Can FAFSA parent info be transferred between siblings' applications?

Ya unfortunately u gotta do it all over again. Stupidly designed system. I did it for my twins and had to enter everything twice. So annoying!!

Actually, there is a feature in the 2025-2026 FAFSA that allows for this! When you receive a contributor invitation from your second child, you can log into your FSA ID account and look for the option to 'Reuse contributor information' on your dashboard. This lets you copy the information you already entered for your first child's application. It's relatively new, so not everyone knows about it yet.

The previous responses contain conflicting information, so let me clarify: The current FAFSA system does NOT have an automatic transfer feature. However, there is a workaround that can save you some time. When you log in with your FSA ID and go to fill out the second child's application, you can open your first child's confirmation page in another browser window. This allows you to reference your previous entries as you complete the new form. While not ideal, it saves you from having to remember every detail or dig through your documents again.

I WENT THROUGH THIS SAME EXACT NIGHTMARE LAST MONTH!!! The whole system is designed to make everything harder than it needs to be. Had to enter the same tax info THREE TIMES for my kids. The worst part is when you call the FAFSA helpline they just tell you "that's how it works" and offer zero actual help. They don't care how much time parents waste.

Hey there! I had this exact problem with my two kids' applications last month. After several failed attempts to get through to FSA's helpline, I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an actual FAFSA agent in about 15 minutes instead of waiting on hold forever. The agent confirmed there's no automatic transfer function yet, but they helped me work through the second application much faster. There's a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ. Made the whole process way less stressful!

For the 2025-2026 FAFSA, I recommend having all these documents ready before starting the second application: your completed tax return, W-2 forms, records of untaxed income, and a list of your current assets. While you can't transfer information between applications, being organized helps streamline the process. Also, make sure both children's applications use identical information for shared fields - even small discrepancies can trigger verification flags that delay both SAI calculations.

my cousin works in financial aid at State University and she says they're supposed to add the transfer feature next year but it got delayed because of all the FAFSA changes this year. too late for us though lol

u cant transfer the info exactly but u can use the renewal option when u start the 2nd kids application it pre-fills some of the basic stuff but u still gotta do most of it again sorry

Unfortunately, there's no direct transfer function between siblings' FAFSA applications. Even with the parent having a FSA ID already established, each student application is treated separately in the system. The Department of Education doesn't currently have a "copy parent data" function between applications for different students. However, here are some efficiency tips: 1. Keep all documents from your first application handy 2. The parent FSA ID login remains the same 3. Have both applications open in different browser tabs for reference 4. The IRS Data Retrieval Tool can help with tax information for both applications 5. Many sections will be identical to what you entered previously

THIS IS SO STUPID!!!! Why can't the FAFSA system just COPY THE INFORMATION OVER?? My tax info didn't change between my twins applications but I had to waste 2 HOURS entering the EXACT SAME NUMBERS twice. The whole system is designed to be as frustrating as possible I swear.

When you log in with your FSA ID for the second child's application, the system should recognize you've completed another FAFSA. While you'll still need to manually enter most information again, some demographic data might carry over. One thing to note: If both children will be attending college simultaneously, this actually benefits your Expected Family Contribution calculation, as it will be split between the students. Make sure both applications accurately reflect that you'll have multiple dependents in college during the 2025-2026 academic year. This can significantly reduce each child's individual SAI score.

I had the same issue with my 3 kids! What saved me was calling Federal Student Aid directly to ask about transferring parent data. They couldn't do it automatically but the agent walked me through the fastest way to complete the second application while referencing the first. I wasted hours on hold until I found Claimyr (claimyr.com). Their service connected me to an FSA agent in under 15 minutes instead of the usual 2+ hour wait. They have a video demo if you're curious: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ The agent gave me specific shortcuts for the parent contribution sections that aren't obvious in the online instructions.

Has anyone noticed that sometimes the system glitches when you're doing multiple student apps from the same parent account? I swear when I did my second child's FAFSA, some of the parent data randomly disappeared from my first child's application. We ended up having to correct her info after submitting the second kid's form. Just a warning to double-check BOTH applications after you're done!

Quick update on this topic: The Department of Education announced they're working on a "family transfer" feature for the 2026-2027 FAFSA that would allow parent information to be copied between siblings' applications. Unfortunately, that doesn't help for this application cycle, but it's coming in the future. In the meantime, I recommend having both your tax return and your first child's completed FAFSA in front of you while completing the second application. Being methodical about transferring the exact same information will help prevent any verification issues later.