WHAT IS PRIOR-PRIOR YEAR (PPY)?
Prior-Prior Year (also referred to as PPY) is a term used to describe the ability to process your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at an earlier time frame.
What’s changing for 2017-2018?
Starting with the 2017-2018 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA):
• You’ll be able to submit your FAFSA earlier. You can file your 2017-2018 FAFSA as early as October 1, 2016, rather than beginning on January 1, 2017. The earlier submission date will be a permanent change enabling you to complete and submit a FAFSA as early as October 1 every year.
• You’ll use earlier income and tax information. Beginning with the 2017-2018 FAFSA, students will be required to report income and tax information from an earlier tax year. For example, on the 2017-2018 FAFSA you—and your parent(s), as appropriate—will report 2015 income and tax information, rather than your 2016 income and tax information.
What year FAFSA am I supposed to file?
| If you plan to attend EGCC in | You will submit this FAFSA | You can submit the FAFSA from | Using income and tax information from |
| Fall 16, Spring 17 or Summer 17 | 2016-2017 | January 1, 2016 – June 30, 2017 | 2015 |
| Fall 17, Spring 18 or Summer 18 | 2017-2018 | October 1, 2016 – June 30, 2018 | 2015 |
| Fall 18, Spring 19 or Summer 19 | 2018-2019 | October 1, 2017 – June 30, 2019 | 2016 |
PPY FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Are deadlines now earlier?
The federal deadline isn’t earlier, but some state and school deadlines are. Most state and school deadlines haven’t changed, but be aware of this: Several states’ deadlines have changed from “as soon as possible after Jan. 1” to “as soon as possible after Oct. 1.” Find state deadlines on the FAFSA and school deadlines on schools’ websites.
Do I have to apply for admission to a school before I list it on my FAFSA?
No. On your FAFSA, list all the schools to which you have applied or might apply.
Will my 2016–17 FAFSA information be carried over onto the 2017–18 FAFSA?
If you choose the Renewal FAFSA option when you start your application at fafsa.gov, some basic information from your 2016–17 FAFSA will be prepopulated in your 2017–18 FAFSA. However, your tax and income information will not. (Too much could have changed in your life since you filled out the 2016–17 FAFSA.)
Can I choose to report 2016 information if my family’s income has dropped significantly since we filed 2015 taxes?
No. You must report 2015 tax and income information, as the FAFSA requires. If your family’s financial situation has changed dramatically since then, you should complete the FAFSA questions as required, submit the FAFSA, then contact the school you plan to attend and discuss your situation with the financial aid office at your school.
Do I report my 2015 tax and income information on the 2017–18 FAFSA now, and then update it once I’ve filed my 2016 taxes?
No. Do not update after filing your taxes. The 2017–18 FAFSA asks for 2015 tax information.
What if my parents’ (or my) marital status has changed since we filed 2015 taxes? How do we supply tax and income information on the FAFSA?
Here are some tips for this type of situation:
- The FAFSA asks for marital status “as of today” (the day it’s filled out). So if the student or parent is married now but wasn’t in 2015 (and therefore didn’t file taxes as married), the spouse’s income will need to be added to the FAFSA.
- Similarly, if the student or parent filed 2015 taxes as married but is no longer married when filling out the FAFSA, the spouse’s income will need to be subtracted.
- And if the student or parent was married when filing 2015 taxes, then got divorced and is now married to someone else, there’s a bit more math to do: Subtract the ex’s income, then add the new spouse’s income.
- The help text in fafsa.gov will discuss all these situations.
Will I receive aid offers from schools earlier if I apply earlier?
Not necessarily; some schools will make offers earlier, and others won’t. And keep in mind that an early offer might be an estimated offer, so read communications from schools carefully.