Just wanted to follow up - did you get this resolved? I'm helping several families with the same issue and curious which solution ended up working for you.

Glad to hear you got it resolved! This contributor visibility issue seems to be one of the most common problems with the new FAFSA system. For anyone else still struggling with this, here are the key takeaways from this thread: 1. The issue affects about 7% of applications according to the Department of Education 2. The most effective solution seems to be calling FSA and asking them to completely remove and re-add the contributor (may need supervisor approval) 3. Contact your school's financial aid office immediately to document the issue and request deadline extensions 4. Check if your contributor has multiple FSA IDs tied to different emails 5. Try looking under "Messages" instead of "Activities" on the contributor's account The new FAFSA rollout has definitely been rough, but it's encouraging to see schools being understanding about deadline extensions for these technical issues. Don't give up - keep pushing for that supervisor escalation if the first agent can't help!

my cousin had this problem too and IT TOOK FOREVR to fix. glad u got it working!!! the new FAFSA is such a mess lol

So glad you got it resolved! This is such a common issue this year - I'm a financial aid counselor and we've been seeing this exact problem with contributor invitations constantly. The browser cache clearing + going directly to the site instead of using email links seems to fix it about 80% of the time. For anyone else reading this thread, another tip is to make sure the contributor's personal information (name, SSN, etc.) in their FSA ID profile exactly matches what the student put on their FAFSA - even small differences can cause the invitation to not show up properly. Thanks for posting the update, it'll definitely help other students dealing with this frustrating issue!

UPDATE: My nephew went to the financial aid office this morning and they were incredibly helpful! They're processing an emergency aid package that will cover his first semester while we sort out the FAFSA issues. They also helped him call FSA using their direct line, and it turns out his paper application was received but had been flagged for additional verification because of the missing SSN. The financial aid staff are helping expedite this process. THANK YOU all for your advice - especially about going directly to the financial aid office. They really did have solutions we didn't know about!

This is such a relief to hear! Your nephew is so lucky to have you advocating for him through this stressful situation. The emergency aid package is a perfect solution while waiting for the FAFSA mess to get sorted out. It's really encouraging to see how the financial aid office stepped up - they deal with these SSN contributor issues way more than most people realize. Hopefully this will help other students in similar situations know that there ARE options available even when the federal system seems to be failing them. Best of luck with the rest of the process!

FINAL UPDATE: Got it working! For anyone else having this issue, here's what ended up fixing it: 1. Had my nephew remove me as a contributor 2. Made sure my FSA ID was fully verified (it wasn't!) 3. Had him add me again with EXACTLY the same email as my FSA ID 4. Used Chrome instead of Safari 5. Turned off my VPN Now I can see all the questions and am working through my section. Thanks everyone for your help!

I've been helping families with FAFSA issues all year as a financial aid counselor. The parent contributor section has been particularly problematic. A few technical notes that might help others: - The SAI (Student Aid Index) calculation *requires* complete parent information for dependent students, so this section is critical - The new FAFSA system sometimes doesn't properly sync contributor data to the main application for 24-48 hours - Some schools are extending their priority deadlines because of these widespread FAFSA issues - If all technical solutions fail, contact your student's financial aid office directly - many are accepting alternative documentation

I think everyone should be calling Congress about these ridiculous college costs instead of going into debt! In the 80s my parents paid my tuition from their regular salaries. Now we're all talking about taking out MASSIVE loans like it's normal. It's not normal!!!

As someone who works in financial aid administration, I want to add a few key points that might help with your decision: 1. **Appeal Process**: Definitely call the financial aid office as others suggested, but also submit a formal appeal in writing if your family's financial situation has changed since filing FAFSA (job loss, medical expenses, etc.). Many schools have additional institutional aid they can award through appeals. 2. **State-specific programs**: Check if your state offers any grant programs for residents attending in-state schools that you might have missed. Some have later deadlines or supplemental applications. 3. **Payment plan options**: Many schools offer interest-free monthly payment plans that can help spread costs over 10-12 months instead of taking loans. This might reduce how much you need to borrow. 4. **Tax benefits**: Don't forget about the American Opportunity Tax Credit (up to $2,500/year) and potential state tax deductions for college expenses - these can offset some costs. Given your situation, I'd suggest: maximize her Direct loans first ($5,500), explore private loans with you as cosigner for better rates, and use Parent PLUS only as a last resort due to the higher rates and fees. The key is keeping total debt reasonable across all four years - engineering programs often require 5 years, so plan accordingly!