The FAFSA will reduce the maximum number of questions from 108 to 46. And because the FAFSA on the Web is dynamic, some students won't be presented with all 46 questions. This streamlined format will simplify the application process and make it less daunting for students and their families.
Parents without a social security number can create an FSA ID account. Transunion helps parents create an account.
What you will need to create an FSA ID username and password:
- Personal information, including your parent’s name and date of birth.
- If your parent has no social security number, there will be a box to check.
- An email address. Each email must be unique to one user; for example, students and a parent cannot use the same email.
- A mailing address is required as it will be used to verify your parent’s identity, your parent must be living, have lived or own the property at this address. A foreign address can be used.
- A US phone number, if not leave blank.
- Your parent will have to create challenge questions in case they need to reset their account.
- Your parent will need to answer knowledge-based questions to verify their identity.
If your parent answers all the questions correctly, their account will be created instantly and is ready for use to start filling out their portion of the FAFSA immediately.
If your parent answers one or more of their identity verification questions incorrectly, they will receive an email with the MANVER case number and instructions for providing the proper documentation to verify their identity.
They will be required to provide the following to establish their identity:
- A Completed Attestation form. This will either be provided in the email once your case is created or may be available at studentaid.gov website.
- Proof of identity
- One of the following forms of ID
- Driver’s License
- State or City ID Card
- A Foreign Passport (must be active, cannot use expired)
- Or a utility bill AND one of the following:
- A Municipal ID Card
- A Community ID Card
- A Consular ID Card
- One of the following forms of ID
Once you've submitted your documents, the Federal Student Aid office will send an email confirmation of your identity verification within one to three days so that you can proceed with the FAFSA application without delay. For more information, go to our FSA Guide-Without SSN.
Previously, users had the option to enter their tax information manually or use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool. Beginning with 2024-25, all persons on the FAFSA will be required to use the IRS Direct Data Exchange to share tax information or confirm non-filing status. This change makes it easier to complete the FAFSA and reduces the number of questions to be answered.
A contributor—a new term being introduced on the 2024-25 FAFSA—refers to anyone who is required to provide information on a student's form (such as a parent/stepparent or spouse). A student's or parent's answers on the FAFSA will determine which contributors (if any) will be required to provide information.
Contributors will receive an email informing them that they've been identified as such, and will need to log in using their own FSA ID (if they don't already have one) to provide the required information on the student's FAFSA. Each contributor would need to provide their consent to their Federal Tax Information (FTI) being included in the FAFSA, even if they did not file a U.S. tax return.
Being a contributor does not mean they are financially responsible for the student's education costs, but it does mean the contributor must provide information on the FAFSA or the application will be incomplete and the student will not be eligible for federal student aid.
For dependent students, financial information was previously needed from the parent(s) the student had lived with the most in the last 12 months. With the new FAFSA, financial information will be required from the parent(s) who provided the most financial support to the student.
When required, families must now report the value of their small business or family farm. If the family farm includes the principal place of residence, applicants should determine the total net value of all farm assets and subtract the net value of their principal residence to determine the final value of their farm assets.
