FAFSA MPN form confusion - different addresses for parent reference?

ugh the mpn is so confusing!! i think ur mixing up parent plus vs student loans tho. if ur the student, u fill out regular mpn and put parents as reference even if same address. if ur the parent getting PLUS loan for kid, then u do parent plus mpn.

The form is asking for references who can be contacted if they can't reach the student. The first reference is typically a parent, and the address requirement is often overlooked in this case. If your daughter is the borrower (Federal Direct Loan), she should complete the standard MPN and list you as the first reference regardless of address. The Parent PLUS MPN is only if YOU as the parent are taking out a Parent PLUS loan to help pay for her education, which is a separate loan product entirely.

just went thru this last month!! what matters is WHO is borrowing the $$$. if its ur daughter getting the loan in HER name = regular MPN. if its YOU getting loan for her = parent plus MPN. they should have told u which one!!

This is a common point of confusion. Let me clarify: 1. For a Federal Direct Stafford Loan (in student's name): Student completes the standard MPN and can list a parent as first reference despite sharing address. 2. For a Parent PLUS Loan (in parent's name): Parent completes the Parent PLUS MPN as the borrower. The different address requirement is primarily aimed at ensuring they have multiple ways to track down the borrower if they move without updating contact info. For the first reference being a parent, they typically waive the different address requirement. If your daughter received an award letter listing "Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loan," that's the standard MPN. If it lists "Parent PLUS Loan," that's the Parent PLUS MPN.

I spent HOURS trying to get someone on the phone when we had this exact same issue last semester! Kept getting disconnected or waiting forever. Finally I used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to a FSA agent directly and they confirmed what others are saying - the parent can be the first reference even with same address. Saved me so much headache! They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ

The whole FAFSA system is RIDICULOUS!! every single form contradicts itself and the instructions are never clear. we went thru 3 different financial aid advisors who all gave different answers about the MPN references. My son ended up just putting me as reference 1 even though same address and putting his aunt for reference 2 (diff address) and it went through fine. No one even questioned it. Typical government inefficiency!

Just to add some clarity on the different MPN forms: - Standard MPN (for students): Used for Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans where the student is the borrower. - Parent PLUS MPN: Used specifically when a parent is borrowing through the Parent PLUS program to help pay for their dependent student's education. In addition, there's also: - Graduate PLUS MPN: For graduate students taking out PLUS loans. Verify which loan type your daughter was awarded to confirm which form is needed. The SAI (Student Aid Index) calculation determines eligibility for the various loan types.

I'm glad you got this sorted out! For anyone else running into this issue, I'd also recommend checking if your school's financial aid office has any specific guidance documents. Some schools create their own simplified MPN instructions that address these common confusion points. Also, if you're still unsure after completing the form, most schools allow you to submit it and they'll contact you if there are any issues that need correction rather than rejecting it outright. The system is more forgiving than the intimidating language makes it seem!

I had this same exact confusion last year! The wording on the MPN form is really misleading. Since your daughter is the borrower (Direct Subsidized Loan), she should complete the standard MPN and can absolutely list you as the first reference even though you share the same address. The "different address" requirement is more of a guideline than a strict rule when it comes to parents. Just make sure the second reference has a different address from both of you. The financial aid office really should have been clearer about which MPN form to use - that's on them, not you!

I went through this exact same situation with my son last year! The MPN form language is definitely confusing about the address requirement. Since your daughter is getting the Direct Subsidized Loan (in her name), she should complete the standard MPN and can absolutely list you as the first reference even with the same address. The key thing to remember is that the Parent PLUS MPN is only if YOU were taking out a loan in YOUR name to help pay for her education. The financial aid office really should have been clearer about which specific MPN form to use - that vague "complete the MPN" instruction causes so much unnecessary stress for families! You're on the right track now though.

I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! My daughter just got her financial aid package and we're stuck on the MPN form too. The instructions are so confusing - they say references need different addresses but then want a parent as the first reference. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful! It sounds like since she received a Direct Subsidized Loan, we should use the standard MPN and I can be listed as the first reference despite sharing the same address. I really wish the financial aid offices would be more specific when they tell families to "complete the MPN" - it would save so much confusion and stress. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it's reassuring to know we're not the only ones who found this process confusing!

I'm a new parent going through this process and this thread has been a lifesaver! The MPN instructions really are terribly written - I was panicking thinking we'd done something wrong. Just to confirm what everyone else has said: if your child received a Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loan (shows up on their award letter), they complete the standard MPN and can absolutely list a parent as the first reference even with the same address. The "different address" rule is more of a guideline for parents. Only use the Parent PLUS MPN if YOU as the parent are borrowing money in your own name. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it really helps to know other families have dealt with this same confusing situation!

As someone who works in financial aid processing, I can confirm what everyone is saying here. The MPN form language is outdated and causes this confusion constantly. For Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized loans (student borrower), the standard MPN allows parents as the first reference regardless of shared address. The system recognizes that dependent students typically live with parents. The "different address" requirement really applies to the second reference - that's where you'd list a grandparent, aunt, family friend, etc. The key is looking at your award letter: Direct loans = standard MPN, Parent PLUS = Parent PLUS MPN. Your financial aid office should have specified this when they said "complete the MPN" - that's really poor customer service on their part!

I just went through this same nightmare with my son's MPN last semester! The form instructions are absolutely terrible - they make it sound like you're doing something wrong if the parent and student share an address. What helped me was calling the Federal Student Aid helpline directly (though it took forever to get through). The agent explained that for dependent students getting Direct loans, parents can definitely be listed as the first reference even with the same address. The confusion comes from the fact that the same basic form template is used for different loan types. Your daughter should complete the standard MPN since she has a Direct Subsidized Loan, and you can be reference #1. Just make sure reference #2 has a different address from both of you. The whole system needs better instructions!

I'm a newcomer to this whole FAFSA process and this thread has been incredibly educational! Reading through everyone's experiences really highlights how poorly designed the MPN instructions are. It seems like such a simple fix for the Department of Education to clarify the language about parent references and shared addresses, but instead families are left to figure it out through trial and error or helpful communities like this. For anyone else just starting this journey - it sounds like the key is to look at your award letter first to determine loan type, then choose the corresponding MPN form. Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized = standard MPN with parent as first reference (same address okay), Parent PLUS = Parent PLUS MPN. Thanks to everyone who shared their real-world experiences - it's so much more helpful than the official instructions!

I'm just starting the FAFSA process for my daughter and stumbled across this thread - what a goldmine of information! The MPN confusion is real, and it's honestly shocking how unclear the official instructions are. Reading through everyone's experiences has saved me from the same panic you all went through. It's crystal clear now: Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loan = standard MPN where parents can be first reference despite same address, Parent PLUS Loan = Parent PLUS MPN. The fact that we need community forums to decode government forms is pretty ridiculous, but I'm so grateful for everyone who took the time to share their real-world experiences. This thread should be required reading for all FAFSA families!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm new to the FAFSA process and was getting overwhelmed by all the different forms and requirements. The MPN confusion seems to be a universal experience - it's wild that such an important form has such unclear instructions. From reading everyone's experiences, it sounds like the golden rule is: check your award letter first to see what type of loan you received, then complete the corresponding MPN. Direct loans = standard MPN (parent can be first reference even with same address), Parent PLUS = Parent PLUS MPN. It's frustrating that families have to piece this together from forums instead of getting clear guidance from financial aid offices, but I'm so grateful for communities like this where people share real experiences. Bookmarking this thread for future reference!

As a newcomer to this community and the FAFSA process, I can't thank everyone enough for this incredibly detailed discussion! I was literally panicking about the same MPN address issue for my son's Direct Subsidized Loan until I found this thread. The clarity everyone has provided here is amazing - it's now crystal clear that he should complete the standard MPN and I can be listed as the first reference despite us sharing the same address. What strikes me most is how this confusion could be completely avoided if financial aid offices just specified "standard MPN" vs "Parent PLUS MPN" instead of the vague "complete the MPN" instruction. This thread should honestly be turned into a FAQ guide! Special thanks to those who work in financial aid for providing the insider perspective - it really helps to understand the logic behind these confusing requirements.