As someone who just went through this process for the first time this year, I can confirm that you don't need a new FSA ID! I was panicking because I couldn't remember if I needed to wait for my son to send me another invitation. Turns out I just logged in with my existing credentials from last year and everything was there. The key thing (that I learned the hard way) is making sure your daughter adds you as a contributor when she starts her renewal - otherwise you won't see her application in your account. The whole process was actually much smoother than I expected once I figured that part out. Good luck with the scholarship - I know how stressful it can be when so much depends on getting the FAFSA right!

Just wanted to add my experience as another data point - I'm a parent going through this for my third child's FAFSA renewal this year. You definitely keep the same FSA ID! The confusion often comes from the fact that each year's FAFSA is treated as a separate application, so even though your FSA ID credentials stay the same, you need to be connected to that specific year's form. One tip that might help: after your daughter starts her renewal and adds you as a contributor, it can sometimes take a few hours for her application to show up in your account when you log in. Don't panic if you don't see it immediately! Also, make sure you're looking under the correct academic year (2025-2026) when you log in, as the system will show applications for different years. The good news is that once you're in, a lot of your information from last year will be pre-populated, which makes the process much faster than the initial application. Just double-check everything, especially if your tax situation changed at all from last year. Good luck with the scholarship renewal!

Just wanted to add that you should also check if your state has any additional considerations for QDRO distributions when it comes to state financial aid programs. Some states treat retirement distributions differently than the federal FAFSA does, so you might want to look into your state's specific rules too. Also, if you're planning to use any of the QDRO money directly for college expenses, keep very detailed receipts - some schools will consider direct educational payments differently in their professional judgment reviews, even if the federal formula counts it as income.

This is such a complicated situation and I feel for you! I went through something similar with my divorce settlement a few years ago. One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet is that you might want to consult with a tax professional who specializes in divorce settlements and education planning. They can help you understand not just the FAFSA implications, but also potential tax strategies for future years if you have any control over the timing of additional QDRO distributions. Also, make sure to document everything about this being a one-time distribution from your divorce settlement - courts sometimes view these situations more favorably than regular retirement distributions when it comes to financial aid appeals. The documentation from your divorce proceedings showing this was awarded as part of property division (not ongoing support) can be really helpful for those special circumstances appeals everyone mentioned.

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now! I created my FAFSA account as a high schooler in 2017 and now I'm trying to apply for graduate school. Like you, I have zero memory of what email I used back then - probably some weird combination that seemed cool when I was 17 lol. From reading everyone's responses here, it sounds like creating a new FSA ID is definitely the way to go. I was worried about messing up my loan history too, but it's reassuring to hear from multiple people that everything stays tied to your SSN. One thing I found helpful was going through my old emails (even the ones I barely use anymore) and searching for "FAFSA" or "Federal Student Aid" to see if I could find any old correspondence. Didn't help me remember my login, but at least I found some old tax info I needed anyway. Thanks for posting this - it's nice to know I'm not the only one who was completely irresponsible with important login information as a teenager!

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Created my FSA ID in 2016 for my first degree and now I'm completely locked out trying to go back for my master's. It's honestly so frustrating that there's no better account recovery system in place for situations like this. Based on everyone's advice here, I think I'm just going to bite the bullet and create a new FSA ID. It sounds like the consensus is that it's way easier than trying to recover the old one, and I'm relieved to hear multiple people confirm that your aid history stays intact through your SSN. One question for those who created new accounts - did any of you run into issues where schools or loan servicers got confused having multiple FSA IDs associated with the same person? I'm worried about potential complications down the road, even though everyone says the system handles it fine. Thanks for starting this thread - it's so helpful to see I'm not alone in this predicament!

To answer your follow-up question - CSS Profile and FAFSA are separate systems. Schools that require both use the CSS Profile to determine institutional aid and the FAFSA for federal aid eligibility. The CSS Profile typically collects more detailed financial information and may consider assets that FAFSA doesn't (like home equity). Your daughter's -1500 SAI guarantees federal aid eligibility but the CSS Profile will generate its own separate calculation for institutional aid. This is why packages can vary dramatically between schools even with the same FAFSA result.

Congratulations on the -1500 SAI! As a newcomer here, I just wanted to add that you should also look into state-specific aid programs. Many states have their own grant programs for low-income students that use FAFSA data, and with your daughter's -1500 SAI, she'll likely qualify for maximum state aid too. Also, don't forget to check if any of her schools participate in programs like the American Opportunity Tax Credit - with your income level indicated by the negative SAI, you might qualify for additional tax benefits that can help offset college costs. The combination of federal, state, and institutional aid can really add up!

Hi Lia! I just went through this same process with my son last year, so I completely understand your confusion. Yes, you absolutely must report your daughter's savings account on the FAFSA - all student assets need to be included regardless of the amount, even though the new FAFSA has simplified some areas. The good news is you don't need the actual account number for the application - just the balance as of the day you submit. But here's a crucial tip I learned the hard way: take a screenshot or print out the balance on the exact day you file! If your daughter gets selected for verification (about 30% chance), they'll want documentation from that specific date, not just any recent statement. One thing that shocked me was learning that student assets are assessed at 20% while parent assets are only around 5%. So her $3,800 could potentially add about $760 to your Student Aid Index. If she needs any legitimate college expenses like a laptop, textbooks, or test prep materials, you might want to consider purchasing those before filing since it reduces the reportable assets. The verification process isn't as scary as it sounds - we went through it and it took about 3 weeks total. Just be accurate with everything and respond quickly if selected. Good luck with the application!

Hi Lia! I just completed the FAFSA process with my daughter a few weeks ago and had the exact same questions you do. Yes, you absolutely need to report that savings account - all student assets must be included on the FAFSA regardless of the amount. Here's what I wish I had known upfront: You only need the account balance for the FAFSA form itself, not the account number. However, definitely take a screenshot or print the balance statement on the exact day you submit - this saved us during verification! About 30% of applicants get selected for verification, and they'll want documentation from your submission date specifically. The biggest surprise for me was learning that student assets are assessed at 20% versus parent assets at around 5%. So your daughter's $3,800 could potentially increase your Student Aid Index by about $760. If she needs any legitimate college expenses (laptop, textbooks, calculator), you might want to consider the timing of those purchases before filing since it would reduce reportable assets. Also don't forget about any digital wallet balances - Venmo, PayPal, CashApp all count as assets too! The whole process seems overwhelming at first but once you gather everything and submit, it's a huge relief. You've got this!