ED Provides Update on Status of StudentAid.gov Account Creation for Individuals Without a SSN
By Maria Carrasco, NASFAA Staff Reporter
The Department of Education (ED) on Friday, via an electronic announcement, gave an update on the status of how those without a Social Security number (SSN) can create an account on StudentAid.gov.
Previously, ED created a flexibility for both the 2024-25 and 2025-26 FAFSA where individuals without SSNs could forgo completing the identity validation process prior to a student submitting their FAFSA.
In Friday’s update, ED announced that in an effort to improve the identity validation process, it has created a new process for individuals to certify that they do not have SSNs. Instead of the requirement that contributors without SSNs complete and submit a separate paper “Attestation and Validation of Identity” form, certifying that they do not have SSNs for the 2025-26 FAFSA, ED has transitioned the certification to the online StudentAid.gov account creation process, where the individual can attest the information provided being complete and correct.
Additionally, ED stated that it is pausing the acceptance of new identity documents to the email inbox for manual identity review and validation. The email address [email protected] will be disabled. Individuals who cannot have their identity validated through the automated system can immediately access the FAFSA.
ED noted that it is working on a long-term solution for accepting and reviewing identity documents through a secure system that does not fully rely on a manual review by the department. Currently, ED is planning for the solution to be implemented in the 2026-27 FAFSA cycle.
Additionally, the electronic announcement listed acceptable identification documents for verification or proof of identity when ED restarts manual identification through a secure portal. The list of acceptable documents was expanded from less than 10 documents to more than 30. ED is working on updating guidance and other resources “over the next few weeks” to reflect Friday’s update.
Publication Date: 12/9/2024
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