FAFSA Corrections
It's not too late to fix your FAFSA
To assist you in making changes to your FAFSA, we have prepared the following “FAFSA
Corrections Guide.” The guide will step you through the corrections process. It
includes helpful contact information—phone numbers, e-mail addresses, and websites—that
you can refer to should you require additional assistance.
How to Make Changes to Your FAFSA
Once your FAFSA has been submitted to the federal processor, the student and one
parent (if the student is a dependent) must sign the FAFSA before any corrections
can be made.
Once the FAFSA is signed and fully processed, you have several options for making
changes (each outlined in further detail below):
- Online FAFSA Corrections. Online corrections are the fastest way to update your
application. With a student PIN, you can correct anything on the application except
for the student’s date of birth*. If the student is a dependent, a parent PIN is
also helpful, but it’s not required for corrections.
- Paper FAFSA Corrections. You can correct any item on the FAFSA with a 10-page Student
Aid Report (SAR). The SAR is generated upon request.
- Phone FAFSA Corrections. You can add a college to your FAFSA or update your mailing
address by calling the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1.800.433.3243.
You will need to provide the Data Release Number (DRN) that appears on the SAR in
order for them to assist you.
* Note: If you made a mistake in entering the student’s date of birth, you will
need to make corrections using the 10-page, paper Student Aid Report. If you made
a mistake in entering your Social Security Number, or if a misspelling of the student’s
last name affected the first two letters of the last name, please phone us at
1.866.943.5220
to speak with one of our Student Aid Advisors. You may need to submit a new FAFSA
to avoid potential confusion, and we will guide you through this process.
Online FAFSA Corrections
After your FAFSA has been signed and is fully processed, you can log on to the Department
of Education’s website to make corrections to your FAFSA.
What will I need for online FAFSA corrections?
- A PIN for the student (with it, you can correct anything on the application except
for the student’s date of birth)
- A PIN for one parent if the student is a dependent
- A computer with Internet access
What if I don’t have a PIN or can’t remember my PIN?
- You can easily apply for a PIN online. Go to www.pin.ed.gov
and follow the directions to apply for a PIN (if you have never had one) or request
a duplicate PIN (if you have forgotten your PIN).
What steps do I follow to make online corrections?
- Go online to http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/FOTWWebApp/complete014.jsp
- Select the school year for which you are making corrections in the drop-down menu
on the screen that appears, choose “Next,” and then continue to follow the on-screen
instructions to make changes to your FAFSA.
- Simply enter the correct information next to the original response (and don’t worry
about clicking the “Delete the Answer” check box).
- Be sure to have a parent sign the online correction if you are a dependent and are
prompted to do so. A signature is typically required when information about a parent
is corrected (such as tax or financial information). The parent signature may be
provided electronically with a parent PIN or by following the on-screen instructions
to have the parent print, sign, and mail the signature page.
- You must complete all steps and receive the confirmation stamp in order for your
changes to be effective.
What if I just need to add another college?
Paper FAFSA Corrections
After your FAFSA has been signed and is fully processed, you can make corrections
on a paper form that can be mailed to the Federal Student Aid Programs.
How do I request a 10-page SAR?
- You can request one by calling the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1.800.433.3243.
When prompted, say “Application Status” and then “Paper SAR.” Continue to follow
the automated voice response system to request that a 10-page Student Aid Report
be mailed to you. Be sure to specify the correct school year for which you need
to make corrections.
- The 10-page SAR will arrive in the mail within 7-10 business days.
What should I do with the SAR once it arrives?
- You will notice that the SAR contains a summary of all the information reported
on your FAFSA. Next to each field, there will be an empty box for you to write in
corrections. Find the items you need to correct. Write the new information in the
box next to the old, incorrect information. Sign the last page of the SAR and mail
it back to the P.O. Box address printed near the signature line.
Phone FAFSA Corrections
Once your FAFSA has been signed and is fully processed, you may also make certain
corrections to your FAFSA over the phone.
What information can I correct over the phone?
- The only two corrections that can be made over the phone are adding/deleting schools
and the making address changes.
How do I make the corrections over the phone?
- Call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1.800.433.3243 and request to
speak with a customer service representative by saying “Customer Service” or pressing
zero on your phone keypad.
- You will need to provide the 4-digit Data Release Number (DRN) that is located on
your SAR, along with the student’s name, Social Security Number, date of birth,
and address, in order to verify your identity.
- The representative will assist you in adding/deleting a school and/or changing an
address on your FAFSA over the phone.
What to Expect After You Correct Your FAFSA
Once you have corrected your FAFSA, you will receive a new Student Aid Report (SAR)
that reflects the changes you have made. If corrections to the financial information
on your FAFSA affected your Expected Family Contribution (EFC), that change will
also be reflected on your new SAR, and your college's financial aid administrators
will adjust your financial aid award package(s) accordingly. (You will typically
receive a financial aid award notice from each school to which you have been offered
admission.)
Getting Help with FAFSA Corrections
Student Financial Aid Services, Inc.
1.866.943.5220
clientservice@FAFSA.com
(For online and personalized information and assistance in completing your FAFSA,
help with making corrections, personalized review of your FAFSA prior to filing,
electronic filing of your FAFSA, and monitoring status through to completion)
Department of Education (ED)
www.fafsa.ed.gov
(For online information and assistance
in completing and filing your FAFSA, making corrections, and checking your application
status)
www.pin.ed.gov
(For students and parents to request a Federal Student Aid PIN)
Federal Student Aid Information Center
1.800.433.3243
(For information and assistance,
to request a 4-page, paper SAR, to check application status, and to add/delete a
school or change an address by phone)