When a student files a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), it creates a “snapshot” of the financial situation of the student’s family as of the date the application was completed. Errors may occur, however, because the student and family filled in the wrong information on the FAFSA. The student must correct this information so it is accurate as of the day the FAFSA was originally filed. Applicants can make corrections to their FAFSA by:
- using Corrections on the Web (the student may use regardless of the method originally used to file the FAFSA);
- submitting changes via FAA Access to Central Processing System (CPS) Online (the school may use regardless of the method originally used to file the FAFSA);
- using a paper Student Aid Report (SAR); or
- calling the Federal Student Aid Center (FSAIC) at 1-800-4-FED-AID (to request a duplicate SAR the student must provide name, Social Security Number (SSN), and date of birth).
Corrections on the Web
Any student who has a Personal Identification Number (PIN) – regardless of how he or she applied – may correct any data, except the SSN, by using Corrections on the Web (at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/). If dependent students change parental data, a parent must either sign electronically with his or her own PIN or print out and sign a signature page.
FAA Access to CPS Online
The student’s postsecondary school can make corrections and updates electronically. The school must have signed documentation from the student and/or the parent for the correction(s). The student will receive a SAR Acknowledgement or an e-mail acknowledging the correction from the CPS.
Adding a School
If a student wants to have his or her FAFSA information be available to an additional school after filing the FAFSA, the student may use the above methods to replace some or all of the original six schools with other schools. However, the CPS will only send data to six schools at a time for one student. When new schools are added, a corresponding number of schools will be removed from the list and will not have automatic access to the student’s information.
Effective for the 2006-07 academic year, a student can no longer make school code changes by sending a letter to the CPS. All such letters will be returned to the student with instructions describing alternative school code correction methods which include contacting the Federal Student Aid Information Center by phone (1-800-4-FED-AID), using FAFSA on the Web Corrections or submitting the school code corrections on a paper SAR.
Contact the School
The student should speak to the postsecondary school’s Financial Aid Office directly if there will be a significant change in the family’s income for the present year or other special circumstances that cannot be reported on the FAFSA or the SAR.
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