The Parent’s Guide to Filling Out the FAFSA® Form

IMPORTANT: Your child must create their own FSA ID. You cannot create an FSA ID for your child. Also, when you register, you will be asked to provide an email address and mobile phone number. This is optional, but highly recommended. Both of these items must be unique to each account. To put it differently, phone number and your email address cannot be associated with more than one FSA ID.

You are not finished with the FAFSA form and your child sign it. If your child isn’t present, after you sign your child’s FAFSA form with your FSA ID, save and exit the program and instruct your child to log into fafsa.gov to sign and submit their FAFSA form.

3. Fill out the Student Demographics section.

• If you or your child forgot your FSA ID, you can retrieve it.
• Make sure you and your child do not mix up your FSA IDs. This is one of the most frequent mistakes we see, and why it’s extremely important for each person to create their particular FSA ID and not share it with anyone.
• Make sure the parent who is using his/her FSA ID to sign the FAFSA form chooses the ideal parent amount from the drop-down menu. If you don’t remember whether you were listed as Parent 1 or Parent 2, you can go back to check.
• If you get an error saying that your FSA ID information does not match the information provided on the FAFSA form, here’s what you should do. Note: This is caused by mixing up the student and parent FSA ID.
• We recommend registering for the FAFSA form with an FSA ID because it’s the quickest way to get your child’s FAFSA form processed. If you or your child are unable to sign the FAFSA form electronically with an FSA ID, you can mail in a signature page. From the sign and submit page, select “Other options to sign and submit” and then choose “Print A Signature Page.” Bear in mind that your child’s FAFSA form will take if you go this route.
• If you’ve got multiple children who need to complete the FAFSA form, you can use the identical FSA ID to sign FAFSA forms for each one of your children. You can also transfer your data by selecting the option provided on the FAFSA confirmation page.

Your FSA ID serves as your legal signature . Don’t talk about your FSA ID with anyone, not even your own child. Your child should also not talk about their FSA ID with you. Keep your FSA ID information in a location that is safe. You’ll need it to renew your FAFSA form every year and to get federal student aid information online.

Next, you’ll likely be asked to provide your child information.

• If your child filed taxes, the easiest way to complete this section is to utilize the IRS DRT. Your child would need to be present because he or she needs to provide FSA ID to use the instrument. If your child isn’t current, save and exit the program and instruct your child to log in with their FSA ID, retrieve the FAFSA form using the save key, and then use the IRS DRT to complete the FAFSA form and sign it.
• If your child did not file taxes, you can enter their financial information manually (if you have access to the essential information). Save and exit the program if you do not have access to this information and instruct your child to log in with their FSA ID, retrieve the FAFSA form using the key, complete the FAFSA form, and sign it.

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Nicole Callahan is a Digital Engagement Strategist at the U.S. Department of Education’s office of Federal Student Aid.
Answer the dependency status questions.

8. Sign your child’s FAFSA® form.

 
We recommend that your child and you register for FSA IDs beforehand, so you don’t experience delays later in the procedure.

2.

1. Go to fafsa.gov and click on “Start A New FAFSA.”
2. Once on the log-in page, you may see two choices. If you’re starting the FAFSA form on behalf of your child, choose the option on the right, “Enter the student’s information.” Then, click.
3. Choose which FAFSA form you want to complete.
   2018–19 FAFSA form if your child will be attending college between July 1, 2018, and June 30, 2019.
   Both: If your child will be attending college during both time periods and hasn’t completed the 2017–18 FAFSA form yet, complete that first, wait till it processes (one to three days), then return in and complete the 2018–19 FAFSA form afterwards.
   Were you given the option to submit a FAFSA® Renewal? If your child is current, you should choose this option. A lot of the demographic information required will be pre-populated if you do. Your child must be present because he or she’ll need to enter the student’s FSA ID to continue. If your child isn’t current, you should “Start A New FAFSA.”
4. Create a save key. A save key is a temporary password that permits you and your child to “pass” the FAFSA form back and forth. It lets you save your child’s FAFSA form and return to it later. Share it with your child as soon as you create a key that is save. She or he will need it to complete actions.