FAFSA application for student with parent without SSN - need Virginia-specific guidance

I work in the financial aid office at a university in northern Virginia. For parents without SSNs, we typically require additional documentation beyond the standard 000-00-0000 entry. We ask for: 1. A signed statement from the parent confirming they don't have an SSN 2. Alternative income verification (foreign tax returns if available, or pay stubs/W-2s if the parent is working in the US) 3. Documentation of any untaxed income The verification process does take longer for these students, usually 3-4 weeks rather than our standard 2-week timeline. I recommend submitting everything together in one packet rather than piecemeal to speed things up.

not a finaid admin but my mom doesnt have ssn and when i did fafsa last year it was a NIGHTMARE!!! took like 2 months to get my aid and almost missed the deadline for housing deposit. they kept asking for more stuff every time i submitted something 😡

Just curious - is this for the 2025-2026 FAFSA specifically? Because the whole system is still such a mess with the new SAI calculation and the revamped form. We've seen tons of issues with parents without SSNs in the new system, and our school has had to implement completely different procedures than what we did before the FAFSA Simplification Act changes.

VA financial aid director here. The verification requirements can vary by institution, but all Virginia public colleges follow some basic state guidelines in addition to federal requirements. For parents without SSNs, we need: - Parent statement (we have a standardized form) - Proof of residency status if applicable - Income verification based on their specific situation - If receiving state aid (like VTAG), additional documentation is needed Since the FAFSA simplification and new SAI formula, these cases are actually prioritized in our office because they're so complicated. We typically assign a specific counselor to work with these students throughout the entire process. The most common issue we see is students using 000-00-0000 without providing the supplemental documentation, which triggers an automatic hold in our system.

Sure, I can help with that! We use the form available through SCHEV (State Council of Higher Education for Virginia) which has standardized forms for these situations. Here's what I recommend: 1. Check the SCHEV website for their "Non-SSN Parent Certification Form" 2. Submit this along with income documentation 3. Include a cover letter explaining the situation Most importantly, make sure your student follows up regularly. Our system shows when students are checking their status, and honestly, the squeaky wheel gets the grease.

my cousin went through this exact thing at VCU!!! they made him submit like a million documents and then still put a hold on his account until some supervisor manually reviewed everything. the financial aid office told him this happens with like every student who has parents without SSNs. took FOREVER but he eventually got his aid package.

As someone who regularly works with DACA students and those with parents without SSNs in Virginia, I want to add that the Virginia state aid programs have their own separate verification process that happens AFTER the federal verification. Make sure your student knows they need to complete both processes. One thing that has helped my students is putting together a complete packet with: - FAFSA confirmation - Signed statement about SSN status - Notarized income statement with any supporting documents - Letter explaining their situation This proactive approach has cut our average processing time from 6-8 weeks down to about 3-4 weeks.

One other tip - since the FAFSA Simplification Act changes, make sure your student uses the contributor portal correctly. We've seen many cases where the contributor section is incorrectly filled out for parents without SSNs, causing major issues later. The parent should still create their own FSA ID even without an SSN (using an email address), and then complete their contributor information separately from the student's portion.

Also worth noting that the SAI calculation treats these situations differently than the old EFC formula did. I've noticed that students with parents without SSNs often have higher SAI scores under the new system unless the income documentation is extremely thorough and properly categorized. Make sure your student understands how their SAI is calculated and what it means for their aid eligibility.

I actually co-wrote a guide for Virginia advisors on this exact topic after seeing so many issues with the new system. I'd be happy to email it to you - it includes sample forms, calculation examples, and a timeline of what to expect. Just DM me your professional email address.