FAFSA Reject Codes
| Reject Code |
Reject Reason |
Student Action |
FAFSA Question Number |
| A | Date of birth questionable | Please review your date of birth in Item 9 and either confirm the date you have reported by reentering it in Item 9 or make the necessary corrections. | 9 |
| B | Date of birth questionable | Please review your date of birth in Item 9 and either confirm the date you have reported by re-entering it in Item 9 or make the necessary corrections. | 9 |
| C | Taxes Paid is greater than zero and greater than or equal to a fixed percentage of the AGI, but not equal to or greater than AGI. (Parent or Independent Student) | Parent of Dependent Student: The amount you reported for taxes paid by your parent(s) appears to be incorrect based on the amount you reported for their adjusted gross income. Please review Items 85 and 86 and either confirm the amount of taxes paid by re-entering it or make the necessary corrections. Independent Student: The amount you reported for your taxes paid appears to be incorrect based on the amount you reported for your adjusted gross income. Please review Items 36 and 37 and either confirm the amount of taxes paid by re-entering it or make the necessary corrections. | 36, 37, 85, 86 |
| D | Student’s SSN match, but name is not a match | The name you reported on the FAFSA does not match the name in the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) records for your Social Security Number (SSN). Therefore, you must correct your SSN (Item 8) or name (Items 1 and 2). If your name is correct, you must confirm it by reentering both your first and last names in Items 1 and 2. If you confirm your name, you should also contact the SSA to have them correct it in their records. The SSA can be contacted by calling 1-800-772-1213 or by visiting www.socialsecurity.gov. | 1, 2, 8 |
| E | Parent 1 SSN match, but name is not a match | Your Parent 1’s name as reported on your FAFSA does not match the name in the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) records for their Social Security Number (SSN). Therefore, you must correct their SSN (Item 61) or their name (Items 62 and 63). If their name is correct, you must confirm it by reentering both their last name and first name initial in Items 62 and 63. If you confirm your Parent 1’s name, your Parent 1 should also contact the SSA to have them correct it in their records. The SSA can be contacted by calling 1-800-772-1213 or by visiting www.socialsecurity.gov. | 61, 62, 63 |
| F | Parent 2 SSN match, but name is not a match | Your Parent 2’s name as reported on your FAFSA does not match the name in the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) records for their Social Security Number (SSN). Therefore, you must correct their SSN (Item 65) or her name (Items 66 and 67). If their name is correct, you must confirm it by reentering both their last name and first name initial in Items 66 and 67. If you confirm your Parent 2’s name, your Parent 4 should also contact the SSA to have them correct it in their records. The SSA can be contacted by calling 1-800-772-1213 or by visiting www.ssa.gov. | 65, 66, 67 |
| G | Taxes Paid is greater than zero, and greater than or equal to a fixed percentage of the AGI, but not equal to or greater than AGI. (Dependent Student) | The amount you reported for your taxes paid appears to be incorrect based on the amount you reported for your adjusted gross income. Please review Items 36 and 37 and make the necessary corrections. | 36, 37 |
| J | Parent 1 SSN reported as a tax filer, but SSN is all zeros | You reported that your Parent 1 did file or will file an income tax return (Item 80) but also reported that your Parent 1 does not have a social security number. Please review Item 61 and make the necessary corrections. | 61 |
| K | Parent 2 SSN reported as a tax filer, but SSN is all zeros | You reported that your Parent 2 did file or will file an income tax return (Item 80) but also reported that your Parent 2 does not have a social security number. Please review Item 65 and make the necessary corrections. | 65 |
| N | Missing first or last name | Review the student’s first and last name in items 1 and 2. Correct the student’s name or confirm a blank first or last name field if the student actually has only one name. | 1, 2 |
| R | Student’s SSN matched, but not Date of Birth | The date of birth you reported on your FAFSA does not match the date of birth in the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) records for your Social Security Number (SSN). You should correct your SSN (Item 8) or your date of birth (Item 9). If your date of birth is correct, you must confirm it by reentering it in Item 9. If you confirm your date of birth, you should also contact the SSA to have them correct it in their records. The SSA can be contacted by calling 1-800-772-1213 or by visiting www.ssa.gov. | 8, 9 |
| S | Parent 1 SSN matched, but not Date of Birth | Your Parent 1’s date of birth as reported on your FAFSA does not match their date of birth in the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) records for their Social Security Number (SSN). You should correct their SSN (Item 61) or their date of birth (Item 64). If their date of birth is correct, you must confirm it by re-entering it in Item 64. If you confirm your Parent 1’s date of birth, your Parent 1 should also contact the SSA to have them correct it in their records. The SSA can be contacted by calling 1-800-772-1213 or by visiting www.ssa.gov. | 61, 64 |
| T | Parent 2 SSN matched, but not Date of Birth | Your Parent’s date of birth as reported on your FAFSA does not match their date of birth in the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) records for their Social Security Number (SSN). You should correct their SSN (Item 65) or their date of birth (Item 68). If their date of birth is correct, you must confirm it by re-entering it in Item 68. If you confirm your Parent 2’s date of birth, your Parent 2 should also contact the SSA to have them correct it in their records. The SSA can be contacted by calling 1-800-772-1213 or visiting www.ssa.gov. | 65, 68 |
| W | Unusually high number of family members | Dependent Student: Review the number of family members you have reported in Item 73 and either confirm your answer by reentering it or make the necessary correction. Independent Student: Review the number of family members you have reported in Item 95 and either confirm your answer by reentering it or make the necessary correction. | 73, 95 |
| 1 | The simplified needs test is not met, automatic zero EFC flag is not set, asset threshold exceeded is ‘Yes’ or blank on current transaction, and any asset data is blank | Dependent Student: Review Items 41 through 43 and Items 90 through 92 and make the necessary corrections. Independent Student: Review Items 41 through 43 and make the necessary corrections. | 41, 42, 43, 90, 91, 92 |
| 2 | Incomplete FAFSA | Dependent Student: You must provide your parent(s) income information in Items 85 through 94. Independent Student: You must provide you and your spouse’s (if married) income information in Items 36 through 45. | 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94 |
| 3 | Student’s Taxes Paid is greater than zero and equal to or greater than AGI | The amount you reported for your taxes paid is equal to or greater than the amount you reported for your adjusted gross income. Review Items 36 and 37 and make the necessary corrections. | 36, 37 |
| 4 | Student’s marital status date on the initial application is greater than the date the application was signed. OR Student’s marital status date on a correction transaction is greater than transaction receipt date. | You reported the date of your marital status in item 17 to be after the date you completed your application. You must report your marital status in item 16 as of the date the application was originally signed. | 16, 17 |
| 5 | Date of birth is blank or invalid | You must provide your date of birth in Item 9. | 9 |
| 6 | Parent 1 Social Security Number was not matched with the Social Security Administration database | The Social Security Administration (SSA) did not confirm that the Social Security Number (SSN) you reported for your Parent 1 on your FAFSA is valid. If you believe that the number you reported is correct, your Parent 1 should contact the SSA. If the SSN is incorrect, you need to make the necessary correction. Also, review and correct the name and/or date of birth for parent 2. The SSA can be contacted by calling 1-800-772-1213 or by visiting www.ssa.gov. | 61, 66, 67, 68 |
| 7 | Parent 2 Social Security Number was not matched with the Social Security Administration database | The Social Security Administration (SSA) did not confirm that the Social Security Number (SSN) you reported for your Parent 2 on your FAFSA is valid. If you believe that the number you reported is correct, your Parent 2 should contact the SSA. If the SSN is incorrect, you need to make the necessary correction. Also, review and correct the name and/or date of birth for parent 1. The SSA can be contacted by calling 1-800-772-1213 or by visiting www.ssa.gov | 62, 63, 64, 65 |
| 8 | SSN provided matched with someone the Social Security Administration shows as deceased | Social Security Administration (SSA) records indicate that the Social Security Number (SSN) you provided in Item 8 belongs to a deceased person. If the SSN in Item 8 is correct, you must contact an SSA office to resolve this problem. The SSA can be contacted by calling 1-800-772-1213 or by visiting www.ssa.gov. | 8 |
| 9 | Dependent student and one of SSN, last name or date of birth is blank for both parents | You must report a valid social security number, name, and date of birth for Parent 1 and/or Parent 2. If your parent does not have a social security number, you should correct Item 61 and/or 65 to all zeros. | 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68 |
| 10 | Marital status and number of family members are blank | Dependent Student: You must provide answers for your parents’ marital status and number of family members in Items 59 and 73. Independent Student: You must provide answers for your marital status and number of family members in Items 16 and 95. | 16 or 73, 59, 95 |
| 11 | Marital status inconsistent with reported incomes | Dependent Student: Review your parents’ marital status in Item 59. If your parents are not married, provide only the income for the parent(s) who support(s) you. Independent Student: Review your marital status in Item 16. You should only report income for a spouse if you were married as of the date you submitted your application. | 16, 36 or 37, 59, 85, or 86 |
| 12 | Parents taxes paid is greater than zero and equal to or greater than AGI | The amount you reported for your parent(s) taxes paid is equal to or greater than the amount you reported for their adjusted gross income. Review Items 85 and 86 and make the necessary corrections. | 85, 86 |
| 13 | Both first and last name are blank | We recently received a FAFSA with no name from this address. The applicant must provide a full name in Items 1 and 2 on this SAR. | 1, 2 |
| 14 | Missing student signature on paper FAFSA or SAR | You did not sign your FAFSA or corrected FAFSA. You must sign and return this SAR to the Central Processing System before we can determine your eligibility for federal student aid. | 105 |
| 15 | Missing parent signature on FAFSA or SAR | Your parent did not sign your FAFSA or corrected FAFSA. At least one parent whose information was reported on the FAFSA must sign and return this SAR to the Central Processing System before we can determine your eligibility for federal student aid. | 105 |
| 16 | Missing student signature on Web application | We have not received the signature page from your FAFSA on the Web application. To sign the FAFSA online, you must first apply for a FSA ID at fsaid.ed.gov. Once retrieved, you can electronically sign the FAFSA at www.fafsa.ed.gov. If you experience difficulties receiving a FSA ID, you must sign and return your Student Aid Report to the Central Processing System before we can determine your eligibility for federal student aid. | n/a |
| 17 | Citizenship status left blank and Social Security Administration did not confirm citizenship status or applicant reported not a citizen or eligible noncitizen | You did not indicate on your FAFSA that you are a U.S. citizen or an eligible noncitizen (Item 14). To be eligible for federal student aid, a student must be a US citizen (or US National) or must be an eligible noncitizen, such as a US permanent resident or a resident of certain Pacific Islands, or as determined by the Department of Education. If you meet one of these requirements, you should complete Item(s) 14 and/or 15. | 14 |
| 18 | Student's SSN not verified on Social Security Administration’s database | The Social Security Administration (SSA) did not confirm that the Social Security Number (SSN) you reported on your FAFSA is correct, and also could not confirm your citizenship. If you believe that the SSN you reported in item 8 is correct, contact the SSA by calling 1-800-772-1213 or by visiting www.socialsecurity.gov. If the SSN is incorrect, you must correct the SSN on a paper SAR or submit a new FAFSA online with the correct SSN. | 8 |
| 19 | An EFC cannot be calculated because the Department of Justice has placed a “hold” on the student. | We cannot process your FAFSA further because of issues related to the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988. To resolve, call 1-202-377-3889. | 23 |
| 20 | Student reported that he or she will not file a tax return, but income is over minimum amount required for filing a tax return | You reported that your parents will not file an income tax return, but the amount you reported for your parents’ income appears to be over the minimum amount required to file a tax return. Please review items 80, 88, and 89 and make the necessary corrections. You reported that you will not file an income tax return, but the amount you reported for your (and your spouse’s) income appears to be over the minimum amount required to file a tax return. Please review items 32, 39, and 40 and make the necessary corrections. | 32, 39, 40, 80, 88, 89 |
| 21 | Student’s corrected marital status date is greater than or equal to the application receipt date and less than or equal to the transaction receipt date. | You corrected the date of your marital status to be after the date you submitted your application. Your marital status (Item 16) and date (Item 17) should only be changed if they were reported incorrectly on the date the FAFSA was originally submitted, or if a Financial Aid Administrator has instructed you to update this information. Review Items 16 and 17 and make the necessary corrections or contact your Financial Aid Administrator for assistance. | 16, 17 |
| 23 | An EFC cannot be calculated because the Department of Education has placed an eligibility ‘hold’ on the account. | To resolve, call 1-202-377-3889. | n/a |
| 24 | NSLDS Fraud Loan Flag is set indicating loan was obtained fraudulently | Contact the lender and resolve the issue to have the Fraud Loan Flag reset in the National Student Loan Data System. | n/a |
How do I correct my FAFSA?
To make corrections to your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA),Log In to your FAFSA account and log into FAFSA on the Web, and then click Make FAFSA Corrections.
When correcting your FAFSA, you can:
- Add or remove colleges from your application
- Change your e-mail or mailing address
- Correct any field in your FAFSA other than your Social Security Number (SSN)
For more information regarding unanswered questions about the FAFSA process, please visit the FAFSA website.
