Purpose: These questions collect personal identification information (name, telephone number, address, Social Security Number, and so on). Also included is a question about citizenship status because you must be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen to receive federal student aid.

1-3. Name. The Department matches each name and Social Security Number (SSN) with the Social Security Administration (SSA). Therefore, the name provided here should match the name on your Social Security card. If you use a name (such as a nickname) other than the name on your Social Security card, you will be asked to correct the inconsistency, and there might be a delay in the awarding of your aid.

4-7. Permanent mailing address. You must give a permanent home mailing address (not a school or office address).

An incarcerated student may use his or her school's administrative address. If such a student uses a school's administrative address, the school's financial aid administrator (FAA) must include a letter with the FAFSA indicating that the student is incarcerated and is therefore using the school's address.

Use the State/Military Abbreviations list when entering your state.

State/Military Abbreviations

The one exception to the SSN requirement is for students from the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, or the Republic of Palau. If you are from one of these areas you are not required to have an SSN, and you should leave Question 8 blank. If you've completed a paper FAFSA, you will no longer need to mail it to a separate address. Mail it, instead, to the address on the FAFSA or the FAFSA envelope:

Federal Student Aid Programs
P.O. Box 4691
Mount Vernon, IL 62864-0059

11-12. Driver's license number and state. You must provide your driver's license number (if any). If you do not have a driver's license, leave Questions 11 and 12 blank.

13. E-mail address (for paper filers only). If you enter your e-mail address here the processor will be able to send you information electronically, such as notification that your FAFSA was received. The processor will also be able to send you e-mails with links to PINs and SAR data on the Internet.

If you complete a paper FAFSA, you can fill out and mail the attached postcard, along with the completed application. The processor will return that postcard to you indicating that they received your completed application. You will also receive a PIN mailer and a paper SAR. However, if you provide your e-mail address, you will receive your processed information more quickly.