Long story, but my last name legally is like this: XXXXXX-XXXX. However, my FAFSA throughout my undergraduate was entered with only the second part of my last name, and was verified and accepted. upon first applying, I was told my name wouldn’t be accepted and to enter it how I did. My records were fixed as well with the hyphenated last name the semester before I graduated. Now, I’m going to apply for graduate loans. The NSLDS has my hyphenated last name, but FAFSA does not, still. Do I just apply for my loans with the XXXX last name as I always have and was accepted and verified through FAFSA, or should I change it? I’m so confused and loathe my parents for cursing me with this problem.
You should use the name that matches your SSN.
So when I file for the 2016-2017, I just enter it correctly. What about my FSA ID? It’s also under the incorrect last name, but was accepted and verified oddly.
Hahaha! (Your Social Security card does not specify what portion of your name is your last name. My D has a two-word-no-hyphen last name. The IRS, which gets its data from the SSA database, disagrees with her birth certificate as to what her last name is. I’ve known families with multiple kids all with the same last name on their birth certificates and identical presentation on their SS cards, and the IRS considers them to have different last names.)
OP, my suggestion would be to use the name that appears on your parents’ tax returns. Look at the data entry screens or ask their tax preparer to figure out what’s in the last name field.
I’m an independent, and I’ve finished my undergraduate. And I’ve always had issues with agencies not being able to enter my name with a hyphen, misspelling it, or omitting a name altogether. Most of my IDs were all incorrect for years.