So glad to hear you got it sorted out! This thread is going to be really helpful for other families dealing with the same issue. The contributor invitation system really has been a nightmare for so many people this year. It's reassuring to know that creating your own FSA ID is a reliable workaround. Hopefully the Department of Education fixes these technical issues before next year's FAFSA cycle!

I'm so relieved to find this thread! I've been in the exact same situation with my daughter's FAFSA - no contributor email for over 3 weeks now. Reading through everyone's experiences here gives me confidence to just go ahead and create my own FSA ID. It's honestly ridiculous that the Department of Education created a system that causes so much unnecessary stress for families during an already overwhelming process. Thank you all for sharing your solutions - this community is invaluable when the official system fails us!

Just completed my son's verification process last week for this exact issue! Here's what worked for us: I created a simple document showing my financial contributions (housing, food, medical expenses, etc.) with approximate values and percentages. I included copies of my custody agreement, medical insurance card showing my son as a beneficiary, and text messages with his other parent discussing financial matters (with sensitive info blacked out). The financial aid office accepted this as proof I provide more than 50% support even though his stepmom claimed him on taxes. The whole process took about 3 weeks.

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now! My daughter is a freshman and we went through this last year. The key thing to remember is that FAFSA dependency and tax dependency are completely separate systems with different rules. What helped me was keeping a simple spreadsheet throughout the year tracking major expenses - things like health insurance premiums, school supplies, clothing, food when she's home, etc. I didn't need exact receipts for everything, but having a general breakdown made the verification process much smoother when it came up. Also, don't stress too much about the verification if it happens. The schools understand that divorced families often have complex financial arrangements, and they're used to working through these situations. Just be honest and provide what they ask for.

I'm dealing with a similar verification nightmare right now! One thing that finally helped me make progress was asking for a "case escalation" rather than just a manual review. When I used that specific phrase, the FSA agent was able to transfer me to a senior specialist who actually had the authority to expedite cases with approaching deadlines. Also, I found it helpful to mention that you're a married student when you call - they have specific protocols for name change verifications that the regular agents don't always know about. Ask them to check if your case has been flagged as a "complex identity verification" which requires different handling. The whole system is definitely overwhelmed this year, but don't give up! Your persistence is going to pay off. Keep documenting everything like others mentioned - it really does help when you finally get the right person on the phone.

I just want to say thank you to everyone who has shared their experiences and advice in this thread! As someone who's also been struggling with FAFSA verification issues (though mine is due to a transcription error on my SSN), reading through all these strategies has given me so much hope and direction. The specific terminology everyone has mentioned - "manual review," "case escalation," "Identity Verification Unit," and "complex identity verification" - is incredibly valuable. I've been using generic language when I call, which probably explains why I keep getting transferred around without any real progress. @Zainab Abdulrahman - it sounds like you have a solid action plan now with all the advice from this thread! I'm rooting for you to get this resolved quickly. Please update us when you make progress - success stories help keep the rest of us motivated to keep pushing through this broken system. Also want to echo what others have said about documenting everything. I started keeping a log after reading these comments and it's already helping me feel more organized and prepared for my next call. The FAFSA verification process is absolutely ridiculous this year, but at least we're all in this together and can share what actually works!

As a newcomer to this community, I want to add my voice to echo what everyone has said - you absolutely did the right thing! I'm actually a social worker who helps families navigate these exact situations, and I see this confusion all the time. Legal guardianship creates a true parent-child relationship for FAFSA purposes, regardless of biology. The fact that your ward receives Medicaid is actually a positive factor that can trigger beneficial calculation methods. I always tell the families I work with to think of the FAFSA household questions as "who do you financially support and provide a home for?" rather than "who is biologically related to you." Your answers were spot-on, and your son is fortunate to have someone so thorough looking out for his educational future. Keep doing what you're doing!

As a newcomer to this community, I just want to say how incredibly helpful this entire discussion has been! I'm currently preparing to fill out the FAFSA for my daughter who starts college in the fall, and we also have legal guardianship of her younger cousin who receives state benefits. I was honestly dreading this part of the FAFSA because I had no idea how to handle the household and benefits questions, but reading through everyone's experiences and advice has completely put my mind at ease. It's amazing to see both personal stories and professional insights all confirming the same thing - that including our ward and indicating their benefits is not only the correct approach but might actually help with the financial aid calculation through the simplified needs test. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences, especially those who work in financial aid and social services. This community is such a valuable resource for parents trying to navigate these complex situations while doing right by all the children in our care!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this stress! As someone who just went through the FAFSA process with my youngest, I can share what worked for us. We had similar login issues and after weeks of frustration, we ended up creating brand new FSA IDs for both of us. Since your daughter is a first-time applicant, this is actually the safest route - no risk of duplicate account issues. A few tips: 1) Create the FSA IDs during off-peak hours (early morning or late evening), 2) Use personal email addresses you'll always have access to, 3) Triple-check that names match exactly what's on your Social Security cards, and 4) Wait 3 full days after creating the IDs before attempting to submit the FAFSA. Also, definitely have your daughter contact her school's financial aid office immediately to explain the situation - most schools are being very flexible with deadlines this year due to the widespread FAFSA problems. You've got this!

I feel for you - this FAFSA rollout has been absolutely brutal! I'm a parent who just finished helping my twin daughters through this process last month, and we faced similar issues. Here's what I learned: the FSA account recovery system is completely overwhelmed and unreliable right now. Given that your daughter is a first-time applicant, I'd strongly recommend creating brand new FSA IDs for both of you. I was hesitant at first too, but it's actually the fastest path forward. Just make sure to use current email addresses you'll always have access to, and be extremely careful that names and SSNs match your Social Security cards exactly - even a middle initial difference can cause delays. The 3-day waiting period after creating new IDs is crucial (learned that the hard way!). Also, most financial aid offices are being very understanding about delays this year - have your daughter call them ASAP to explain the situation. Many schools are quietly extending their priority deadlines due to all the FAFSA chaos. You're not alone in this struggle, and you WILL get through it!