How to Change Your Answer to “Direct Unsubsidized Loan Only” Question

On the 2024–25 FAFSA form, dependent students have the option to indicate that their parents are unwilling to provide their information and therefore want to apply for only a Direct Unsubsidized Loan. However, if a dependent student doesn’t provide parent information, their eligibility for other types of federal student aid can’t be calculated. This means they won’t be eligible for a Federal Pell Grant, Federal Work-Study, or a Direct Subsidized Loan.

If you selected to apply for only a Direct Unsubsidized Loan by mistake, follow the steps below to change your answer to this question and invite your parent(s) to your form.

Step One

Log in to StudentAid.gov and select your FAFSA submission from the “My Activity” section of your account Dashboard. You’ll then see your submission details, including your form’s status. Select “Start Your Correction” from under the “Student Actions Needed” section.

Image of an application incomplete message and the “Start Your Correction” button.

Step Two

Select “Continue” on the “Correct Your FAFSA^® Form” page.

Image of the “Correct Your FAFSA® Form” page with a blue “Continue” button in the bottom right corner.

Step Three

Select “Start Student Section” on the “Error Summary” page.

Image of the “Error Summary” page with a blue “Start Student Section” button in the bottom right corner.

Step Four

Navigate through the Personal Circumstances section until you reach the “Your Dependency Status” page. You’ll see that “Yes” is selected as the answer to the “Direct Unsubsidized Loan Only” question.

Image of the “Your Dependency Status” page. “Yes” is selected as the answer to the “Direct Unsubsidized Loan Only” question.

Step Five

Change your answer to the “Direct Unsubsidized Loan Only” question to “No.” Then, select “Continue” to navigate through the rest of the form and invite your parent(s).

Image of the “Your Dependency Status” page. “No” is selected as the answer to the “Direct Unsubsidized Loan Only” question.

Step Six

When you reach the “Review Changes” page, confirm that your answer to the “Direct Unsubsidized Loan Only” question has been changed to “No.” Then, select “Continue” to sign and submit your section of the correction.

Image of the “Review Changes” page, which displays an update to the “Direct Unsubsidized Loan Only” answer.

Step Seven

Review the next steps included on the “Section Complete” page. To complete your form, your parent(s) must log in, complete their section, provide their consent and approval and signature, and submit the correction.

Image of the “Section Complete” page notifying the student that contributor action is needed.