Program 2: Financial Aid Application Guidance
Module 1: Starting Your FAFSA Application

Filling Out the FAFSA (from login to submit) - Part 1

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Accuracy today is momentum tomorrow—every careful step you take now speeds up your aid later.

1) Log in & accuracy tips

  • Match your legal records. Names, DOB, SSN, and addresses must match official documents exactly (no nicknames, check spelling/punctuation). Tiny mismatches can trigger holds.

  • Save credentials. Store FSA IDs (student + any contributors) and recovery info in one secure place. Lockouts can take time to resolve.

2) Know your “contributors” (who must be invited)

  • A contributor is anyone who must supply info and sign: you, and—depending on your situation—your parent(s) and/or spouse. Each contributor needs their own StudentAid.gov account (no shared logins). Invite them from within your FAFSA.

  • Married parents: generally, both parents are contributors. If they filed separately, each enters their own info. If they filed jointly, the form may still prompt you to invite the spouse—follow the prompt (known issue; spouse may not need to complete everything just accept the invitation).

  • Not sure who counts as a contributor ? Visit this site for more information on complex family situations.

Tip box: Parents without an SSN can still create an account and complete their section using manual identity verification; acceptable IDs include a foreign passport, municipal or consular ID with a utility bill.

3) Bring in tax info the right way (DDX)

  • Use the Direct Data Exchange (DDX) to pull tax data automatically once each contributor gives consent & approval. This replaced the old IRS DRT and reduces errors.

  • ITIN / no-SSN situations: Some users had to enter financial info manually in 2024–25; that’s OK—enter as accurately as possible. Later reprocessing may occur once a fix is implemented. (Known issue)

4) Walkthrough: the sections you’ll complete

  • Student Info → School Selection → Dependency → Parent/Spouse Info → Sign & Submit. That’s the flow you’ll see on screen.

  • If you’re dependent, your parent(s) must also consent/sign for DDX or manually enter their data. The system determines dependency using federal rules (not who claims you on taxes).

5) Unusual/“personal” circumstances (important!)

  • If you can’t obtain parent info because of safety or separation reasons (incarceration, abandonment/estrangement, trafficking, refugee/asylee separation, etc.), you may qualify to file without parent data and request a dependency override from your college. Start your FAFSA, indicate unusual circumstances, and contact financial aid for next steps.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this section is adapted from publicly available resources on the official Federal Student Aid (studentaid.gov) website. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy and clarity, FAFSA® requirements and processes may change. Students and families are encouraged to visit the official website for the most up-to-date information.

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