Social Security Administration (SSA)

The purpose of the SSA database match is to verify that the student’s SSN, DOB, and name reported on the FAFSA match the SSA records. The SSA database match will also verify citizenship in conjunction with the USCIS.

If the student’s SSN is not found in the SSA database, the student’s FAFSA application will be rejected and the student will receive instruction on their SAR to correct their SSN. SSA rejects can occur when:

• The student reports the wrong SSN on the FAFSA
• There is an error in the SSA database
• No match of SSN to name or DOB
• Name, DOB, or signature are missing from the FAFSA
• The student reports an invalid SSN
• The SSN has an associated date of death

Students from the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau are not required to provide SSNs, but are instead assigned an identification number by CPS when indicating their state of legal residence.

Means of resolving SSA database codes include, but are not limited to:

• The student/parent making corrections directly to the FAFSA via Student Aid Report (SAR) or FAFSA on the web (FOTW), if fields were left blank on the ISIR or were entered in error
• Providing a copy of the student’s/parent’s birth certificate
• Providing a copy of the student’s/parent’s Social Security card
• The student/parent contacting the SSA to update SSA records