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 FAFSA/ORSAA OUTREACH UPDATE

HECC Office of Student Access and Completion (OSAC)

December 2024

Welcome to the FAFSA Plus+ Listserv

You are receiving this email, because you signed up to receive emails updates last year related to the FAFSA/ORSAA, you are a FAFSA Plus+ participant, or you signed yourself up to receive information. Please reach out to lorianne.m.ellis@hecc.oregon.gov with any questions in this update. 

Contributors without an SSN

The validation process has changed

Important Updates:

• The U.S. Department of Education (Department) is continuing the current practice, originally announced in April, that those without a Social Security number (SSN) do not need to complete the manual identity validation process in order to submit the FAFSA form. 
• The Department does not need to validate the identity of parents and spouses who contribute to the FAFSA form but do not have an SSN as they cannot currently use the direct data exchange with the IRS that automatically transfers over their income data from the IRS directly to the FAFSA.  
• The Department is currently working to ensure that everyone is able to use the direct data exchange with the IRS and procure a longer-term solution for manual identity validation that is a secure system that does not fully rely on manual review by the Department representatives.  Until that time – currently planned for the 2026-27 FAFSA cycle – we will hold on collecting any unnecessary identity documents.
• Students without an SSN who are eligible for federal student aid will continue to be validated by their institutions to ensure the student’s identity and citizenship before they receive any aid.  The Department continues to take steps to ensure appropriate mitigation for potential fraud, including requiring identity and income verification by schools, oversight by the Department through program reviews of schools, and referring cases of financial aid fraud to other agencies as appropriate. 

Learn more at: 

• https://fsapartners.ed.gov/knowledge-center/library/electronic-announcements/2024-12-06/update-regarding-studentaidgov-account-creation-individuals-without-social-security-number
• FSA Announces Updates to Support Individuals Without Social Security Numbers

FSA ID Creation by County

As of 12/9/24

Data from U.S. Department of Education

FAFSA/ORSAA Webinars

Learn more about the FAFSA & ORSAA

FAFSA/ORSAA Overview

This presentation focuses on changes to the 2025-26 FAFSA, FSA ID, ORSAA sign up, and brief FAFSA/ORSAA Walkthrough.

• Tuesday, January 7 from 10:00 am - 11:00 am. Click link to register.
• Wednesday, January 8 from 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm. Click link to register.

FAFSA Line-by-Line

This presentation focuses on a line-by-line walkthrough of the 2025-26 FAFSA. We will cover a majority of the FAFSA questions.

• Wednesday, January 8 from 10:00 am - 11:00 am. Click link to register.

ORSAA Line-by-Line

This presentation focuses on a line-by-line walkthrough of the 2025-26 ORSAA. We will cover a majority of the ORSAA questions.

• Wednesday, January 8 from 11:30 am - 12:30 pm. Click link to register.

Learn more on our website or contact us: