As if filling out the FAFSA the first time wasn’t bad enough, renewal of the FAFSA on the web can be just as confusing.

Rest assured that renewing your FAFSA is simpler and more efficient than the initial process of filling out a FAFSA form. Check out some top FAFSA renewal FAQs below.

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1. How will I know when it’s time to renew my FAFSA?

If you successfully submitted last year’s FAFSA online, you should receive an automatic email reminder from the Federal Processing Center reminding you that you can reapply for FAFSA renewal on the web starting on January 1 of the coming year.

2. What is the deadline for the FAFSA?

You may find that there are a variety of FAFSA renewal application deadlines –- some specified by your school and others by the government. Always check with your school’s financial aid office for details about when your FAFSA is due.

Most likely your school will have an earlier deadline than the government deadline, and submitting your FAFSA by this date will ensure that you are considered for every type of aid possible, both from your school and the government.

3. Where do I go for renewal of my FAFSA on the web?

Go to the Government’s FAFSA application website and click on “Start Here” as directed.

At some point in the application, you will be asked if you filled out a FAFSA the previous year. By clicking yes and providing your PIN, the site will automatically ask you if you want it to “pre-fill” the reusable data from last year’s application.

4. What if I lost or forgot my PIN?

No worries. At the top of the FAFSA main page you’ll see a “PIN Site” link. This will take you to a page where you can request a duplicate PIN if you’ve lost yours.

Be aware that your PIN expires if it hasn’t been used for 18 months, in which case you will have to apply for a new one.

5. What info will I have to resubmit?

The renewal of FAFSA on the web does lighten the workload a bit since you can use your PIN to automatically fill in reusable information.

You will have to update certain things every year, however –- namely, you and your parents’ financial info, which likely has changed in the past year.

6. Can you clarify the type of financial info I need to provide?

According to the FAFSA government website, you’ll need your most recent W-2 forms as well as any other records of money you’ve earned in the past year, as well as your most recent Federal Income Tax Return. If your parents have you listed as a dependent and are helping you out financially, you will also have to include their Federal Income Tax Return.

In addition, you will have to provide your own (and, if you’re a dependent, your parents’) current bank statements as well as records of any investments or mortgage details.

7. What happens if my FAFSA renewal is late?

Submitting your FAFSA by your school’s deadline is the best way to ensure that you are considered for as many different types of aid as possible, since most schools refer to the FAFSA when awarding need-based financial aid.

This usually means early March, but check with your school’s financial aid office to be sure. While it’s best to submit by this time, all is not lost if you miss the school or state aid deadlines: you can still be considered for federal aid as long as you meet the June 30 deadline.

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