Updated
May 02, 2023 Like it or not, your parents’ financial situation affects your ability to get financial aid for school. The federal government takes the position that if you want a college education, you and your parents (or other family members) should take the lion’s share of paying for it unless there is a compelling reason why you can’t.
The FAFSA provides the Department of Education with a clear picture of what you can afford and how much your family can be expected to help.
One of the things the FAFSA requires on Question 90 of the application is the “total current balance of cash, savings, and checking accounts” that your parents own.
This doesn’t just mean the total in your bank accounts, but also any cash or cash assets on hand, regardless of whether they’re in a bank account, in a safe at home, or in a safe deposit box earmarked for your inheritance.
You’ll want to make sure that all cash is reported, even that long-neglected savings account that is just collecting interest.
How to Answer Question 90 of the FAFSA
To answer Question 90 of the FAFSA, sit down with your parents and ask them to think about all cash they have (no matter where it is), as well as the balances of their checking and savings accounts.
Make a list of all of the accounts and the balances of each, as well as any cash. Once you and your parents are sure you have all of the correct information, you can sum it up to find the total amount.
Why You Should Be Accurate On Question 90 of the FAFSA
It’s important that you are accurate when marking your parents’ total current balance of cash, savings, and checking accounts on the FAFSA.
If you accidentally put down incorrect information, you could see your financial aid package diminished or even denied completely—in most cases, the federal government can match your offered numbers with tax returns and know if you’re correct.
College financial aid professionals are very good at recognizing false information that doesn’t add up—such as a parent who makes a $150,000 annual salary but has only $250 for a reported cash balance. If you are purposely fudging the numbers or engaging in some shady actions in an effort to get more aid, you could find yourself in serious trouble with the law.
The penalty for knowingly falsifying information on your FAFSA is steep. The fine for doing so can be as high as $20,000 and comes with up to five years in prison. That penalty is in force even if you don’t actually receive student aid based on fraud and are only caught attempting to falsify the information.
Can You Change Your Information on Question 90 of the FAFSA?
While you can change some information on your FAFSA, the financial data is expected to be correct at the time of filing and cannot be edited.
If you find that you accidentally reported incorrect information, however, you can call the school’s financial aid office directly and let them know that you made a mistake and need to correct some information.
Filling out your FAFSA—including your parents’ information—doesn’t have to be complicated. Just be honest and complete. You’ll be glad you did.