FSA ID Creation:

Step-By-Step Guide

Visit this website to get started on creating the FSA ID
Remember that creation of the FSA ID is the first steps towards completing the FAFSA and receiving financial aid.
Are you a contributor without a Social Security Number? Visit this page for instructions.

Your personal information should be correct as you enter it.
Your name on the FSA ID account must be exactly as it appears on the social security card
The social security number you share must exactly match the number on your social security card.
Click the link on the page if you don't have a social security number to learn about next steps.

Select a username that you will remember. Keep it in a safe place
Select a personal email address that you will check regularly for updates. Avoid using your school email since you may lose access to it after graduation.
Your password should be one that you do not use on other accounts.

Share an active mailing address
Share your mobile phone number. You have the option to use your phone as account recovery. This is highly recommended.

It is also highly recommended that you select to receive communications by email. Be sure to share a personal email that you check regularly (do not use your school email since you may lose access to it once you graduate).
You will also be able to opt-into receiving information about grant programs, loan forgiveness programs, or other such financial aid items. This is optional but may be beneficial to you.
You may also set your language preferences on this page. It may be beneficial to have communications in a language other than English.

You must select challenge questions from a dropdown list of options. You must also provide answers to these questions. These questions will be used to verify your identity if you need to reset your password.
It is recommended that you not use answers to questions that are common knowledge or easy to find out about you. This means that you should not use answers that could be easily discovered by visiting your social media accounts, for example.
Be sure to select challenge questions and answers you can remember later if you need ever need to reset your account.

You will need to confirm and verify the personal information you provided. Review your name, date of birth, social security number, and other relevant details.
Double-check your name and social security card. They should match exactly!
If you find any errors, choose the edit option to make changes.

You will be shown a list of contact information (phone number and email address) that you provided for account recovery. Any phone number or email address you provide will need to be verified. You will need to do so before finalizing the creation of your FSA ID.
You will need to click "verify" and enter the code that is sent to your mobile number and/or your email address.
- - It is recommended you set up all methods so you have multiple options to log in
Once you review your information and click "Finish," you have completed the FSA ID creation process.

If you provided a Social Security Number (SSN) when registering for your FSA ID, it is strongly recommended waiting the 1-3 day identity validation period before contributing your information and completing the FAFSA.
- - Be sure to check your email regularly!
If you do not have an SSN and need to go through the manual identity validation process (visit this page for more details), it is recommended you use your FSA ID immediately to complete the FAFSA while you also attempt to validate your identity.
If you do not have an SSN and your identity was successfully validated when creating your account, you can use your FSA ID immediately to complete the FAFSA.

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