Additional Enhancements to the FSA ID

Author
Federal Student Aid
Subject
Additional Enhancements to the FSA ID

Last month, we implemented several enhancements to improve the FSA ID experience, part of our continuous improvement of Federal Student Aid (FSA) systems and an important step toward realizing our vision for the Next Generation (Next Gen) Financial Services Environment. We are pleased to announce that on May 19, 2019, we will implement several additional enhancements to the FSA ID.

The FSA ID—a user-created username and password—is required for students, parents, and borrowers to authenticate their identity and access their federal student aid information online. The websites and applications that use an FSA ID to log in are fafsa.gov, the myStudentAid mobile app, StudentLoans.gov, NSLDS Student Access, StudentAid.gov, the Application for Borrower Defense to Loan Repayment, and the Federal Student Aid Feedback System.

The following FSA ID enhancements will be implemented on May 19, 2019:

  • Require verified email address or mobile phone number. New FSA ID users will be required to provide either a verified email address or mobile phone number when creating an FSA ID account. Existing FSA ID users who do not already have a verified email address or mobile phone number will be prompted to provide one when logging in for the first time after implementation of this change. This enhancement ensures FSA ID users can manage their account more effectively and helps us stay in contact with FSA ID users as needed. As a reminder, a verified email address or mobile phone number can be used to log in, reset a password, retrieve a username, or unlock an FSA ID account.

  • Replace Create-Your-Own Challenge Questions with Pick-From-List Challenge Questions. FSA ID users must answer four challenge questions when creating an FSA ID account. The answers to the challenge questions may be required to verify the user’s identity and are an important security feature. Currently, FSA ID users select two challenge questions from a list of questions and create two challenge questions on their own. To streamline the process for users, we will remove the create-your-own option. Users will select all four required challenge questions from a list.

  • Add Editable Summary Page to the Create Account Process. Users will have the option to edit the summary information that is presented at the end of the process to create an FSA ID. If a user identifies an error, he or she may edit and save the information directly on the summary page, rather than having to go back to correct the information on a prior page.

Minor changes will also be made to further improve the FSA ID user experience by streamlining processes, clarifying error messages, and improving flow.

Contact Information

Thank you in advance for your support as we implement these enhancements.

FSA ID information, tips, and a link to create an FSA ID are available at StudentAid.gov/fsaid. Please direct students, parents, and borrowers who have questions about the FSA ID to that page.

If additional help is needed, the user should contact the customer service center for the Federal Student Aid system he or she is trying to access. Each Federal Student Aid website that requires the FSA ID has a link to service center support, typically under "Help" or "Contact Us."