Another tip: GET THE MOBILE APP!! Both of you! It makes connecting accounts so much easier. I tried doing everything through the website last year and it was a disaster. The app walks you through everything step by step. Trust me on this.

As someone just starting this process with my daughter, this thread has been incredibly helpful! I had no idea about the separate account requirement and was about to make the same mistake of trying to use my old account for everything. Quick question - when you mention the mobile app, is that the "Federal Student Aid" app or something else? I want to make sure I download the right one. Also, @Liam Fitzgerald, thanks for explaining the SAI changes - I hadn't heard about those updates and it sounds like they could actually benefit some families compared to the old EFC system.

For those worried about deadlines: I work at a university financial aid office, and I can confirm that most schools are aware of these system issues. If your school has a February deadline, you should email their financial aid office explaining the situation. Most institutions will grant extensions when FAFSA has system-wide issues like this. Just make sure to document your attempts to access the system (screenshots with dates/times can help).

I'm having the exact same issue! Been trying since Monday and the sign-in button is completely unresponsive. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences and solutions here. I'm going to try disabling my adblocker like Logan suggested, and I'll definitely reach out to my school's financial aid office tomorrow morning to let them know about the situation. It's reassuring to hear from Mila that most schools are understanding about these technical issues. Fingers crossed it's working again by 9pm tonight like Ethan mentioned!

This thread is so helpful! As someone who's about to start this process with my youngest, I'm bookmarking all these solutions. Quick question - for those who had to call FSA, about how long did the actual fix take once you got through to an agent? My daughter's application deadline is coming up fast and I want to know if this is something that can be resolved in one call or if it requires multiple follow-ups.

Thanks for this detailed thread! I'm going through the exact same issue with my son right now. The "account already established" error is driving me crazy. Based on what I'm reading here, it sounds like the PSAT connection might be our problem too - he definitely created some kind of College Board account for testing. I'm going to try the Claimyr service to get through to FSA and see if they can merge accounts like they did for Andre's daughter. Really appreciate everyone sharing their solutions - this community is a lifesaver!

my daughters fasfa got rejected 3 times before it went thru... make sure u answer the drug conviction question right. thats what kept flagging ours even tho she has no convictions we kept missing that question somehow

This exact same thing happened to us! My son and I were both logged in at the same time working on different sections, and when I submitted the parent portion, it somehow triggered the whole application to submit without his signature. We were so confused when we got that rejection email. Thankfully we were able to fix it by having him log back in with his FSA ID and complete the signature process. The new FAFSA system definitely has some coordination issues when multiple people are working on it simultaneously. For anyone else dealing with this - make sure to coordinate who submits when, or better yet, complete it together on one device to avoid this glitch!

Just wanted to share my experience as someone who went through this exact situation last year! My daughter's SSDI benefits from her father's disability ended halfway through her freshman year, and I was panicking about the same things you're dealing with. Here's what actually happened: I reported the full 2023 disability payments under her untaxed income on the FAFSA (around $11,760 for the year). Then immediately after she was accepted to her colleges, I contacted each financial aid office with a letter explaining the benefits would end in April and included the SSA termination notice. 4 out of 5 schools adjusted her aid package to account for the lost income, which actually INCREASED her aid eligibility for sophomore year. One school was less helpful, but the others were really understanding about the situation. The key is being proactive - don't wait for them to figure it out. Also, save copies of EVERYTHING because you'll likely need to provide the same documentation again when you file next year's FAFSA. You've got this! The process seems overwhelming but once you get through it the first time, it becomes much clearer.

As a newcomer to this community, I'm finding this thread incredibly valuable! I'm actually dealing with a similar situation but with a twist - my daughter receives both SSDI from her father's disability AND SSI benefits that she qualifies for on her own due to her autism. The SSI will continue through college, but the SSDI from her dad stops when she turns 18 next fall. From reading all these responses, it sounds like I need to report both types of benefits under her untaxed income section, but I'm wondering if anyone has experience with reporting multiple types of disability benefits? Do they all go in the same category or are there different sections for SSDI vs SSI? Also, @Carmen Vega, your experience gives me so much hope! It's reassuring to know that schools can be understanding about these transitions. I was worried that having disability benefits would hurt her chances, but it sounds like being proactive with documentation is key. Thank you all for sharing your experiences - this community is such a lifesaver for navigating these complex situations!