I went through this exact situation two years ago and want to share what finally worked for me. After my first denial, I discovered that my school had a "Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Committee" that could review dependency override denials - this was separate from the regular financial aid appeals process and I didn't even know it existed until I asked specifically about all available options. Here's what made the difference in my successful appeal: 1. I got a letter from my therapist that specifically used the phrase "estrangement poses a threat to student's physical or emotional safety" - apparently this exact language carries more weight because it directly addresses federal safety criteria. 2. I included a detailed budget showing ALL my expenses and income for the past 12 months, proving complete financial independence. This included rent receipts, grocery bills, medical expenses, everything. 3. Most importantly, I found out that my state had a "Student Advocate" program through the Department of Higher Education that provides free assistance with financial aid appeals. They helped me understand exactly which federal regulations applied to my case and how to frame my appeal letter. Don't just focus on your school's financial aid office - reach out to your state's higher education department and ask about student advocacy services. Many states have these programs but don't advertise them well. The whole process took 6 months, but I eventually got my override approved retroactively. The key was understanding this is a legal process with specific criteria, not just a personal hardship evaluation. Keep fighting - the system works, it's just incredibly bureaucratic and poorly explained.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this - the dependency override process can feel incredibly overwhelming, especially after a denial. Reading through all the advice here, it sounds like you have a solid plan forming for your appeal. One thing I wanted to add that hasn't been mentioned yet: if you're currently receiving any government benefits or assistance (like SNAP, Medicaid, housing assistance, etc.), include documentation of those in your appeal package. This helps demonstrate that you're truly self-supporting and that government agencies have already recognized your independence from your parents. Also, when you contact your therapist for a letter, ask them to include specific dates of your sessions and how your family situation has impacted your mental health over time. The more concrete details they can provide about the timeline and ongoing effects, the stronger that piece of evidence becomes. The appeals process is designed to be thorough, which unfortunately means it's also slow and frustrating. But from everything I've read in this thread, persistence really does pay off when you have the right documentation. Don't let that first denial define the outcome - you've got a much clearer strategy now thanks to everyone's input here. Hang in there and keep advocating for yourself. Your situation absolutely warrants an override, and with the comprehensive approach you're planning, you'll have a much stronger case the second time around.

Just went through this exact same situation with my parents last year! Yes, your mom absolutely needs her own FSA ID - it's required for security and legal reasons since she's providing her financial information and digitally signing the FAFSA. A few things that really helped us: 1) Set aside a good chunk of time when you're both free to get her account set up - don't rush it, 2) Have her tax documents ready before starting since the system will ask for specific information, 3) Make sure she uses an email she actually checks regularly because she'll get important updates there, and 4) Write down her login info somewhere safe - you'll need it again next year! The process seems scary at first but once you both have your accounts created, it's actually pretty manageable. You've got this!

I went through this same confusion last year! Yes, your mom definitely needs her own separate FSA ID - it's a federal requirement since she'll be providing her financial information and digitally signing the FAFSA. Here's what I wish someone had told me: make sure she creates her account using her own unique email address and phone number (can't share yours), and try to do it at least a few days before you plan to submit since the verification process can take time. Also, once she has her FSA ID, she can complete her section of the FAFSA whenever it's convenient for her - you don't both need to be online at the same time. The system will link your applications automatically through your personal info. One last tip: have her save her login credentials somewhere secure because she'll need them every year you apply for financial aid!

I'm dealing with this exact same situation right now and this thread has been a lifesaver! My ex-husband is also refusing to provide his financial information even though I have full custody of my daughter and claim her on my taxes every year. I've been so stressed about missing deadlines, but reading everyone's experiences here gives me hope that there's actually a clear solution. Based on all the advice shared, it sounds like the key steps are: 1) Call FSA at 1-800-433-3243 early in the morning (around 8 AM), 2) Request a "contributor exemption for non-custodial parent," and 3) Have tax returns ready showing you claim your child as a dependent. I'm definitely going to try this approach tomorrow morning. Thank you to everyone who shared their detailed experiences - it's so reassuring to know this is a common issue with the new FAFSA system and that FSA has a process to handle it. This community support means everything when you're trying to navigate these stressful situations!

I'm currently dealing with this exact same issue! My ex-husband is refusing to provide his information for my daughter's FAFSA even though I have full physical custody and have claimed her as a dependent for the past 6 years. This thread has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea there was an actual process to handle this situation through FSA. Based on everyone's advice here, I'm planning to call 1-800-433-3243 first thing tomorrow morning and request a "contributor exemption for non-custodial parent." It's such a relief to know this is a known issue with the new FAFSA system and that there's a clear solution. The consistency of everyone's experiences gives me confidence that this will work. Thank you to everyone who shared their step-by-step processes and success stories! This community support has been invaluable during such a stressful time. I'll make sure to have my tax returns ready showing I claim my daughter as a dependent.

I'm so glad I found this thread! My daughter and I are dealing with the exact same issue - she submitted her FAFSA but I never received the parent contributor invitation. After reading through all these responses, it's clear this is a major problem with the new system. I'm going to try the "Manage Contributors" solution that @Lincoln Ramiro detailed, and I'll make sure to double-check that our email addresses match exactly like @Faith Kingston mentioned. If that doesn't work, the Claimyr service sounds like a great backup option. It's frustrating that the FAFSA system has so many issues, but I really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences and solutions here!

Just joined this community because I'm having the EXACT same problem! My stepdaughter submitted her FAFSA last week and my husband never got the parent invitation email. We've been panicking thinking we missed some deadline or did something wrong. Reading through all these responses is such a relief - it's clearly a widespread issue with the new FAFSA system. I'm going to try the "Manage Contributors" method that @Lincoln Ramiro explained step-by-step, and I'll definitely make sure the email addresses match exactly like @Faith Kingston warned about. If that fails, the Claimyr service @Noah Lee mentioned sounds like a great backup plan. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and solutions - this community is amazing for helping families navigate these FAFSA nightmares!

I'm in almost the exact same boat as you with a similar household income and an 18-year-old starting college next year! The whole system really does feel rigged against middle-class families - we make too much for aid but not enough to easily afford $30k+ per year without taking on debt ourselves. After reading through everyone's responses here, I'm realizing we need to shift our strategy completely. Instead of focusing on trying to get around the parent information requirement (which sounds nearly impossible), we should be looking at schools where our daughter's stats would put her in their top tier for merit scholarships. I had no idea that some schools automatically consider all applicants for merit aid based on GPA and test scores. The advice about still completing the FAFSA for those unsubsidized federal loans is really valuable too - I was ready to skip it entirely thinking it was pointless, but those loan terms are apparently much better than private options. Sometimes you just need to hear from people who've been through the process to understand what's actually worth pursuing versus what's just wishful thinking!

I'm just starting to research this whole process for my daughter who's a junior in high school, and honestly this thread has been more helpful than anything I've found online so far! It's reassuring to know that other families are dealing with the same frustrations about being in that middle-income bracket. The strategy about targeting schools where your child would be in the top 25% of applicants for better merit aid really makes sense. I'm wondering though - how do you actually find out what those statistics are for different schools? Do most colleges publish their average GPA and test score ranges for admitted students, or is this information you have to dig for? Also, I keep seeing references to the CSS Profile in addition to FAFSA. Should families in our income range be looking at schools that use CSS Profile, or does that just add another layer of complexity without much benefit? Thanks for sharing all your experiences - it's helping me feel less overwhelmed about starting this process!