How to Apply for a Pin to Access FAFSA
When dealing with your Federal Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) your pin acts as a security feature as well as a signature for most of your documents. Without a pin you cannot fill out a FAFSA, review your FAFSA, or change anything on your FAFSA.
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Instructions
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1
Head to your computer and go online to the FAFSA website. The link for this website can be found in the additional resources section of this article. If you do not have internet access please skip down to Step 5.
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Submit your pin application. On the FSA pin website click on apply now. This will take you to a web page that will give you the directions to fill out your pin application. You will need your social security number so be sure and have that ready.
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3
Receive your pin. You will get a confirmation email from the FSA website telling you how to you access your pin. It will also provide the link to access your pin. Click on this link. The site will then ask you to once again verify your name and social security number at which point it will then display your pin.
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4
Retrieve your pin. If you lost or can't remember your pin, you can access the FSA pin sites homepage and click on "Request a duplicate pin." An email will automatically be sent to your email giving you step by step direction on how to retrieve your pin. Follow the directions and you should be able to retrieve your pin within a couple of weeks.
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If you do not have access to a computer, you can also go to your schools financial aid office. A financial aid officer will help you to not only apply for your federal pin but will also be able to answer any further questions you may have about the financial aid process.
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Tips & Warnings
If you do not retrieve your pin within 14 days, FSA will send your pin in the mail to the address that you provided. This is something to keep in mind if for some reason you did not get a confirmation email.
Be sure to write down your pin in a secure location and store it with your other important documents such as your passport and birth certificates. This number will be used for everything from signing loan promissory notes to filling out your subsequent renewal FAFSA's. If you lose this number you will be unable to continue the financial aid process until you go through the pin retrieval process.
