FAFSA Simplification

A Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID, also known as a studentaid.gov account, grants students, contributors and borrowers access to federal financial aid services. 

How do I create an FSA ID?

To create an FSA ID, visit studentaid.gov. If you have previously filled out a FAFSA form or you have a dependent who has filled out a FAFSA, you likely already have an existing FSA ID and do not need to create a new one. 

What is needed to create an FSA ID?

When you set up your account, you will need the following information:

• Full legal name
• Date of birth
• Mailing address
• Email address
• Mobile phone number

Make sure to use an email address that you will have ongoing access to, as you will have the same FSA ID forever. 

Who needs an FSA ID?

Students and FAFSA contributors will each need their own individual FSA ID. This means that each account created must have a unique email and phone number associated with it. 

What is the FSA ID used for?

The FSA ID is used as identification when signing and submitting the FAFSA. When creating an FSA ID, you will elect to provide (or not provide) your consent for your tax data to be electronically exchanged between the IRS and the Department of Education. 

An FSA ID can also be used to sign a Master Promissory Note (MPN) and complete loan counseling for students who accept offered federal loans. 

A contributor is any individual required to provide information, consent and approval on a student's application for Federal Aid. FAFSA contributors can include:

• Student
• Student's spouse
• Parent(s), biological or adopted
• Parent's spouse (i.e., step-parent)

How are FAFSA contributors determined?

As you fill out the 2024-2025 FAFSA, your responses to questions on the aid application will determine which FAFSA contributors must provide their information, consent and approval.

Please note: FAFSA contributors are not responsible for providing financial support for a student's college expenses.

Do contributors need their own FSA ID?

Yes! Every FAFSA contributor will need to create their own FSA ID. 

Both the student and the FAFSA contributor will need a separate FSA ID connected to different email addresses. 

What if a contributor does not have a Social Security Number (SSN)?

FAFSA contributors without an SSN will have access to create an FSA ID to provide their consent and approval on the FAFSA form. For more information, view this guide for creating an FSA ID without an SSN.

Please note: the 2024-2025 FAFSA form did have issues with providing contributor approval without Social Security Numbers. This issue has been resolved and students and families should now be able to submit a complete form. 

When will a contributor provide their approval?

FAFSA contributors will receive an email notifying them they have been identified as a contributor when the student submits their FAFSA.

What if a contributor does not provide consent?

The student will not be eligible for federal aid such as the Pell Grant, Work-Study or Direct Loans.

The IRS Data Retrieval Tool will no longer be offered on the 2024-2025 FAFSA, as it has been replaced with the Direct Data Exchange.

The Direct Data Exchange automatically transfers student and contributor tax information from the IRS to the Department of Education and connects to the student's FAFSA form. 

What should I do if the Direct Data Exchange doesn't work?

There may be instances where manual entry of income and tax information may be required in certain cases. Students and FAFSA contributors will automatically be prompted to enter information if Direct Data Exchange is not applicable.

What information will be transferred through the Direct Data Exchange? 

As with the previous FAFSA, exchanged tax data will be from taxes filed two years prior (i.e., the 2024-2025 FAFSA uses 2022 tax information).

How do I give consent for my IRS data to be transferred?

When students and contributors create an FSA ID and sign the FAFSA, they consent to their tax data being electronically exchanged. 

The Student Aid Index (SAI) number results from information provided on the FAFSA. It is used to determine the amount of federal aid a student is eligible for. 

The SAI replaced the Expected Family Contribution (EFC).

Students will receive their SAI through the FAFSA Submission Summary, a document received after completing the FAFSA. 

How is my SAI Determined?

The Department of Education determines the Student Aid Index Number (SAI) through a need-analysis formula calculated from information provided on the FAFSA.

What has changed with the need-analysis formula calculation?

• Students can now receive a negative SAI number.
• Small businesses and family farms are now considered assets in determining financial need. 
• The number of family members in college will be excluded in calculating financial need. 

How do I know if I am Pell Grant eligible?

Your SAI number provided on the FAFSA Submission Summary report will help you determine if you are eligible to receive a Pell Grant. Below is information to help you understand your SAI and Pell eligibility. 

SAI > 7395 = Not eligible

SAI ≤ 0 = Eligible for maximum Pell Grant

SAI < 7395 = Eligible for calculated Pell Grant

We understand that there are several active issues with the 2024-2025 FAFSA that may impact your ability to submit a complete form, provide contributor signatures and make corrections to an existing aid application.

We encourage you to visit the FAFSA Issue Alerts webpage for a complete list of issues, workarounds and timelines for resolutions. 

We will continue to work to support students and families by being as flexible as possible during the federal aid awarding process. 

For assistance, you can contact live chat support at the Federal Student Aid Information Center or reach out to Clemson Financial Aid at finaid@clemson.edu.