I'm so glad I found this thread! I'm dealing with the exact same issue right now with my daughter's 2025-26 FAFSA. She completed her portion last week, I got the notification email, but when I log into my FSA ID account, there's absolutely nothing there for the new application year. It's really stressful because we're trying to meet early submission deadlines for her college applications. Reading through all these responses gives me hope though - it sounds like this is a widespread technical issue with the new system rather than something we did wrong. I'm going to start with verifying she entered my email correctly (seems like such an obvious thing to check but apparently it's a common problem!), then try the resend invitation approach. If that doesn't work, I'll move on to the remove/re-add contributor method that several people mentioned worked for them. Thank you everyone for sharing your detailed troubleshooting steps - this community support is invaluable when dealing with these frustrating technical glitches!

I'm currently experiencing this exact same issue with my son's 2025-26 FAFSA! He finished his portion two weeks ago, I received the notification email, but when I log into studentaid.gov with my FSA ID, the application is nowhere to be found. It's incredibly frustrating because we're trying to submit everything before the priority deadlines. Reading through all these solutions has been so helpful though - I had no idea about the disconnect between the notification system and the actual contributor invitation system. I'm going to start by having him check that he entered my email correctly (seems like this trips up a lot of people!), then try the resend invitation option. If that doesn't work, we'll move to the remove/re-add contributor approach that so many of you have had success with. It's reassuring to know this is a widespread technical issue and not something we messed up. Thank you all for sharing such detailed troubleshooting steps - this community is a lifesaver when dealing with these FAFSA glitches!

That's awesome that it worked out for you! For anyone else reading this thread who might be dealing with similar issues, I'd recommend keeping a few things in mind: 1) Make sure you have all your tax documents ready before starting, 2) Don't try to rush through it - the system can be glitchy if you move too fast between sections, and 3) If you run into technical issues, try clearing your browser cache or switching browsers entirely. The new FAFSA definitely has its quirks but once you get through it, the process is actually pretty streamlined compared to the old paper forms!

As someone who just went through this process last month, I can confirm that the new FAFSA system is definitely confusing at first! The key thing to remember is that it's designed to be more secure now - each contributor (you and your spouse) needs to sign in separately with their own FSA ID for their tax information to be pulled. One thing I'd add to the great advice already given here is to make sure both of your FSA IDs are linked to the correct Social Security numbers and that your contact information is up to date. Also, if either of you filed taxes jointly, the system might take a bit longer to sort out whose information is whose, so don't be alarmed if there's a slight delay. The whole process is much smoother once you understand how it works!

I went through this exact nightmare last year and it took 6 weeks to resolve! What finally worked for me was getting a letter from THREE different sources all at once: my former high school counselor, a social worker, AND my employer confirming my work history and self-support. I also had to provide bank statements showing consistent deposits and rent payments going back 18 months. The key was proving a PATTERN of independence, not just current status. Don't give up - once it's approved, you'll likely get significant aid since you won't have parental income counted against you. The verification hell is worth it in the end!

I'm going through this exact same verification nightmare right now! Reading through all these responses has been so helpful - I had no idea about the "comprehensive verification review" option or that schools could call FAFSA directly on our behalf. I've been stuck in the same cycle for 3 weeks where I fix one thing and then they find something else wrong the next day. It's incredibly frustrating when you're truly independent and just trying to get the aid you're entitled to. I'm definitely going to try the approach of bundling ALL my documentation together with a cover sheet and getting my financial aid office involved. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it's reassuring to know I'm not alone in this bureaucratic maze!

As someone who went through this exact situation last year, I wanted to share what worked for us! My daughter had about $6,000 in excess scholarship money for housing, and after reading through forums like this one, we decided to be very thorough with our approach. Here's what we did: First, we gathered all her financial aid documents (1098-T, scholarship award letters, etc.) and made a spreadsheet tracking every dollar - what went to tuition/fees versus what went to housing/meals. Then we used TaxAct (though TurboTax works too) and carefully followed their scholarship income section. The software actually made it pretty straightforward once we had our numbers organized. For the FAFSA impact - and this might help ease some worries - while her income did go up on paper, the actual effect on her aid package the following year was minimal thanks to the student income protection allowance that @Dmitri Volkov mentioned. She still qualified for most of the same aid. My biggest advice: keep really good records and don't stress too much about getting it perfect. The IRS is more concerned with people trying to hide income completely than students making minor reporting errors on scholarship money. But definitely DO report it - better safe than sorry!

As a CPA who specializes in education tax issues, I wanted to jump in and clarify a few things I've seen in this thread. The advice from @Dmitri Volkov is spot-on - scholarship money used for non-qualified expenses (room, board, personal expenses) is indeed taxable income to the student. One thing I'd add: if your daughter worked during the year and had taxes withheld from her paychecks, she should definitely file a return even if her total income is below the filing threshold. She'll likely get a refund of those withheld taxes. Also, regarding the concern about penalties - the IRS is generally reasonable about honest mistakes on scholarship reporting, especially for first-time filers. What gets them upset is when people don't report income at all, not when students make good-faith efforts to comply but get minor details wrong. For parents just starting this process: create a simple tracking system now. Note which scholarships/grants have restrictions (some specify "tuition only") versus unrestricted awards. This documentation will be invaluable come tax time and can potentially save you money if some awards are truly restricted to qualified expenses. Happy to answer any specific questions about the tax side of things!

As someone who just completed the FAFSA process for my twins this year, I want to echo what everyone has said - retirement accounts are absolutely NOT reported on FAFSA! I made the same initial mistake and was about to include our 401k and IRAs before doing more research. What really helped me was calling the Federal Student Aid hotline directly (though yes, it took forever to get through) and the agent confirmed that ALL retirement accounts - 401k, 403b, traditional IRA, Roth IRA, SEP-IRA, pension plans - are completely excluded from asset reporting. The key distinction is between accounts specifically designated for retirement (which have IRS early withdrawal penalties) versus regular investment accounts. I ended up creating a simple two-column list: "FAFSA Reportable" (regular brokerage, CDs, 529 plans, investment real estate) vs "FAFSA Protected" (all retirement accounts, primary residence). This visual really helped me stay organized and confident in my reporting. One last tip - save screenshots of your completed FAFSA sections before submitting, just in case you need to reference what you reported later for verification or CSS Profile applications. Good luck to everyone going through this process!

As a newcomer to this community and the FAFSA world, I can't express how grateful I am to have found this thread! I was literally staring at the FAFSA form last night, completely paralyzed by the assets section and wondering if I should include our 401k. Reading through all these responses has been like finding a roadmap through what felt like an impossible maze. The unanimous consensus that retirement accounts are NOT reported is such a huge relief - I was genuinely worried we'd accidentally disqualify our son from aid by reporting incorrectly. What strikes me most is how many experienced parents made the exact same initial mistake, which makes me feel so much less alone in this confusion. The practical advice shared here - from the completion guide PDF to the two-column organizational method to understanding that "early withdrawal penalties = protected account" - is exactly the kind of real-world guidance that makes this process actually manageable. Thank you all for creating such a supportive space where newcomers can learn from those who've successfully navigated this process before us!