Benninghoff warns students, parents to be careful where they click to avoid paying unnecessary fees

Rep. Kerry Benninghoff (R-Centre/Mifflin) is warning college students and parents to be careful when surfing the Internet looking for a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).   The lawmaker warns that one wrong click could lead them to a page that offers help with the FAFSA, but at a price.

“Filling out and submitting a FAFSA form is absolutely, positively free,” Benninghoff said.  “There is no reason to pay to acquire or process the application.”

Benninghoff said the confusion stems from a Web site set up by a fee-based company, Student Financial Aid Services, Inc.  The company’s Web site – FAFSA.com – offers help and advice to visitors who want to submit a FAFSA form.  However, the company charges a fee for some of its services.

The official Web site for FAFSA is FAFSA.ed.gov.  The similarity of the Web site addresses leads some students and parents to confuse the two.

“If you enter ‘FAFSA’ in an online search engine, chances are that both Web sites will come up,” Benninghoff said.  “If you click on the wrong one, you might be asked to pay for the help you receive.”

To help local students and parents, Benninghoff has added a link to his legislative Web site – KerryBenninghoff.com – where residents can access the official FAFSA Web site.  To do so, residents should visit Benninghoff’s site and click on the “Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)” link on the left-hand side.

“To be safe, all students and parents have to do is visit my Web site at KerryBenninghoff.com,” Benninghoff said.  “That way they know they are headed for the official FAFSA site and don’t have to worry about being charged any fees.  I’d much rather see students use their limited resources on college textbooks, food or housing.”

Rep. Kerry Benninghoff
171st District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
(814) 355-1300
(717) 783-1918

KerryBenninghoff.com

Contact:  Dan Massing

House Public Relations

(717) 772-9845

www.pahousegop.com