FAFSA confusion - Does the student or parent create the FSA ID account?

Both need to create separate FSA IDs! Your daughter creates one for herself, and you create one for yourself as the parent. Each FSA ID is tied to a unique Social Security Number and is used as the electronic signature on the FAFSA form. Just make sure you use different email addresses for each account.

not a dumb question at all! my son and I were super confused too. we both had to make our own fsa id accounts. make sure you write down all the info somewhere safe - we forgot the password and it was a HUGE hassle to reset

To expand on what others have said: both you and your daughter need separate FSA IDs. The student's FSA ID allows them to sign their FAFSA application and access their financial aid information for years to come (loan details, etc.). Your FSA ID as a parent allows you to provide your financial information and electronically sign as the parent contributor. You'll both use these same FSA IDs every year she applies for aid, so keep the information secure. I recommend creating a password manager entry for each account.

@confused_parent You'll use your one parent FSA ID for both children's applications. Each student needs their own FSA ID, but as a parent, you only need one that you'll use across all your children's FAFSAs.

I HATE how complicated they make this whole process!!! When I was filling out FAFSA with my son last month, I thought I could just make one account for both of us but then kept getting errors. Turns out we each needed separate FSA IDs but used the same email by accident. Then we got locked out trying to fix it and spent HOURS on hold with Federal Student Aid. The whole system is designed to make us fail I swear.

just to make it extra clear for anyone confused: - STUDENT creates FSA ID with STUDENT email - PARENT creates separate FSA ID with PARENT email - Both linked to respective SSNs - Both needed to complete and sign the FAFSA - Parent can use same FSA ID for multiple kids Don't feel dumb for asking, the financial aid system is deliberately confusing 🙄

@InitialPoster There's no required order for creating the FSA IDs. Either you or your daughter can create yours first. Just remember that after creating an FSA ID, there's a 1-3 day verification period where the Social Security Administration confirms the information. I recommend creating both FSA IDs at least a week before you plan to complete the FAFSA to ensure they're fully verified and ready to use.

It's completely fine to help your daughter set up her FSA ID and store the information in a family password manager. The important thing is that you're using her information (her SSN, her email, etc.) for her account. Many parents help their children with this process, especially for first-time applicants. Just make sure she understands this account will follow her throughout college and beyond for any federal student loans, so eventually she should take ownership of managing it.

Just wanted to add a helpful tip for anyone going through this process - when you're creating the FSA IDs, make sure you have all the required documents ready beforehand. You'll need Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers (if applicable), and basic contact information for both student and parent. Also, I recommend doing a "test run" by logging into both accounts a few days after creation to make sure everything works smoothly before you actually need to complete the FAFSA. Nothing worse than discovering login issues when you're trying to meet a deadline!