Do parents need to reapply for FAFSA loans each year after initial eligibility?

Yes, your parents absolutely need to apply separately for the Parent PLUS loan! The FAFSA just determines eligibility, but for Parent PLUS loans specifically, your parents need to complete a separate application on studentaid.gov. They'll need to: 1. Log in with their own FSA ID (not yours) 2. Complete a credit check (Parent PLUS requires this unlike other federal loans) 3. Sign a Master Promissory Note (MPN) specific to the PLUS loan 4. Specify how much they want to borrow up to the maximum eligible amount This is a common point of confusion. Your initial financial aid letter just shows what you're eligible for, but the PLUS loan requires additional steps before the funds are released to your school.

when my kid went to college last yr we had to do the whole seprate parent plus thing every yr. its annoying cuz you think once wouyld be enough but nope gotta do credit check EVERY time

The FAFSA only determines eligibility for federal aid programs. For Parent PLUS loans, your parents must complete a separate loan application every academic year. They'll need their FSA ID to log in and apply directly on studentaid.gov. The application includes a credit check, which is why it's separate from the main FAFSA process. Parent PLUS loans are the only federal student loans that require a credit check.

I had the same issue last year! It's super confusing the way they explain it. Yes, your parents need to do a separate application for the Parent PLUS loan each academic year. The way it works: 1. FAFSA determines eligibility 2. Your award letter shows what you COULD get 3. Parents apply specifically for the PLUS loan 4. They pass a credit check (not super strict but they check) 5. They sign a Master Promissory Note 6. They select how much to borrow The Parent PLUS application is separate because it's technically your parents taking out the loan in their name, not you. Your school won't receive any PLUS loan money until your parents complete that application.

I work for a university financial aid office. Yes, Parent PLUS loans require a separate application each academic year. This is because: 1) the loan is in the parent's name, not the student's, 2) it requires a credit check, and 3) borrowing limits and needs change yearly. Have your parent go to studentaid.gov, sign in with THEIR FSA ID (not yours), and select "Apply for a PLUS Loan" in the loans section. They'll specify which school year, how much they want to borrow, and complete a credit check. If approved, they'll need to complete a Master Promissory Note. Tip: Don't wait until the last minute - processing can take 3-4 weeks depending on the time of year.

I was in the exact same situation and spent HOURS trying to call Federal Student Aid to get a straight answer about the Parent PLUS application. Finally found this service called Claimyr that got me through to an actual person at FSA in about 20 minutes instead of waiting for hours or getting disconnected. They walked me through exactly what my mom needed to do for the PLUS loan application. Saved us so much stress! Check out their demo at https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ or go to claimyr.com - totally worth it when you need to talk to a real human at FSA.

my daughters school sent us an email with a direct link to the parent plus application which made it way easier then figuring it out ourselves just fyi

One other thing to know - if your parents don't pass the credit check for the PLUS loan, you can actually qualify for additional unsubsidized loans in your name. So there's a backup option if that happens. Just something to keep in mind since not everyone realizes this.

Made the same mistake my first year. Also worth noting that if your parents approve a higher amount than what's needed, the excess funds can be refunded to them or to you (if they authorize it). Helped me cover books and housing expenses off-campus.

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who went through this process recently! The Parent PLUS application really is separate from FAFSA - took us by surprise too. One thing that helped us was that my school's financial aid portal actually had a direct link to the Parent PLUS application with our school code already filled in, which saved some time. Also, my mom was worried about the credit check but it turned out to be pretty straightforward - they mainly just check for recent defaults or bankruptcies, not your overall credit score. The whole process from application to funds being sent to the school took about 2-3 weeks for us. Definitely don't wait until the last minute though! Good luck with everything!

Hey Sienna! I just went through this exact same confusion last year with my daughter's financial aid. Everyone here is absolutely right - the FAFSA is just step one, and your parents definitely need to do a separate Parent PLUS loan application. One thing I'd add is to make sure your mom has her own FSA ID set up if she doesn't already (sounds like she might from helping with the original FAFSA). She'll need that to log into studentaid.gov for the PLUS application. Also, when she does apply, she can choose to borrow less than the full amount shown on your award letter if you don't need it all. We made that mistake the first year and borrowed more than we actually needed. The application will show the maximum she can borrow, but she can select any amount up to that limit. Hope this helps and good luck with everything! The system is definitely confusing but once you get through it the first time, it makes more sense.