To summarize for the OP and anyone else with this question: 1. For married parents filing jointly: Only ONE parent needs an FSA ID and completes the contributor section 2. Either parent can be the contributor regardless of who's listed first on tax returns 3. The parent who creates the FSA ID must be the one to complete the contributor section 4. The system will use your joint tax information regardless of which parent completes it 5. Basic information about the non-contributing parent is still required Hope this helps!

Just wanted to add one more tip that helped us - make sure whoever becomes the contributor keeps their FSA ID login info somewhere safe! You'll need it again next year when you renew the FAFSA, and also if the school requests any additional documentation or if there are any issues with verification. I made the mistake of forgetting mine and had to go through the whole password reset process during a time-sensitive deadline. Also, if you're using the mobile app, the desktop version sometimes works better for complex forms like this. Good luck with your daughter's application!

Thank you so much for this clear summary! This thread has been incredibly helpful. We're going to set up both our FSA IDs tonight and get started on the application this weekend.

As someone who just went through this process with my oldest, I can confirm everything mentioned here is spot on! One additional tip - when you create your FSA IDs, use email addresses you check regularly. The system sends important notifications and verification codes throughout the year, not just during FAFSA season. My husband created his with an old email he rarely checks and almost missed a verification deadline when we had to make corrections later. Also, don't panic if the process seems overwhelming at first - the new FAFSA really is much simpler than the old version once you get both parent accounts set up properly!

Pro tip for anyone else having this issue - you can also find all federal school codes by going to the Federal Student Aid website and using their "Federal School Code Search" tool. Just search for the school name there first, then copy the code into your FAFSA. I learned this after struggling with my daughter's application last year. Also, if you're applying to multiple campuses of the same university system, make sure you're using the right code for each specific campus since they all have different codes even though they're part of the same university!

I'm new to this whole FAFSA process and reading through this thread has been incredibly eye-opening! I had no idea about using federal school codes instead of searching by name - that's going to save me so much time. My daughter is a junior in high school and we're just starting to research colleges, but I'm already feeling overwhelmed by all the financial aid requirements. One question I have after reading all these helpful responses: is there a good resource or guide that walks you through the entire FAFSA process step by step? I want to be prepared when it's time to actually fill it out next year so we don't run into these same search issues. Also, should I be creating accounts or gathering documents now, or is it too early to start that process?

One big caveat that tripped me up: If you're claimed as a dependent on ANYONE'S tax return (even a non-custodial parent who doesn't support you financially), Excelsior will count that person's income. My dad claimed me even though I hadn't seen him in years, and I got denied because his income pushed us over the limit. Also - double check ALL your application materials. Excelsior is notorious for denying applications over tiny mistakes or missing documents. And appeals take FOREVER to process.

Hey everyone! I'm new to this community but dealing with similar issues. Just wanted to share what I learned from my financial aid counselor at my school - they said that for complicated family situations like divorced/remarried parents, it's really important to keep detailed records of who provides what support. My counselor suggested creating a simple spreadsheet tracking things like: - Who pays for housing, food, medical expenses, etc. - Who claims you on taxes each year - Any court orders about financial support This helped me figure out which parent to use for TAP/Excelsior vs FAFSA. Also, she mentioned that some schools have emergency aid funds that can help bridge gaps if you don't qualify for Excelsior but still need help with costs. @Sasha - sounds like you need to dig up that 2023 tax info ASAP! And honestly, even if the NY residency requirement seems scary now, a lot can change in 4 years. Don't let that stop you from applying if you might qualify. Good luck everyone! This stuff is so confusing but at least we're all figuring it out together.

Just to add some timing context: once you receive and complete your parent portion, the final SAI (Student Aid Index, formerly EFC) calculation can take another 3-5 business days. Then schools will be able to download your FAFSA information. So from your daughter's initial submission to the information being available to schools could be 7-10 business days total. Plan accordingly if you have any priority deadlines coming up!

One thing I learned when my daughter went through this last year - make sure she doesn't accidentally click "submit" before sending you the parent invitation! Once the FAFSA is officially submitted without parent info, it becomes much more complicated to add contributors later. The system will show her application as "in progress" until both portions are complete, which is what you want. Also, if you're traveling next week, you might want to set up your FSA ID ahead of time (using a different email than your daughter's) so you're ready to go as soon as you get the invitation. The FSA ID creation process can sometimes take a day or two for verification as well.