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Your FAFSA PIN or Your Financial Aid PIN Number...When?

Your FAFSA PIN (personal identification number) is your first step in the college loan process.

There's no good reason to wait to apply for one.

Even if you're not ready to fill out the 2010-2011 FAFSA application, you will save time by getting it now.

As far as college money goes, it is first come, first served- (Be sure to check your FAFSA deadline) -so saving time is a priority.

To apply, you will need to provide:

your name the way it appears on your social security card
your social security number
your date of birth
your mailing address and your e-mail address

The quickest and easiest way to apply is online at the US Department of Education website

Why You Need A Fafsa PIN

This number is really an electronic access code. You get an added layer of security with the FAFSA application pin number and the government can reduce fraud. (This year, the FAFSA website has made the process of getting a PIN more secure with the addition of several features.) Using your number, you can:

go back into your form to check what you wrote
make corrections to your current form
renew FAFSA every year
sign your application electronically

access your federal loan records

You cannot fill out the FAFSA online application without one.

To protect yourself- never give your number to anyone, even if you decide to contract with a service that fills out your form for you.

Not recommended- After all, what does FAFSA stand for? Are you going to pay someone to fill out a free form? There really are no loopholes- not even "FAFSA deferred compensation". Financial aid administrators do not look kindly on those who try to game the system and even legitimately deferred income is still income.

Parents of dependent students can get personal identification numbers also. I strongly recommend that they do so. That way, maybe at least one person will remember their number when they need it.

Of course you can always get a duplicate or even a new personal identification number, but it usually takes a day or so to get the email. (And you can only order a duplicate, ONCE.)

You can even disable your number if you suspect that an unauthorized person might have it.

You can allow the Department of Education to assign a number to you (which they will automatically do if you submit the printable FAFSA application) or you can choose your own. But if you choose one that you are are already using for a bank account (Easy to to remember, right?) you do run the risk of having all your eggs in the same basket.

The most important thing to remember is that you will be using your FAFSA PIN for years to come, so don't file it in the usual place:

fafsa pin

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