I had this same looping issue a few weeks ago and it turned out to be multiple small problems combined! Here's what I found: 1. My parent's name had a Jr. in their FSA ID but I didn't include it in the FAFSA 2. I was putting periods after middle initials (like "John A. Smith") when their FSA ID just had "John A Smith" 3. I was using my phone's browser which apparently doesn't play nice with the FAFSA system Once I fixed the name formatting to EXACTLY match their FSA ID (no extra punctuation, same capitalization, etc.) and switched to desktop Chrome with all extensions disabled, it finally went through. The system is super picky about exact matches but gives you zero helpful error messages. Also try clearing your browser data completely before your next attempt - not just cache but cookies and stored form data too. Good luck!

Oh wow, reading through all these responses makes me feel so much better knowing I'm not alone with this issue! I'm a senior and this is my last year applying for FAFSA, but I've never had problems like this before. The new system is absolutely terrible compared to previous years. I've been stuck in the same loop for 2 days now and was getting really panicked about missing my school's deadline. Based on everyone's suggestions, I think my issue might be similar to what others have experienced - probably a name formatting mismatch with my dad's FSA ID. He goes by "Mike" but his legal name is "Michael" and I'm not sure which one I used when I set up his contributor info. Going to try fixing that tonight along with double-checking for any commas in the income fields. If that doesn't work, I'll definitely try that Claimyr service someone mentioned to get through to FSA phone support faster. At this point I'm willing to try anything! Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and solutions - this community is a lifesaver when the actual FAFSA system is completely broken!

THE ENTIRE FAFSA SYSTEM IS GARBAGE THIS YEAR!!! They had THREE EXTRA MONTHS to prepare and still rolled out a completely broken system. My daughter might lose scholarships because of these stupid technical problems. The Department of Education should be ASHAMED of this disaster. And now they keep extending deadlines because they know they screwed up so badly!!!!

UPDATE: We figured it out! The problem was that my ex-husband had changed his phone number last year but never updated it in his FSA ID account. When we updated his contact information, the verification texts started coming through immediately. We've now successfully added him as a contributor and my daughter can finish her application. Thanks everyone for your help!

As a parent who went through this exact same confusion last year, I completely understand your frustration! The key thing to remember is that your daughter needs to be the one to initiate everything. Here's what worked for us: 1. My daughter created her FSA ID first at StudentAid.gov 2. She started filling out her FAFSA application 3. When she got to the contributor section, she entered my email and I received an invitation 4. Only then did I create my FSA ID through the link in that email 5. I was able to complete my parent portion after that The biggest mistake I almost made was trying to create my FSA ID ahead of time thinking I was being helpful - but that actually complicates things! Wait for her invitation email. Also make sure you each use different email addresses and ideally different devices/browsers when working on your sections. One last tip: have your 2023 tax documents, W-2s, and bank statements ready before you start so you can move through the process smoothly once it begins. The waiting is the hardest part, but following this order will save you so much hassle!

As someone completely new to the FAFSA process with my daughter who's a high school senior, this entire thread has been absolutely invaluable! I've been putting off tackling the FAFSA because it seemed so overwhelming and confusing, but reading through everyone's real experiences has given me the roadmap I desperately needed. The consistent advice about having my daughter create her FSA ID first and start the application, then waiting for her invitation email before I create my parent FSA ID, is crystal clear now. I was definitely going to make the mistake of trying to be "proactive" and set up my account early - thank goodness I found this thread first! I'm taking notes on all the practical tips: using different devices/browsers, having our 2023 tax documents ready, making sure she lists ALL schools regardless of admission status, and using current email addresses and phone numbers for verification. It's also reassuring to know that the process typically takes around 2 hours total and that technical glitches during peak times are normal. Thank you all for sharing your experiences so openly - you've transformed what felt like an insurmountable task into something that actually feels manageable. My daughter and I are going to gather all our documents this weekend and dive in next week. Wish us luck!

Also worth noting: if your daughter has any outside scholarships (not from the college itself), federal regulations require that those reduce need-based aid if they push her total aid above her demonstrated need. However, schools have discretion in how they apply this reduction - good schools will reduce loans and work-study first, while less generous schools will reduce grants first.

As someone who just went through this process with my twin daughters, I can share some real-world experience. One daughter got $15k merit from a state school that stacked it with need-based aid - we ended up paying about $8k out of pocket. Her twin got $20k merit from a private college that displaced dollar-for-dollar, and we're still paying $18k there! The key thing I learned is to ask VERY specific questions when you call. Don't just ask "do you stack or displace" because they might give you a vague answer. Instead ask: "If my daughter receives $18,500 in merit scholarships and has an SAI of $12,340 with a cost of attendance of [whatever it is], what exactly will her final financial aid package look like?" Make them walk through the actual numbers with you. Some schools were really transparent about this, others were evasive, which told me everything I needed to know about their practices.

Thank you all for the advice! I'm definitely going with "married" on the FAFSA since that's their legal status and tax filing status. After I get my initial aid offers, I'll contact each school's financial aid office with documentation about the two households. Sounds like the verification headache isn't worth any potential benefit from marking "separated" - especially since it wouldn't be truthful anyway. I appreciate all the help!

Great decision, Eli! You've got a solid plan. Just to add one more tip - when you do reach out to the financial aid offices, try to contact them during their slower periods (usually mid-morning on weekdays) rather than right after aid offers come out when they're swamped. Also, some schools have specific deadlines for special circumstances appeals, so check those early. The documentation approach that Alice and others mentioned really does make a difference - schools want to help but they need clear evidence of the additional costs. Good luck with everything!