The U.S. Department of Education (Department) has announced the completion of reprocessing 2024–25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) forms affected by known issues with IRS data, allowing institutions to now package financial aid offers. Additionally, applicants and contributors without a Social Security number (SSN) can now access and submit the online form immediately.
U.S. Under Secretary of Education James Kvaal expressed optimism about the progress made, stating, “It’s time for schools to package and send aid offers, and for all new and returning students considering going to college this fall to come to StudentAid.gov and complete a Better FAFSA.”
The Department has processed over 8.3 million FAFSA forms and is urging schools to swiftly package aid offers. Corrections have been successfully processed, ensuring that applicants’ ISIRs are sent to schools and states within one to three days of submission.
Individuals without an SSN can now complete the FAFSA form after creating a StudentAid.gov account, with manual entry of tax information required. This temporary measure aims to streamline the process for students with contributors lacking an SSN, with verification of eligible noncitizen status necessary before receiving federal funds.
The Department is working to resolve IRS data retrieval issues for those without an SSN and is committed to ensuring equitable access to the FAFSA form for all students and families.
In an effort to boost FAFSA completion rates, the Department will embark on regional and local media engagements targeting states with significant high school senior FAFSA submission gaps. The first regional press call involving Arizona, California, Nevada, and Texas is scheduled to take place today.
This outreach forms part of the Department’s national campaign to encourage students to complete the 2024–25 FAFSA form. States and schools are urged to intensify their efforts in reaching out to students who have not submitted their forms, including those who have initiated but not completed the process. Weekly reminders are being sent to these students and contributors to prompt them to finalize their applications.
