Have You Gotten Your PIN for FAFSA on the Web Yet?

www.fafsa.ed.gov
www.pin.ed.gov


One of the best parts of my job as Executive Director of SoMD CAN is the privilege of being invited to all 13 public high schools and several of the private high schools in the tri-county region to deliver their Financial Aid Nights. My experience of 18 years in the field of Financial Aid is put to the test at every presentation. It's not because I'm not sure of the material being presented, but because of the very complex financial lives we all lead. And that leads to very complex questions about how to finance the student's education. I enjoy the challenging questions, and engaging my mind to help answer some pretty daunting questions.



There are a few steps that are absolutely necessary and easy to accomplish - for the student and the parents/guardians - and that is to file for a PIN (Personal Identification Number). This post will be the first in a series to address filing the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).



As I've mentioned in the Financial Aid Nights (FANs) thus far, the Department of Education's Federal Student Aid is going as paperless as possible. Last year your guidance office/career centers received at least 200 - 400 paper FAFSA forms per school. This year, it is incumbent upon the student/parent to phone in a request for a paper FAFSA (and then you are limited to three copies of the document).



There really is no need to request a paper application, the best way to apply for federal student aid is through the FAFSA on the Web application. If you do not have internet access at your home, you can always use the media center at your high school or the public library near you. As long as you have an email address you can receive your results from filing the FAFSA online.



Okay, let's get to the point here. We're going to apply for a PIN to file the FAFSA. But why? The student and the parent are going to each apply to receive a PIN in the student's Senior year right about now - December! You can put this exercise on your list of things to do, along with Christmas shopping and planning for the in-laws for Christmas dinner ...



Applying for a PIN is relatively painless and somewhat effortless. The PIN acts somewhat like a bank's ATM pin #. The student and the parent will have a separate PIN, and that PIN will be valid for the duration of the student's higher education experience. For the parent, they will use this PIN not only for their entering student, but also for any subsequent children's higher education (and even their own if they decide to go back to college!). Make sure that you store this PIN someplace safe, download a copy of the notification of the PIN and then file it with the important education paperwork for the student.



As of Dec 4, 2007, the Department of Education released information stating that after Jan 1, 2008 a parent and student would be able to get a PIN in "real-time". As you either complete the FAFSA on the Web or apply for a PIN you will receive a number in "real-time". You will at first receive a conditional PIN and after positive confirmation with the Social Security Administration, you can continue to use that PIN in perpetuity.

If you are applying earlier than Jan 1, 2008 for your PIN here are the steps you will take:
1) visit www.fafsa.ed.gov or www.pin.ed.gov
2) have available the student and at least one parent:
a) Full Name
b) Permanent Address
c) Date of Birth
d) Social Security Number
e) Valid email address
f) Challenge question and answer

There is no cost associated with applying for a PIN, and it is as easy as just stated. You will receive an email confirmation in about 72 hours, allowing you to link to the site and download/copy your PIN paperwork.

Remember, the student and the parent each request a PIN. You will be using the PIN to electronically sign your FAFSA on the Web, access the FAFSA on the Web site to make corrections to a FAFSA, to complete a renewal FAFSA in subsequent years, and to review your status of Federal Student Aid (when awarded), including any Stafford Loans, Perkins Loans, and/or PLUS loans.