Wow, this thread is so helpful! I'm dealing with a similar issue right now where my FAFSA isn't showing up for my dad to sign, but my sister's went through fine. Based on all the suggestions here, I'm going to have him check for multiple FSA IDs first since that seems to be the most common cause. It's crazy how many technical issues the new FAFSA system has - you'd think something this important would be more thoroughly tested before rollout. Thanks for sharing your solution @Luca Russo, and congrats on getting it resolved! Definitely bookmarking this thread in case we need to call FSA with that bug number.

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm currently going through the exact same issue with my twin brother - his FAFSA shows up for our mom to sign but mine doesn't. After reading all these responses, I'm now wondering if we might have the multiple FSA ID problem too. Our mom did change her email address a few months ago, so she might have inadvertently created a second account. I'm going to have her check tonight before we try calling FSA. It's really reassuring to know this is a known bug (#2024-113) and not just us doing something wrong. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it's amazing how this community helps each other navigate these frustrating technical issues!

Just wanted to jump in as someone who's been helping students navigate NY financial aid for a while - this thread is absolutely gold for anyone dealing with the unmarried/separated parents TAP situation! I see this confusion come up constantly, and honestly, the lack of clear communication from HESC about how TAP differs from FAFSA is really frustrating. A few additional tips for anyone finding this thread: 1) If you're unsure which parent to choose, go with whoever you can honestly say you lived with more during the past 12 months - don't overthink it or try to game the system, 2) Keep records of your choice and reasoning like others mentioned, and 3) Remember that this is totally legitimate - you're not doing anything wrong by reporting only one parent when that's literally what the system requires. The fact that so many students think the application is broken shows how poorly this is communicated by the state. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences here - threads like this are incredibly valuable for future students facing the same confusion!

Wow, this thread has been so incredibly helpful! I'm a high school senior applying for financial aid and I was literally having a breakdown yesterday because the TAP system seemed completely broken - I kept trying to add my second parent's income and nothing would work. My parents were never married but they both support me financially, so I thought I was doing something wrong when I could only enter one parent's information. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been such a relief! It's honestly crazy that FAFSA and TAP have completely different rules for the same situation, but at least now I understand it's intentional rather than a glitch. I live with my mom about 60% of the time (weekdays mostly), so I'll go with her information. Thank you to everyone who shared their stories - this community is amazing for helping navigate all this confusing financial aid stuff. I wish the state would make this clearer in their instructions because based on all these responses, this confusion seems to happen to a lot of students!

This is such a great reminder! I'm a college sophomore and just realized I never double-checked my family size from freshman year. My parents got divorced last year and my living situation changed, so I'm wondering if I need to update anything for next year's FAFSA. Does anyone know if changes in family structure (like divorce) affect how you count family size? I'm still claimed as a dependent by my mom but my dad remarried and has stepkids now. This whole process is so confusing but posts like this show how much money can be on the line!

This is exactly the kind of post that needs to be pinned! I'm a financial aid counselor and I see this mistake ALL the time. The family size field is probably the most underestimated factor in FAFSA calculations. What many people don't realize is that even if your income stays the same, adding just one more person to your household can lower your SAI by 2,000-4,000 points depending on your income bracket. I always tell families to think carefully about who qualifies - it's not just parents and kids, but can include other relatives you support more than 50% financially. Great catch on checking this, and congrats on the increased Pell eligibility!

This thread has been incredibly informative! As someone who's also navigating financial aid as a single parent (though not at UMD), I wanted to add a few things that might help: 1. Don't forget about the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit - you can claim childcare expenses related to attending school, which can help offset costs at tax time. 2. Many schools have emergency aid funds specifically for unexpected expenses that student parents face. These aren't always well-publicized but can be lifesavers when childcare falls through or other emergencies pop up. 3. If you end up needing to take some loans, remember that as an independent student with dependents, your annual loan limits are higher than dependent students ($9,500-$12,500 in federal loans vs $5,500-$7,500). Your 3500 SAI really should put you in a strong position for need-based aid. The fact that so many people here have shared positive experiences at UMD for student parents is really encouraging. Best of luck with your decision - you've got this!

As a financial aid counselor at a different university, I wanted to chime in with some encouragement! Your 3500 SAI as an independent student with a dependent puts you in an excellent position for significant need-based aid. Here are a few additional tips that might help: 1. When you do get through to UMD's financial aid office, ask specifically about their "full need" policy for students with very low SAIs - many schools have internal guidelines about meeting full demonstrated need for students in your situation. 2. Don't forget to apply for outside scholarships specifically for single parents or non-traditional students. Organizations like Soroptimist International and Patsy Takemoto Mink Education Foundation have scholarships specifically for women with children pursuing higher education. 3. If your aid package isn't sufficient when it arrives, you can always appeal it with documentation of your specific circumstances as a single parent. Schools often have additional funding available for appeals, especially for students with compelling financial need. Your determination to pursue education while raising a child is admirable, and schools like UMD generally want to support students in your situation. Keep advocating for yourself - you deserve this opportunity!

I just wanted to chime in as someone who made this way more complicated than it needed to be! When I was filling out my daughter's FAFSA last year, I spent hours trying to figure out how to handle my ex-husband who hasn't been involved financially. Turns out I was overthinking it completely - the FAFSA truly only cares about where your daughter actually lives and who supports her day-to-day. Since she lives with you and your current husband, that's it! One thing that really helped me was thinking of it this way: the FAFSA is trying to figure out what resources are actually available to help pay for college. Your ex isn't providing any resources, so he's not relevant to their calculation. Your current husband is part of your household and willing to help, so his income matters. It's actually pretty logical once you wrap your head around it. You've got this!

I'm also going through this process right now with my stepdaughter and had the same confusion! It's so reassuring to see everyone confirming that you only need to include yourself and your current husband. I was worried because her biological mom hasn't contributed anything in years either, but lives in another state. One thing I learned that might help - if you're using the online FAFSA form, there's actually a "Help and Hints" section that specifically addresses divorced/remarried parent situations. It clearly states that only the custodial parent and their current spouse (if any) need to provide information. Sometimes seeing it directly from the official source helps ease the worry! Also, don't forget to gather all your tax documents and your husband's before you start - having everything ready makes the process much smoother. Good luck!