FAFSA FAQs

Find out what the FAFSA is and what it is used for.

Yes! In fact, you will not be able to create another FSA ID due to your original account being linked to your Social Security number. If you forget your FSA ID username or password, look for the “Forgot My Username” and “Forgot My Password” links on log-in pages. These links will direct you to web pages where you can request a secure code to be texted to your verified mobile phone number or emailed to your verified email address. The secure code will allow you to retrieve your username or reset your password. You can also retrieve your username or reset your password by successfully answering your challenge questions. If you are unable to successfully answer your challenge questions, you will have to call the Federal Student Aid Information Center (FSAIC) at 1-800-433-3243.

You will use prior, prior year income tax information of the current FAFSA.

Find out why you should provide consent and approval.

Find out what dependency status is.

Find out how to complete the FAFSA as an independent student.

If you have unusual circumstances that are preventing you from providing parental information, you maybe be eligible to skip any questions about your parents, submit your FAFSA form as an independent student, and receive a provisional SAI. However, you must meet the unusual circumstances listed on the website.

Find the FAFSA qualification for unaccompanied homeless youth.

If student’s biological/adoptive parents are married to each other, use both parent’s information even if they filed taxes separately. If the student’s parents are divorced or separated, you will use the information of the parent who provided the most financial support over the past 12 months. If the student does not receive financial support from either parent, identify the parent that provided the most financial support most recently and use the information of that parent. *If the parent identified in the above situations is remarried as of today, their current spouse must also provide their financial information. Regardless of how they file their taxes. * For more information see

Who counts as a parent on the FAFSA® form?

We have created a flowchart to help you identify who to invite as a contributor on the FAFSA.

Find out more about more about the Direct Unsubsidized Loans question on the FAFSA.

The PII or Personal Identifiable Information that is entered in the invite must match what is listed on the FSA ID. If the contributor doesn’t receive an email, they should log into their FSA ID account and see if the invitation is listed under My Activity on their dashboard. If contributor is still having not receiving the invite, they can check the FAFSA Known Issues page to see if this issue is listed and if there is a work around listed.

SAI stands for Student Aid Index, and it replaced what was previously known as Expected Family Contribution or EFC.

Find out more about the different statuses on the FAFSA and what they mean.

Find out more about how to make a correction.

Learn more about the FAFSA Submission Summary.

Yes, you can change/update contributors on the FAFSA. You would do so by logging either the student or parent’s section of the FAFSA. You will navigate to the FAFSA Submission Summary and under FAFSA form answers you will select make a correction. From there you will select the “Update Information” button. Changing contact information for the contributor will reset the contributor section of the FAFSA form. This will require the contributor to reenter their information.

There are a few known issues going on currently with making corrections to FAFSA. Visit "Current FAFSA Issues" to browse the current known issues with the FAFSA and see if your issue is listed and if there is a work around listed. If not, just know that FSA is aware and are working to get the issue resolved.

With the new role-based experience, parents can do their own section on their own time. The parents will need either their own FSA ID to log into studentaid.gov to complete their section or click from the email request they receive from the student.

Their FSA ID (username & password), IRS Form 1040 (if they filed), access to their email and cell phone for verification codes, and the legal name/SSN/email of their contributors. For a list of information or document you may need to fill out the FAFSA form, visit "FAFSA Filling Out the FAFSA Form."

For dependent students, only a biological or adoptive parent’s information can be used on the FAFSA with the student. The FAFSA role-based experience allows contributor(s) to complete their section of the form at a different time and location than the student. But remember, the form is not complete and submitted to the colleges until all contributor(s) have submitted.

If the student cannot attend the FAFSA appointment, the student must be available via Zoom during the appointment. However, the new FAFSA experience will allow students to complete their section later.