EDUCATORS FOR FAIR CONSIDERATION (E4FC)

TIPS ON FILLING OUT THE CALIFORNIA DREAM ACT APPLICATION
Thanks for SFSU's Financial Aid Office and the CSAC for these tips!

• If you have a Social Security Number through Deferred Action, you may fill out the CA Dream Application, NOT the FAFSA to be eligible for state aid. Students with a SSN through DACA are not eligible for federal financial aid. U visa holders may file the Dream Application, while T visa holders may file the FAFSA.

• Selective Services Registration: Most males who are 18-25 years of age must be registered with Selective Services to be eligible for state student aid. All male students can register at their local post office by filling out and mailing a Selective Services postcard. Even if you are undocumented, you must register to be eligible. No SSN required.

• It is important to file the Dream Act Application as early as possible. Filling out the application online is the fastest and easiest way to submit the application. The priority deadline for submitting the California Dream Act Application is March 2, 2013. Go to www.caldreamact.org to access the application.

GETTING STARTED

• First create an account. You will set up a user name, password and security question.  Record and save your user name and password because you will need these to login on future occasions to make the edits and check the status of your application.

• The application does not ask the student for a Social Security Number (SSN). Provide the names and SSNs of your parents. If they do not have an SSN, you may list their Individual Tax Identification Numbers (ITINs), if they have one.  If they have neither, list nine zeros in that field.

• You must report your income and any cash support given by relatives. You do not need to include the value of food and housing. 

• If you are under 24, your parents must also report their income and any cash support given by relatives except food and housing-- unless you are married, have children of your own, or are a graduate student.

• Selective Service registration: Most males, 18-25 must be registered with Selective Service to be eligible for state student aid. All male students can register at their local post office by filling out and mailing a Selective Services Registration Form, (SSS Form 1M(UPO)). You can also download the Selective Service form at www.caldreamact.org, complete and mail it in.  Even if you are undocumented, you must register to be eligible. No SSN is required. For more information or questions, you may visit: http://www.sss.gov/SSSYOU/sss&you.pdf.

SIGNING THE CA DREAM APPLICATION

• Students and one parent must sign if the student is considered dependent (again, that means anyone under 24 with only a few exceptions).  There are two steps to successfully signing the California Dream Act Application: the student signature and the parent signature.

• First, the student signs by checking the signature box and submitting the Dream Application. Students will be taken to a confirmation page.

RETRIEVING THE PARENT PIN

• To complete the application, students and one parent will need to complete the 2^nd step of the signature process. To create the Parent Pin, students must click the red button indicated in the screen shot above. 

• The name, birth date and wages of the parent signing the Dream application are entered and must match what the information the student previously provided  the Dream application.

• Once you retrieve the Parent PIN, you will have to go to the Dream Application home page to add the parent signature to the Dream Application.

• Once you submit the Parent PIN, the signature process will be done, and the application will be complete.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING THE PARENT PIN

• You and your parents must decide which parent will sign the application
• Only one parent can obtain a PIN number and this PIN is tied to the individual student
• If there is more than one student submitting a Dream Application in the same household, the parent will have to obtain a Parent PIN for each student
• Every time the student makes a correction on the application, the parent will need to sign again

For questions, please contact caldreamact@csac.ca.gov or call CSAC at 1-888-224-7268.

 DEFINITIONS

• Income Verification: A percentage of the students will be selected by their college or university to verify their family income. If you or your parents meet income guidelines to submit taxes, you might be required to present IRS transcripts.
  
  
• Household Size: This should include every member of the immediate family who receives more than 50% of his/her financial support from a dependent student’s parents or from an independent student. Spouses may be counted. So, if your siblings receive more than 50% of their money or other kind of support from your parents, they would be counted.
  
  
• Citizenship Status: AB540 eligible students who cannot fill out the FAFSA must choose the third option: “Non-citizen or eligible noncitizen”
  
  
• Dislocated Worker: Anyone who lost a job or had a reduction of hours due to the economic downtown in 2011-2012. 

DOCUMENTS NEEDED TO FILL OUT THE DREAM ACT APPLICATION

List of paperwork you will need to provide, if it is relevant to your situation:

• W-2 forms and other 2011 records of income (if your parents have any)
  
  
• 2011 income tax returns (if your parents have any)
  
  
• Records of child support (if your parents have any)
  
  
• Records of student scholarships and fellowships included in your parents taxes
  
  
• Current bank statements (if applicable)
  
  
• Current investment records or business records if over 100 employees (if applicable)
  
  
• Current business and farm records (if applicable)