does	not	have	a	Social	Security	number	and	is	completing	their	section	of	the	form	online,	the	SSN	field	will	automatically
be	blank,	based	on	the	information	in	the	StudentAid.gov	account.	If	the	parent	is	completing	their	section	of	the	form
using	the	paper	(PDF)	FAFSA,	they	should	enter	all	zeros	in	the	SSN	field.	In	both	application	methods,	the	parent	should
enter	their	ITIN,	if	they	have	one,	in	the	ITIN	field.
Parent	Contact	Information	(31)
This	is	the	parent9s	current	mobile	phone,	email	address,	and	permanent	home	address.
Parent	Current	Marital	Status	(32)
This	is	the	parent9s	marital	status	<as	of	today=	3	the	day	the	application	is	signed.	Marital	status	cannot	be	projected.	It
can	be	updated	in	limited	circumstances;	see	Chapter	4.
A	student9s	parent	in	a	relationship	that	meets	the	criteria	for	common-law	marriage	in	their	state	of	legal	residence
should	select	<married=.	If	the	state	doesn9t	consider	their	situation	to	be	a	common-law	marriage	or	doesn9t	recognize
common-law	marriage,	then	they	aren9t	married;	parents	would	report	that	they	are	unmarried	and	living	together.	Check
with	the	appropriate	state	agency	concerning	the	definition	of	a	common-law	marriage.
Parent	State	of	Legal	Residence	(33)
This	is	used	to	determine	which	poverty	guideline	to	use	when	evaluating	eligibility	for	a	Maximum	or	Minimum	Pell	Grant
for	a	dependent	student.
Family	Size	(34)
See	<Family	Size	(9)=	in	the	student	section	for	further	explanation	of	family	size	for	online	filers.
For	paper	(PDF)	FAFSA	filers,	family	size	appears	in	both	the	student	and	parent	contributor	sections	of	the	form.	The
information	reported	in	the	parent	section	of	the	paper	(PDF)	FAFSA	form	will	supersede	information	reported	in	the
student	section,	if	applicable.
The	following	persons	are	included	in	the	family	size	of	a	dependent	student:
The	student
The	parent	(and	their	spouse	or	partner)
The	parent9s	dependent	children,	(even	if	they	live	apart	from	the	parents	due	to	a	qualifying	temporary	absence
under	IRS	code,	such	as	living	apart	due	to	college	enrollment)	who	will	receive	more	than	half	of	their	support	from
the	parent	(and	spouse	or	partner)	from	July	1,	2025,	through	June	30,	2026.	Unborn	children	should	not	be	included
in	the	family	size,	though	the	family	size	can	be	updated	if	the	child	is	born	and	will	receive	more	than	half	of	their
support	from	the	parent	(and	spouse	or	partner)	during	the	award	year.
Other	persons	who	live	with	and	receive	more	than	half	their	support	from	the	parent	(and	spouse	or	partner)	and
will	receive	more	than	half	support	for	the	entire	award	year.
Number	in	College	(35)
While	number	in	college	is	no	longer	used	to	calculate	a	student9s	SAI,	the	FAFSA	Simplification	Act	requires	the	question
to	be	included	on	the	FAFSA	form.	Schools	can	use	the	information	provided	to	perform	a	special	circumstance	adjustment
for	a	student.	See	<Professional	Judgment=	in	Chapter	5:	Special	Cases	of	this	volume	for	additional	information.
The	student	is	always	included	in	the	number	in	college.	Also	included	are	those	in	the	family	size	who	are	or	will	be
enrolled	at	least	half	time	during	the	award	year	in	a	degree	or	certificate	program	at	a	Title	IV-eligible	school.
Federal	Benefits	Received	(36)
A	student	may	be	eligible	to	have	their	and	their	parents9	assets	excluded	from	the	SAI	calculation	if	they	(or	someone	in
their	family)	received	one	(or	more)	federal	benefits	during	the	2023	or	2024	calendar	years.	See	the	<Federal	Benefits
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