Will an FSA ID Be Required To File an Online FAFSA Starting With the 2024-25 Award Year?

Yes. In its FAFSA Changes: An Overview webinar, the U.S, Department of Education (ED) stated, beginning with the 2024-25 FAFSA, all students and FAFSA contributors must create a Federal Student Aid ID (FSA username and password).

Users will no longer be allowed to access, create, or submit an online FAFSA using just their personally identifiable information (PII). They must be authenticated using an FSA ID. During the June 30, 2023 General Session at the 2023 NASFAA National Conference, ED confirmed all contributors, including those without a social security number (SSN), will be able to create an FSA ID starting with the 2024-25 FAFSA cycle. If the contributor has an SSN, that SSN will be used to create the FSA ID. For a contributor without an SSN, there will be a knowledge-based match to validate/authenticate their identity. Guidance and instructions for using the updated FSA ID process will be forthcoming (timeframe unspecified).

Foreign tax filers will continue to self-report their tax information on the FAFSA. They will also be able to create an FSA ID to access the online FAFSA even if they don't have an SSN.

Student Eligibility: Under 34 CFR 668.32(d) and 668.33, a student must still be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen to be eligible for federal student aid. Also, under 668.32(i), except for students from the Freely Associated States, all students must have an SSN to be eligible for Title IV aid. Students from the Freely Associated States (Marshall Islands, Micronesia, and Palau) are assigned pseudo-SSNs.

Paper FAFSA: The student or contributor does not need an FSA ID to file the paper FAFSA.

Alternatives: According to the Better FAFSA Better Future Q&A Session One, "There are two alternative options for contributors to provide consent who do not want to or refuse to create an FSA ID. The first example would be the student applies using the paper FAFSA and obtains wet signatures from all contributors, including the parents who also affirm their consent. And the other option is the student completes their section and self-reports information for the parent section on the FAFSA. When the student submits their FAFSA without the parent signature, it will be placed in rejected status by the FPS [FAFSA Processing System]. The parent can then provide their signature and consent on a paper copy of the FAFSA Submission Summary. Now this method is not recommended due to complexity and increased processing time."

According to guidance NASFAA has received from ED, if the contributor provides their signature and consent on a FAFSA Submission Summary, that Summary must be mailed to the FPS; it cannot be entered by the financial aid administrator using the FAFSA Partner Portal (formerly FAA Access). See AskRegs Knowledgebase Q&A, Can a School Collect FAFSA Signature Pages Starting With the 2024-25 Award Year?