Filling out the FAFSA: What Happens if I “alter the truth”?

The FAFSA is not a joking matter. This questionnaire to determine eligibility for all types of federal aid is comprehensive and asks a lot of probing questions that some people might find personal. However, federal student aid is awarded to students with financial need, so the information is required in order to fairly determine who should receive what kind of aid. If students lie or distort the truth they are really doing a great disservice to other, less fortunate students and to the country’s education system in general. Don’t forget that it is taxpayer dollars that fund the federal student aid program in the United States, so students that manipulate the system are essentially stealing from everyone around them.

Besides, unless you are a financial genius, how do you know how your answers will impact your financial aid award? If you’re that smart, chances are that you probably don’t need to fill out a FAFSA anyway. Distorting the truth can in many cases result in a student receiving less aid than if they had simply been honest. Answer the questions truthfully in order to find out what type of aid you are eligible for. The worst case scenario is that you’ll only be entitled to unsubsidized loans. However, even unsubsidized loans are a great resource- requiring no payments while you are enrolled in school, and featuring low interest rates.

If moral issues are not enough to convince you not to alter the truth on the FAFSA, then it might help you to know that your information is cross-checked in a number of ways. First, financial aid officials might use your credit report to verify what you reported on the FAFSA. If the numbers don’t match, expect resistance. Second, tax officials, education officials, school officials, public records, credit companies, unemployment bureaus, and many other organizations all consolidate and share their information. This makes it fairly easy to spot a student who is lying on their FAFSA. If it is determined that you falsified information on a FAFSA, you could be fined, imprisoned, or both. Not to mention, you’ll most likely never be eligible for any type of federal aid again.

It’s not worth it. Tell the truth. Get the aid you require and deserve- fill the FAFSA out correctly and truthfully.