Short version: Is there any entity OTHER than FSA that can help me fix a name discrepancy issue with a FSAID/FAFSA? (The people at FSA are beyond unhelpful.)
If it matters, I can’t even confirm what the exact discrepancy is, or where, because FSA wont tell me.
What name is on your SSN? If it is different than what was used to apply to the school, that might be your problem. FSA uses the ID system to match up a SSN to the name and DOB tied to that SSN.
That’s the long version. When I originally did the fafsa/fsaid, the name didn’t match SSA. So I have updated it at SSA (almost three months ago) and now they match, but FSA still throws errors saying they dont. FSA alternates between telling me to correct it at SSA and telling me to correct it at FSAID, but as far as I know they are identical.
(Except that SSA has a full middle name and fafsa/fsaid use MI. One rep at FSA told me today I should legally change my name to remove my middle name and maybe that might help.) (Seriously.)
You should be able to see your FAFSA to see the name you put on that. You should know wht name is on your SS number. You should also be able to contact your colleges to see what name you used on your applications.
The name needs to match.
Your other threads make it sound like your student will be a HS senior in the fall. If that is the case…it sounds like you are trying to set up your FAFSA ID.
The student name MUST match the name in the SS card.
Call the FAFSA helpline again. Someone there should be able to help you fix this.
I have my new SS card in front of me. It says FIRSTNAME MIDDLENAME LASTNAME.
At fsaid website it says Firstname MI Lastname
When I log in at fafsa website it says “Welcome Firstname Lastname” but since my FSAID doesn’t work I can’t actually get to my FAFSA to see what is on my FAFSA or make changes there.
Can you please clarify the issue? What exactly is the problem? Can you sign into your FAFSA? Can you submit your FAFSA? If so, the issue is not actually with the FSA ID or the FAFSA … if I know exactly what problems are being caused by the name/SSN mismatch, I can guide you.
This is actually my fafsa. I don’t know why my school is making me do it (since I cant get aid) but whatever. I’m just going to call them on Monday and tell them we’ll have to just agree to disagree. I doubt its actually required. I’m just frustrated at a problem that I can’t solve.
Is your kiddo a HS senior? Or are you the student…and are YOU a rising HS senior?
If so…what FAFSA did you complete?
Other threads say you have an older sibling in college. Are you talking about the older sibling?
And are you sharing this college confidential account??
So the mismatch is on your FAFSA. The school can fix it for you … show them your social security card. Once you prove your name matches your SSN, the school is able to take care of it on their end. They need a copy of your social security card with the correct name. If someone at the school says that they can’t fix it, ask to speak with a manager
And no, you can’t agree to disagree. It has to be corrected or you won’t get aid. Just show them the SS card with the correct name. If you don’t have that, you will not be able to get aid.
Can you get a new FSAID? Try to register with a new email, and put in everything according to the new SSN information.
When you apply for a new FSAID, it won’t tell you what the issue is if it is denied. You might THINK it is your name that is causing the problem, but it might be a date entered wrong or even that the email is already ‘used’. My daughter’s was bouncing, and I thought it was her name. She has a double first name, MI, last name. I tried just Mary and using her second first name as a middle initial, tried using her whole first name, with no MI tried using Mary and her middle initial. Problem all along was her SSN was incorrectly entered, but I couldn’t see that because it was ***out. Re-entered everything carefullyand it worked. Check every single keystroke you enter. Use a new email account (create a new Gmail if you need to).
I also couldn’t get mine to work, and I’ve always had the same name. Mine was my birthdate; I’d flipped the late two numbers, making myself 30 years younger than I really am.
Legally changing your name might help in a other areas, but not for this. The FSA ID is based on what is on record at the SSN. Your name could be Jane Doe but if your SSN is listed under Sally Jane Jones, that’s 2hat the FSA ID is looking to match. Name and birthdate on record.
If the student could sign the FAFSA with the FSA ID and it processed (that is, an EFC was created), the issue in terms of getting aid is actually the SSN/name mismatch on the FAFSA. The school can help in the short term, allowing the student to get aid. In the long term, if the student needs to fix the SSN/name on the FSA ID, he/she will have to wait until the SSA updates the name in its database … there can be a lag.
Then I’m confused…because on other threads YOU are looking for colleges to apply to. If that is the case…what FAFSA would you have completed?
And why can’t you get aid? Are you not a U.S. citizen?
OP can’t get aid if there is an issue with the SSN/name mismatch.
I had a student with an SSN/name mismatch situation … she uses a different name than what is on her SSN and filed under that name. I had her refile her FAFSA under the SSN name, but I also had to have a copy of her SS card on file. Other times, the name is correct on the FAFSA, but the SSN is wrong … in that case, the SSN name has to be updated. Again, the school has to keep a copy of the SS card on file.
@kelsmom
The OP wrote that they don’t know why the school is asking them to complete a FAFSA because “since I can’t get aid”.
The implication of that is that the OP can’t get aid…but the school is asking them to complete a FAFSA anyway.
But really…if this student is a rising HS senior (as other posts indicate)…wht FAFSA is he completing??
@flatKansas could you please clarify?
@kelsmom Thanks for that info. I will talk to the school next week!
@thumper1 Sorry its all so confusing! I do have 1 in college and 1 in HS, but this problematic fafsa is mine.
Are you also a student, or are you the parent trying to help the college student? If you are the parent, is your college student also having issues with your name/SSN mismatch??
Sorry fell behind on Qs.
@thumper1 I am going back to school but already have a degree, so I assume I don’t get aid. The school did tell me to fill out a fafsa, but I didn’t clarify if that was a “you should” or a “you must”
@twoinanddone I’ll look into making a new fsaid if I cant get a solution from the school. thanks!
@kelsmom I am also a student. This problem is all my info on my personal fafsa. My 1st kid has had no problems with her fafsa. My 2nd kid we haven’t started his yet.
Are you the FAFSA parent for the 1st kid? If so, there should be an issue with a mismatch on that FAFSA … I am confused as to why there would not be. It makes me think maybe you should just do another FAFSA … a whole new one, not a correction … using the correct name and SSN … and see if that works.