Filling Out the FAFSA: My Parent Has Died

When filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), you won’t include information about a deceased parent. But whose information you should include depends on your family situation.

Which parent do I list on the FAFSA?

If someone can claim you as a dependent on their tax return, you’ll likely need to add their information to your FAFSA as a contributor. When filling out the FAFSA, a “parent” is either a living biological parent or a person who has legally adopted you, such as a stepparent, a foster parent or a family member like a grandparent.

If both of your biological parents have died and you are younger than 24 years old, the FAFSA may classify you as an independent student, depending on whether you’ve been adopted. Being an independent student means your financial aid — including federal student loans and need-based grants — doesn’t consider your parents’ financial information.

If a parent died after you submitted the FAFSA

If one of your parents died after you submitted the FAFSA, immediately contact the financial aid office of your school (or any prospective schools) and explain the situation. They may request additional documentation like a death certificate or obituary, which may make the FAFSA process emotionally difficult.

» MORE: FAFSA checklist: The documents you need

Filling out the FAFSA if you have a deceased parent

1. Request an FSA ID and submit your portion of the FAFSA on FAFSA.gov. 

2. If you have a living parent, you’ll enter their information in your FAFSA as a contributor. They’ll receive an email inviting them to create an account at StudentAid.gov and to fill out a section of your FAFSA. Do not include your deceased parent as a contributor.

3. If your parent died after you submitted your FAFSA, submit a FAFSA correction updating your information. Contact your university’s financial aid office and explain your situation; see if they have university-specific advice or protocols. They may ask you to submit a death certificate.

» MORE: What are the FAFSA requirements?

How life insurance affects the FAFSA and financial aid

If you received a life insurance payout after your parent(s) died, it could impact your financial aid package in certain situations. The FAFSA may count your insurance payout as additional income, which could decrease the amount of financial aid for which you’re eligible.

If you’re worried about a life insurance payout affecting your financial aid, reach out to your college’s financial aid office to explain the situation and ask if they can make an exception. Some schools may recalculate your income when building your financial aid offer, but you may need to share documentation proving the life insurance payout.