Can You Make Changes to Your FAFSA After Submitting?

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, known as the FAFSA, is a gateway to financial assistance for higher education, including grants, scholarships, work-study programs, and federal student loans. Submitting this application accurately is a foundational step in securing aid, as the information provided directly influences a student’s eligibility and the amount of aid received. Many applicants need to adjust their FAFSA after initial submission, and it is possible to make modifications to reflect accurate information or changed personal and financial circumstances.

Understanding FAFSA Changes

Modifications to a submitted FAFSA fall into two categories: corrections or updates. Understanding the difference is important, as each addresses a different situation and ensures the application accurately reflects a student’s financial situation for aid determination.

Corrections are necessary when information submitted on the original FAFSA was inaccurate or incomplete at the time of filing. This could include errors such as incorrect Social Security numbers, transposed income figures, or misreported asset values. These adjustments rectify mistakes that existed from the outset, ensuring the data aligns with what should have been reported initially.

Updates, conversely, reflect a change in a student’s or family’s financial situation or household composition that occurred after the initial FAFSA was submitted. Such changes might include a significant reduction in income, a change in family size, or a shift in dependency status. Updates often relate to ongoing eligibility or changes in aid amounts, potentially requiring additional communication with the college’s financial aid office.

Correcting Your FAFSA Information

To access your submitted FAFSA and initiate a correction, you will need your Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID, which serves as your electronic signature and identifier. Having a copy of your original Student Aid Report (SAR) can also be helpful, as it summarizes the information you initially provided.

Common errors corrected online include demographic data like your name, date of birth, or Social Security number. Financial information, including income and asset values, can also be adjusted if originally reported incorrectly. For instance, if you incorrectly transcribed tax data, reference your federal income tax returns, such as Form 1040, and relevant schedules like Schedule 1 or Schedule B, to input the correct adjusted gross income (AGI), tax paid, or interest and dividend income. If asset values were misstated, consult bank statements or investment account statements for accurate balances as of the FAFSA submission date.

Mistakes related to household information, such as the number of people in your household or the number of college students, can also be rectified. This often involves reviewing household records or enrollment confirmations for other family members. If you listed an incorrect federal school code for a college, or want to add or remove schools, these changes can be made directly. Each correction requires you to locate the specific field, delete the incorrect entry, and input the accurate data, often referencing official documentation to support the change.

Updating Your FAFSA for Changed Circumstances

Updates reflect new realities that have emerged since your initial FAFSA submission. These changes can significantly impact your financial need and aid eligibility, so report them promptly. These circumstances often necessitate gathering specific documentation to support the adjustment.

A common reason for an update is a significant change in income, such as job loss, reduced work hours, or a substantial decrease in business income. For these scenarios, documentation like unemployment benefit statements, severance letters, or recent pay stubs demonstrating the income reduction would be necessary. Changes in family size, perhaps due to the birth of a child or a parent’s divorce or separation, also require an update. In these cases, documents like a birth certificate or a divorce decree might be relevant, along with an updated count of household members.

Other life events warranting an update include large, unreimbursed medical or dental expenses that substantially reduce disposable income, or a change in the number of household members attending college. For medical expenses, compile receipts or statements from medical providers and insurance companies. If the number of family members in college changes, enrollment verification from the respective institutions would be needed. While some updates, like changing school choices, are straightforward online, significant financial changes may require direct communication with the financial aid office at each college listed on your FAFSA. These offices often have professional judgment policies to address unique financial situations not fully captured by the standard FAFSA data.

Submitting and Monitoring Your Amended FAFSA

After entering all necessary information for a correction or update, electronically sign and submit the amended application. This transmits your updated data to the processing center. Upon successful submission, you will receive a confirmation screen immediately, followed by a confirmation email to the address associated with your FSA ID. This email serves as proof that your changes have been received.

After submission, monitor the processing status of your amended FAFSA. You can check the status by logging back into the FAFSA website using your FSA ID. Processing time for changes ranges from a few days to one to two weeks, depending on application volume. Once processed, a new Student Aid Report (SAR) will be generated and made available.

Review this new SAR to ensure all intended changes have been reflected. The updated SAR will show your revised Expected Family Contribution (EFC) or Student Aid Index (SAI), which colleges use to determine your financial aid eligibility. If you identify any further discrepancies or need additional changes after reviewing the new SAR, you can repeat the correction or update process.