Instructions for Returning Students Applying for Financial Aid

Application Deadline

The application deadline for grant money is May 17, 2013. Funding for grants is limited. Students who apply for grant assistance and submit all required forms after this deadline will be considered for grants based on available funding. Late applications may not be considered for grants until October 2013 based on whether additional funding becomes available. Students may be awarded only loans after this date.

Both day and evening students will be considered for grant assistance. Under no circumstances will a legitimate excuse for failing to file one required form constitute grounds not to file any other form that might be filed on time. Make sure that if you have a form and it can be filed that you file it even if you have good cause not to have filed all required forms. You must contact the Student Finance office in writing if this is the case.

All students applying for any kind of financial assistance (grants and/or loans) must submit the following forms/items to the Student Finance Office and complete the FAFSA online:

1. 2013-2014 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA - Title IV School Code: E00387) Only this code is required on the FAFSA. Students should apply online. To be considered for grant assistance, this form must be received by the Federal Student Aid Programs no later than May 4, 2012.
2. University of Connecticut School of Law Application for Financial Assistance (2013-2014) Unsigned or incomplete forms will be returned to the student and may possibly result in a late application.

Students who are applying only for federal and/or alternative loans are not required to submit 2012 federal tax returns unless selected for verification by the federal processing center. Students will receive notice of this by email after the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is filed.

The following information is required only if a student is applying for grant assistance:

1. 2012 Federal (or Puerto Rican) tax returns: Copies of all schedules and forms filed with the student's (and spouse's) tax return must be submitted. If a 2012 federal tax return was not/will not be filed, a Statement of Non-Filing must be submitted. Tax returns filed by phone must include the confirmation number given by the Internal Revenue Service when filing. All tax returns, including Telefax and 1040 PC forms, must be signed. IRS Form 8453 for electronic filing is not acceptable. PLEASE DO NOT SUBMIT TAX WORKSHEETS OR STATE INCOME TAX RETURNS.
2. Statement of Non-Filing: A student (and/or spouse) who did not file a requested tax return must complete a Statement of Non-Filing and submit verification of any income received (W-2 forms).
3. Documentation of untaxed income: Documentation of 2012 untaxed income, including child support (a copy of the court order), Social Security, or money paid on the student's behalf (for rent, food, utilities, personal expenses, tuition and fees, insurance, etc.) must be submitted. When documenting money paid on a student's behalf for the 2012 calendar year, a detailed statement from the payer (including parent(s) if applicable) is required.
4. Corporate and Partnership Returns: A student and spouse, (if applicable) who owns a business must submit all corporate and partnership returns (including 2012 Forms 1065 and Schedules K).
5. 2013-2014 Independent Verification Worksheet: When FAFSA's are processed by the federal processor, the federal government randomly selects a percentage of students to be verified. If a student's federal application is selected for verification, it will be indicated on the Student Aid Report (SAR) that will be emailed to the student once the FAFSA has been processed. FEDERAL LAW NOW REQUIRES THAT A TAX TRANSCRIPT BE REQUESTED BY THE STUDENT DIRECTLY FROM THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE EVEN IF A COPY OF THE TAX RETURN HAS BEEN SUBMITTED. IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, A STUDENT MAY BE ABLE TO UTILIZE THE IRS DOWNLOAD OPTION BY SIGNING ONTO THE FAFSA CORRECTION WEBISTE AND GOING TO THE ADJUSTED GROSS INCOME FIGURE.
6. Other Documentation: Upon review of a student's application, further information may be requested. This may include, but is not limited to: a copy of a divorce decree or separation agreement; verification of medical bills and/or mortgage debt; date and amount of purchase of real estate; balance of assets; and an expense statement for 2012.

A file is not considered complete until all information requested has been received and reviewed.

ALL forms, with the EXCEPTION of the FAFSA that must be completed online, need to be returned or faxed directly to: