What Happens to Your FAFSA / Federal Student Aid Account When You Die
Quick Facts
FSA ID
Notify Federal Student Aid
Active aid
Contact school financial aid office
Loans
Check studentaid.gov for all federal loans
Step-by-Step Guide
Check studentaid.gov for all federal loans
Log in to studentaid.gov to see a complete list of all federal student loans. This is the authoritative source for federal loan information, regardless of which servicer handles payments.
Estimated time: 15 min
Contact the school financial aid office
If the student was currently enrolled and receiving financial aid, contact the school's financial aid office to report the death and stop future disbursements.
Estimated time: 15 min
Report to Federal Student Aid
Contact Federal Student Aid (1-800-433-3243) to report the death and update the FSA ID. This ensures no new loans or aid are issued.
Estimated time: 20 min
Identify loan servicers
Use studentaid.gov to identify which servicer handles each loan, then contact each servicer to initiate the death discharge process.
Estimated time: 15 min
Document Now Checklist
- FSA ID (username)
- List of federal loans from studentaid.gov
- Current loan servicer names
- School financial aid office contact
- Current enrollment status
Last verified: June 2026. Platform policies may change. Verify current procedures directly with FAFSA / Federal Student Aid. This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
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