i bet they're just using this as an excuse to delay processing applications again this year!! first they launch the new system late, then all these "technical issues" that conveniently push everything back. FAFSA is such a disaster this year, my kid's college financial aid office told me they're weeks behind on processing because of all these FSA problems

UPDATE: We finally got this resolved! Calling the FSA helpline directly was the key. My husband had to have an agent manually update his account status from "student" to "parent" in their system. Once they did that, he was able to log back in and complete the parent signature section. The whole FAFSA has now been submitted. For anyone else facing this issue - be prepared to wait on hold for a while (we used that Claimyr service someone mentioned and it did help get through faster). Make sure you explain that the system is showing old student aid info instead of parent contributor options. They'll need the student's name and some verification info to make the update.

SUCCESS UPDATE: We finally got it to work! The banner was there when my husband logged in, just like @profile4 mentioned. He clicked it, verified his identity again (for like the 5th time), entered his tax info, and was able to sign his portion. Our application status now shows "Processing" instead of "Action Required." Thank you all for your help - this forum literally saved us thousands in financial aid!

Great to hear! Just a heads up - the "Processing" status typically takes 3-5 business days before you get your SAI calculation. If you filed separately, there's about a 40% chance you'll be selected for verification (compared to about 15% for joint filers), so don't panic if that happens. Just respond promptly with the requested documents. The new FAFSA system actually gives much better explanations of what each document should contain compared to previous years.

did u check if ur phone has the email maybe?? sometimes i miss important stuff cuz it goes to my phone but not my computer for some weird reason

UPDATE: Success! My son deleted the original invitation and resent it to my alternate email address. It showed up within minutes! Already completed my section and now his FAFSA is fully submitted. Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions! For anyone else having this issue, definitely try using a different email address if the resend doesn't work with your primary email.

my niece goes to penn state and she said a lot of people dont know that u can appeal for more summer aid. but you gotta do it quick b4 the term starts!!!! did u try that??

One important detail no one has mentioned: Your 23-24 FAFSA technically covers Fall 2023, Spring 2024, and Summer 2024. If your son received full Pell for Fall and Spring, that would explain the reduced summer amount (hitting that 150% cap others mentioned). For the upcoming 2024-2025 academic year, make sure you've completed the new FAFSA (the simplified one that just launched). If you maintain a 0 SAI (formerly EFC), your son should be eligible for maximum Pell Grant amounts for the regular terms. And definitely check with Penn State about possible summer scholarship options - many schools have specific funds just for summer study that aren't automatically applied.

I remember when i did my first fafsa my dog actually ate my w-2 form (not kidding lol) and i had to call my employer for a new copy which took forever and i almost missed the priority deadline. Make sure you have ALL your documents ready before you start! Also the most confusing part for me was the asset questions because i have a small inheritance from my grandma in a special account and wasn't sure if i needed to include it. Ended up having to call financial aid office at my school to figure it out.

One important thing to remember about your parent needing to be there: technically no, they don't need to be physically present when you complete the FAFSA. However, they DO need to: 1. Have their own FSA ID (which they should create themselves) 2. Provide you with their financial information OR log in themselves to complete the parent portion 3. Electronically sign the FAFSA with their FSA ID Since you mentioned your mom isn't tech-savvy and your dad travels, you have options: - Schedule a specific time to complete it when your chosen parent is available, even if just by phone - Have your parent create their FSA ID in advance, then provide you with the necessary information - Some parents give their child the FSA ID login to complete everything, though this isn't technically allowed since electronic signatures verify that the actual person is signing Most importantly, don't wait until the deadline! The earlier you submit, the better your chances for certain aid programs with limited funding.