<p>What does it do? Just lets you sign the FAFSA? What if you don’t get one? Do both parents get one?</p>
<p>The student needs a PIN. One parent needs a PIN. It allows you to electronically sign the online FAFSA. If you (and one parent) do not have a PIN you cannot submit the online FAFSA. You would have to do the paper FAFSA and mail it.</p>
<p>And the paper FAFSA takes longer to process…and it’s a headache to amend it. Since clearly you have online access (because you are posting here), sign up for a student PIN and one parent PIN and do the FAFSA online.</p>
<p>The PIN will also allow you to access your loan information later on in life through NSLDS. THis way you can keep up with who has your loans, how much you owe, etc. If you school uses Direct Lending, the PIN will also be used to sign your Master Promissory Note and access your Direct Loan account once you enter repayment.</p>