Free one-on-one assistance to help students and parents complete financial aid applications for college is available for Lincoln County seniors on Feb. 20.

Get2College will assist students and parents with filing the FAFSA and the State of Mississippi Financial Aid Application from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Mississippi School of the Arts.  Parents are asked to schedule a 30-minute appointment by calling Avery Peagler, MSA counselor, at 601-823-1300.

In order to apply for federal aid, students must file the FAFSA. The U. S. Department of Education uses the information provided on the FAFSA to assist the college or university aid office to determine each student’s eligibility for federal programs such as Pell Grants, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, Work Study and student loans.  Many states and colleges also use the FAFSA to award aid from their own institutional grant and scholarship programs.

The student/parents should bring the following items to the appointment:

• Legal names, dates of birth, and Social Security and driver’s license numbers for student and parents,

• 2015 Federal tax returns (IRS 1040, 1040A, or 1040EZ) including IRS W-2 information, (If you have not yet filed your 2015 tax return, bring your 2014 1040 tax form and 2015 W-2s.)

• Records of untaxed income, such as child support, interest income, veterans and non-education benefits

• Information on cash, savings and checking account balances, investments, including stocks and bonds and real estate but not including the home in which you live; business and farm assets.

Get2College is Mississippi’s nonprofit resource for planning and paying for college. Information is available at get2college.org.