agencies' records that will assist you in completing the FAFSA online we may disclose information from this system of records to other Federal agencies, such as the Internal Revenue Service. However, without your specific consent, we will not disclose your information for this purpose.

Records will only be disclosed in accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act. Any contractor responsible for the operations of this Web site is held to the privacy and security requirements of the Department of Education in the handling of information collected through the Web site.

Privacy Notice - FAFSA on the Web - Federal Student Aid

[sybbie719]

When you apply for financial aid by filing the FAFSA, some of your application information is verified with federal agencies.

This includes the Department of Homeland Security, Social Security Administration, Selective Service, Veteran's Administration and the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS.) If the information does not match, the discrepancy must be resolved before you can receive federal student aid.


Social Security Number Match

The federal government will confirm that the social security number on your FAFSA application matches other data in their files. If your records do not match, you will be required to verify your social security number. If you have changed your name, you must notify the Social Security Administration before financial aid can be disbursed.

See the Social Security Administration website for more information: The United States Social Security Administration. Parents of dependent students are subject to the same match requirements. Parents whose records do not match will be required to verify their social security number.



Selective Service Registration

Males born on or after January 1, 1960 must register with Selective Service to qualify for federal aid. The federal government may require students to verify registration. Financial aid cannot be provided without such verification. See the Selective Service website for more information: Selective Service System: Welcome


Veteran Status

Students who are considered a "qualifying" veteran with the Veteran's Administration Office are considered an independent student for the completing the FAFSA. "Qualifying" veterans cannot have a character of service listed as "dishonorable" from the military. If the Veteran's Administration Office cannot confirm your status, we will notify you to submit a copy of your military separation form (DD214). See the VA website for more information: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.


National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS)

Financial aid application data is also checked with the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) to verify that you are not in default on a federal student loan, have not received an overpayment on a federal grant, and have not borrowed more than the total or aggregate limit allowed.

You cannot receive financial aid if you have an unresolved defaulted federal student loan, grant overpayments, or have borrowed more than the total or aggregate limit in federal loans. You will be contacted by the Financial Aid Office with instructions about the documentation that is required to resolve this matter.

See the NSLDS website for more information: National Student Loan Data System for Students.

[momofthreeboys]

It's always a "choice" not a requirement to file for financial aid federal or otherwise. It's more common now that forty years ago because the costs have increased fast, more kids are attending college and parents may not have anticipated what needed to be saved over time or were not in a financial position to save.

[GolfFather]

I just assume that there is a good chance that everything about me is accessible to a large number of people.
It's the age we live in.
Convenience has its costs.

IMHO the traditional notion of "confidentiality" does not apply anymore.
Would I like to have all details about me published on the front page of the NY Times?
No.
But I don't stay up nights worrying about it either.

I lived in places and in a time where I knew that there were people listening in on my private conversations.
Ya get used to it.

[oldfort]

If you do not qualify for FA then do not fill out any application or give out information. In today's day and age, it wouldn't be hard to match up data. I at the point of paying everything by cash so no one could have any information on me.

[kelsmom]

Government groups do not use the individual data in any manner other than to verify eligibility for federal aid. The IRS is not going to look at what was put on the FAFSA. Schools can only use the FAFSA to award aid. Controls are in place to limit access to the information by school officials. While institutional research could use parent income data for statistical purposes, it would be de-identified.

[Iron Maiden]

OP keep in mind that some schools require the FAFSA to be eligible for merit scholarships.

Oldfort, paying cash does not take you out of the system. Trust me.

[SteveMA]

Everything that is asked on the FSFSA is already available to the federal government or heck, even just the average joe in some cases (your home mortgage, etc.).

[oldfort]

In all the data we are looking at, we still can't come up with a way of linking cash transaction with another set of data yet. I would be interested to know how other people are doing it. Of course this is assuming that Personal Information (like SS #) is not disclosed.

[SteveMA]

oldfort-it would depend on where you are using that cash and how. Say you pay cash at the grocery store but use your loyalty card, they track what you buy, how much you spend, etc. If you just pay cash, no, they probably can't track that. Paying cash for college, sure they can track that like you said, through a SS number. Take out too much cash or deposit too much cash at your bank, or do that too often and they will start tracking you .

[oldfort]

If I would go to the trouble of not using cash, I don't think I would bother with loyalty card (I always decline).