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!

As a newcomer to this whole FAFSA process, this thread has been a lifesaver! My spouse and I were literally about to create just one FSA ID thinking we could share it since we file jointly. Thank you everyone for clarifying that we BOTH need separate accounts. One quick follow-up question - is there a recommended order for creating the accounts? Should one parent create theirs first, or can we both do it simultaneously without any issues?

My cousin had this same problem but it turned out her dad had already started an application and used her email, so when she tried to make her own account it was conflicting with the existing one. Might be worth checking if anyone else in your family has already used those email addresses somehow?

Just wanted to add another potential solution that worked for a friend of mine - if you're using any ad blockers or privacy extensions in your browser, try temporarily disabling them. Some of these tools can interfere with the FAFSA site's email verification process. Also, if you have a VPN running, disconnect it before trying again. The FAFSA system can be really picky about these things. Hope this helps someone else who's struggling with this frustrating issue!

sorry but all u parents telling kids to hide money or move it around are teaching terrible lessons!! just be honest on the dang form

I completely understand your panic - I went through the same thing last year! The good news is that while student assets are counted at 20%, the impact on your daughter's aid might be less dramatic than you think. For her $3,500 in savings, you're looking at roughly $700 added to your SAI (Student Aid Index), which doesn't translate to a dollar-for-dollar reduction in aid. As for not reporting the $1,200 last year, try not to stress too much. The Department of Education doesn't automatically cross-reference every detail from year to year unless there are major red flags. Just report everything accurately going forward. One thing to consider: if your daughter needs any educational supplies or equipment for the upcoming school year (laptop, textbooks, etc.), using some of her savings for these legitimate expenses before filing could reduce the reportable amount while still supporting her education. Just don't make any sudden large transfers - timing and documentation matter if you're selected for verification.

As a first-time FAFSA filer from NJ, this entire thread has been a goldmine of information! I was completely overwhelmed by the process and had no idea about NJFAMS or how the state aid system worked. Based on everything I've read here, I feel much more confident about what to expect. I submitted my FAFSA two weeks ago and just created my NJFAMS account today - it's showing "no records found" but from what @Libby Hassan mentioned, that seems normal for the first couple weeks. I'm planning to follow @Beth Ford's advice about calling at 8:30 AM if I need to reach HESAA, and I'll definitely be checking my NJFAMS portal weekly like @Sean Murphy suggested. It's honestly such a relief to know that the long processing times and delays are happening to everyone and not just because I messed something up. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - this community is amazing for helping navigate these confusing systems!

As another NJ newcomer to this process, I can't thank everyone enough for sharing such detailed experiences! I'm a transfer student from out-of-state who just established NJ residency and submitted my FAFSA last month. Reading through this thread, I realize I need to create my NJFAMS account ASAP to start monitoring my status. One question I have that I haven't seen addressed yet - for students who recently became NJ residents, is there any additional documentation HESAA typically requires to verify residency for state aid eligibility? I have my voter registration and driver's license updated, but I'm wondering if there are other documents I should have ready just in case. The whole residency requirement for state aid seems like it could be another potential complication in an already complex process. Has anyone dealt with residency verification specifically through HESAA?

Just wanted to follow up and see if you were able to create your FSA ID without issues? Did the name change cause any problems?

That's great to hear that your FSA ID creation went smoothly! For other parents in similar situations, it's worth noting that the credit verification questions can actually be helpful - they prove the system IS linking your financial history correctly across name changes. One more tip for when you actually complete the FAFSA: make sure to have your 2023 tax return handy (for the 2025-26 FAFSA). The IRS Data Retrieval Tool can automatically import your tax information, which reduces errors and speeds up processing. Since you mentioned having a complicated history, using the automatic import feature will help ensure everything matches perfectly with what the government already has on file.