Fafsa Id

The FSA ID recently replaced the PIN as the way you log in to certain U.S. Department of Education (ED) websites, including fafsa.gov. It consists of a username and password and is basically the electronic equivalent of your signature. It’s easy to set up, and you can get one on a variety of ED websites. (I would recommend StudentAid.gov/fsaid because there is also a lot of good information and advice about student aid and the FSA ID there).

Any parent, who wants to electronically sign the FAFSA, will need his or her own FSA ID. To avoid problems with your financial aid down the road, you (and your parent, if that applies) should create your own FSA ID.

Incoming College Students

Everyone who will be in college next year and plans on applying for federal financial aid should get an FSA ID. If next year will be your first year in college, just go ahead and create your FSA ID and use it to sign your FAFSA. What happens next is that ED checks your information with the Social Security Administration to make sure it matches. That takes about one to three days. During that time, you will only be able to use your FSA ID to sign your new FAFSA (that’s the main thing though, so don’t stress). Then, after the Social Security Administration match is done, you should receive an e-mail letting you know that you’ll now be able to use your FSA ID on a number of ED websites.

I know that applying for federal student aid can be a stressful experience, but don’t worry! The FSA ID is easy to figure out. You can go to StudentAid.gov/fsaid and it will provide some super helpful information such as what you should gather beforehand, and a link to create your own FSA ID—plus it will walk you through the entire process.

To get an FSA ID, you’ll need this information:

  • your Social Security number
  • your full and correct name
  • your date of birth

Current College Students

If, like me, you are already in college, you probably filled out your previous FAFSA using a Federal Student Aid PIN. If you’ll be returning to college next year and are applying for more federal student aid, you will need to get an FSA ID—the PIN won’t work anymore. When creating your FSA ID, there will be an option to enter your PIN and link the two. Even if you’ve forgotten your PIN, you can answer the challenge question you created while creating your PIN and still be able to link your PIN to your FSA ID. You can find more information about all this at StudentAid.gov/fsaid.

Linking your PIN can save you time because your information won’t have to be matched by the Social Security Administration if it was already matched when you created your PIN. If that’s the case, then your FSA ID is ready for full use right away—which means you’ll be able to sign a Master Promissory Note for a student loan, or fill out your Renewal FAFSA, right away.

If you don’t remember your PIN or didn’t have one, don’t worry. You can still create an FSA ID from scratch.

Video on How to Create an FSA ID:

Some Tips About the FSA ID

  • Keep your FSA ID in a safe place and/or memorize it. It’s your legal signature. Keep it a secret.
  • One of your parents might need an FSA ID as well. If you’re considered a dependent student and need to provide information about your parents on the FAFSA, one of your parents will have to sign the application. He or she can sign electronically with his or her own FSA ID.
  • If you share an e-mail address with someone else, only one of you will be able to use that e-mail address to create an FSA ID. Each FSA ID can be associated with only one e-mail address. So, for instance, if you’re a dependent student, and you and your mom share an e-mail address, one of you should get a new e-mail address before creating an FSA ID.
  • Make your FSA ID early! Don’t leave it until right before your FAFSA is due. That adds a lot of stress (I would know!!!) that you don’t need.

Megan Friebe is a freshman at Michigan State University, where she spends her days studying public affairs and social policy, her evenings studying the same thing, and, if she’s lucky, her nights sleeping. She also manages to find time to intern with the Customer Experience team in the office of Federal Student Aid at the U.S. Department of Education.

What if I forget my FSA ID password for my account?

If you have an FSA ID but do not remember your password, select Forgot My Password and follow the steps below:

  • Enter your username, verified email address, or verified mobile phone number and the month and day of your birthday.
  • Select one of the three recovery options: Text a secure code to my mobile phone, Email a secure code, Answer my challenge questions.*
  • Enter your secure code or answer your challenge questions.
  • Create a new password.

*Please note that for security purposes, if you use the challenge question option to reset your password, there’s a 30-minute delay before you can use your FSA ID.

How to Make a Parent FSA ID

  1. Go to the FSA ID website.
  2. Fill in the information under “Create an FSA ID,” and then click “continue.”
  3. You’ll be directed to another page with an online form. There, you’ll fill out your personal information, which includes your name, address, and Social Security number.
  4. Once you’ve followed all the instructions, you’ll need to wait up to three days while the system confirms your identity.

While you’re waiting for confirmation, consider verifying your email, which is optional but helpful. Verifying your email allows you to get email notifications about changes occurring in your parent account and also makes resetting your username and password easier since you can bypass challenge questions. You will be shown an option to verify your email as you follow the prompts.

Here are a few more tips for parents to keep in mind:

  • You don’t need to provide an email address or a mobile phone number, but doing so makes it easier for you to retrieve your password if you ever lose it.
  • You cannot use the same email address or phone number that your child used for their FSA ID. This is to prevent parents and children from having the same FSA ID.
  • Do not create an FSA ID for your child. Both the child and the parent must have a unique FSA ID.
  • Do not allow anyone else to create an FSA ID for you.
  • If you think the Social Security Administration (SSA) may have the wrong date of birth in their record for you, this may impact your ability to create an FSA ID. You will need to correct any errors on their website or your FSA ID will not be processed.
  • If your FSA ID is ever lost, you have the option to reset your username or password on the FSA ID website. Additionally, if your FSA ID is stolen, you can contact the FSA directly by phone. (add phone number?)

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