The Department of Education has identified an interim solution to allow students to submit their updated Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) when they have a contributor who does not have a Social Security Number (SSN). This has been a technical issue preventing students from submitting their otherwise completed forms, and a problem that has grown increasingly urgent as deadlines approach for some states’ grant aid.

This news comes on the heels of other recent announcements from the Department on test institutional student information records (ISIRs), the College Support Strategy, and additional flexibilities for institutions to help offset the burden of packaging financial aid for students in a compressed timeframe.

Additionally, it is important to ensure that institutions have submitted their updated FTI-SAIG enrollment agreement and downloaded the upgraded software. Without doing so, institutions will not receive students’ ISIRs once the Department begins sending them in mid-March. Institutions in need of direct assistance can contact the Department’s CPS/SAIG Technical Support at 1-800-330-5947 or by email at CPSSAIG@ed.gov.