To summarize for anyone who finds this thread in the future: 1. Yes, both parents must provide information on FAFSA if they're married, regardless of work status 2. The non-working parent will need their own FSA ID to sign the application 3. Report zeros for income questions that don't apply to the non-working parent 4. All assets from both parents must be reported, even accounts only in one parent's name 5. If you file taxes jointly, information from that joint return will be used 6. Don't confuse "unemployed" with "dislocated worker" - they mean different things on the FAFSA 7. Keep Parent 1 and Parent 2 consistent from year to year on future FAFSAs

This is such a helpful thread! I'm in a similar situation - my wife has been out of the workforce for 10 years raising our kids, and I was stressed about whether we were filling out the FAFSA correctly. Reading everyone's experiences here has been really reassuring. One question I have: when it asks for the non-working parent's "tax filing status," what should we select if we file jointly but she technically doesn't have her own tax return? Should I select "will not file" for her even though she's included on our joint return?

Any update? Were you able to finish your section?

Great to hear you got it sorted out, Lindsey! This is such a common issue - I went through the exact same confusion with my daughter's FAFSA last year. The system really needs better messaging to clarify when just the student portion is complete versus the entire application. For anyone else reading this thread, one tip that helped me: after you submit your contributor section, screenshot the confirmation page with your confirmation number. It's good to have that record in case there are any processing issues later. Fingers crossed your son gets his aid package quickly once everything processes!

Quick update for you - I just spoke with someone at Federal Student Aid about a different issue, and they mentioned they're currently processing account recovery forms from early February, so yours should be coming up in the queue soon. They're apparently dealing with 3x the normal volume of account issues due to the FAFSA Simplification Act changes. Hang in there!

I'm going through the exact same nightmare right now! My FSA ID got locked out three weeks ago and I've been getting the runaround ever since. What's really frustrating is that different representatives keep giving me completely different timelines - first it was 5-7 days, then 10-14, and now they're saying up to 21 business days. I'm also worried about missing priority deadlines for fall semester. Has anyone had success escalating to a supervisor? I feel like the regular customer service reps just don't have the authority to actually expedite anything. Also wondering if there's a specific department within Federal Student Aid that handles these recovery forms faster than others?

After reading through all the advice here, I wanted to share a quick update. I finally got through to FSA today (took nearly 2 hours on hold). The agent confirmed that since I have full custody and claim my daughter on taxes, her father does NOT need to contribute to the FAFSA. They removed his contributor invitation and noted the exemption in our file. The agent also suggested I have my daughter check with each school's financial aid office about their specific requirements, especially for the private universities that might want additional documentation. Thanks everyone for your help! Such a relief to have this resolved before the deadline.

Wait, I'm confused - I see an update from Daniel Washington saying he got through to FSA and resolved the issue, but the original post was from The Boss. Are you Daniel Washington posting an update under a different account, or is this a separate person who had the same issue? Either way, this is really helpful information for anyone else dealing with this situation! The key takeaway seems to be that you need to call FSA directly to get the contributor invitation removed rather than trying to work around it in the system.

Hey Kristin! I just wanted to add something that helped me when I was in your exact situation last year - don't panic if you don't hear anything for a few weeks after submitting your FAFSA. The processing can take time, especially during peak season. One thing I wish I had known earlier is that you can actually log into your studentaid.gov account and see the status of your FAFSA processing. It will show you if there are any issues that need to be resolved or if everything is moving along normally. Sometimes there are small errors or missing signatures that can delay everything, so it's worth checking. Also, with your SAI of 3500, you're definitely going to qualify for significant need-based aid. I had a similar SAI and got the full Pell Grant plus additional state grants. Just remember that each school will package their aid differently - some might give you more grants, others might offer more work-study or loans to meet the same need. Don't be discouraged if the first few packages you see aren't what you hoped for - schools send them out at different times throughout the spring. You're doing great by asking these questions early! The financial aid process is designed to be confusing, but you're already ahead of the game by understanding what to expect.

Hey Kristin! As a current college student who went through this exact same process just two years ago, I totally understand the confusion and anxiety you're feeling right now. The FAFSA system really doesn't make it clear what happens next! Here's the simple breakdown: After your FAFSA processes (usually 1-3 weeks), you'll get an email notification that your SAI is calculated and available on your studentaid.gov account. Then each school on your FAFSA list will automatically receive your information and create their own financial aid package based on your SAI and their available funds. Your SAI of 3500 is actually amazing news! You'll definitely qualify for a substantial Pell Grant - probably close to the maximum amount of around $7,395. Schools will automatically consider you for all federal aid programs (Pell Grants, Direct Loans, work-study) without requiring separate applications. One thing that saved me so much stress - create a simple tracking spreadsheet with each school, their aid notification timeline, and whether they need additional forms like CSS Profile. Most schools send award letters between March-May, and they'll come via email or through the school's student portal. The waiting period is definitely nerve-wracking when you're doing this without parental guidance, but you're asking all the right questions and being super proactive. With your SAI, you're going to have some great options! Just stay organized and patient - it's all going to work out!