In order to be eligible for federal and state aid, the student must provide a valid Social Security Number (SSN).
The federal processor of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) verifies that the submitted student’s SSN is correct and that it corresponds to the given student’s name and birth date. If the SSN does not match with the Social Security Administration, (i.e., the number is not found in their database) the FAFSA will be rejected.
Following are situations in which the student's SSN may not match with the Social Security Administration, and what action the student should take:
- If the SSN has been reported incorrectly on the FAFSA, the student must submit a copy of his or her Social Security card to his or her financial aid office.
- If the student’s name and SSN match but the date of birth differs, the student must make a correction on the Student Aid Report (SAR).
- If the SSN exists in the database but there is a discrepancy regarding the student’s name, the student must make a correction on the SAR.