UPDATE: I finally got this resolved! For anyone facing the same issue in the future, here's what worked: 1. I tried the edit method first, but it didn't generate a new invitation for my husband 2. Used Claimyr to reach an FSA agent (took about 30 minutes instead of hours) 3. The agent confirmed there's a known bug with parent contributor information disappearing during corrections 4. They had to manually reset something on their end related to my husband's FSA ID association 5. After the reset, we had to wait 24 hours, then my husband was able to log in with his FSA ID and access the application The agent also put in a request to expedite our processing once all information is submitted. Fingers crossed we make the March 1st deadline! Thank you all for your help!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now! My spouse's information also vanished after we made corrections to our daughter's FAFSA. Based on what I've been reading here, it seems like this is a widespread issue with the 2025-26 system. One thing I wanted to add that might help others - if you're still having trouble after trying the edit method, check your email spam/junk folders. Sometimes the system DOES send out the new parent invitation emails, but they get filtered as spam because they're coming from a different server after corrections are processed. Also, for anyone dealing with tight scholarship deadlines, I'd recommend emailing the financial aid offices directly with screenshots showing the technical issues you're experiencing. Many schools are being understanding about FAFSA delays this year and may extend their internal deadlines or work with estimated information. Thanks for sharing your solution @StarSurfer - definitely bookmarking Claimyr for future reference!

UPDATE: Just wanted to thank everyone for the help! I logged in and made the corrections, especially removing our retirement accounts from the assets section. The correction process was actually pretty straightforward. Now fingers crossed for a good SAI number and some decent financial aid packages! This community has been so helpful during this stressful process.

Congratulations on getting through the correction process! That's awesome that you were able to fix the retirement account issue - that probably made a significant difference in your SAI calculation. The waiting period is definitely nerve-wracking, but you've done everything right. Your daughter is lucky to have a parent who cares enough to double-check and make corrections. Wishing you both the best with the financial aid packages! 🤞

ALSO!!!! Make sure your parents are ready to do their part if they need to be contributors!!! My dad took FOREVER to create his account and verify his info and we almost missed a school's priority deadline because of it!!! Don't wait!!!

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who filed early last year - it was absolutely the right choice! I filed my FAFSA in October and received a much better aid package than friends who waited until spring. One thing that really helped me was gathering all my documents beforehand (2023 tax returns, W-2s, bank statements even though they don't matter for FAFSA calculations, etc.) so I could complete it in one sitting. The new system can be glitchy, so having everything ready prevents you from having to start over if you get kicked out mid-application. Also, don't forget to check each of your schools' priority deadlines - some are as early as February 1st!

my nephew did the beta and got rejected for pell grant but my sister said he should of qualified, they had to redo the whole thing and now hes getting the full pell grant. might be worth checking if your SAI looks right

Just to clarify for anyone reading this thread: if you completed the FAFSA during the beta/soft launch period (October-December) and received your SAI calculation, your application IS valid and you do NOT need to resubmit. However, you should: 1. Verify your application status shows "Processed" 2. Check that all selected schools are correctly listed 3. Contact schools to confirm they received your data 4. Make corrections if needed (without starting a new application) If schools say they don't have your data, contact Federal Student Aid directly for assistance.

Update: I finally got through to someone at Federal Student Aid who explained everything. Yes, pensions DO count as income on FAFSA. Since we're using 2023 tax info for the 2025-2026 FAFSA and my husband started receiving his pension in 2024, it won't show up on the initial FAFSA. BUT, she said we should absolutely submit a special circumstances form to each school explaining the new income source. Apparently, this is a really common issue with pensions, retirement distributions, and other income changes. Thanks everyone for your help! Now I'm just worried about how much this will affect his aid packages.

Great update! I'm glad you finally got a clear answer from Federal Student Aid. Just wanted to add that when you're submitting those special circumstances forms, make sure to include documentation of the pension payments (like the 1099-R forms you'll receive) and be very specific about the monthly amount. Also, don't panic too much about the aid impact - many schools are pretty understanding about pension situations, especially for union pensions like UAW. The financial aid officers deal with this scenario frequently and often have ways to account for it that are more favorable than just adding it as straight income. Good luck with your son's college applications!