Can't find parent contribution section after FAFSA student invite - stuck on old application

This happens a lot with the new FAFSA system. Try these steps: 1. Make sure you're using the right FSA ID (yours, not your daughter's) 2. Go directly to studentaid.gov and look for the "Complete a FAFSA form as a contributor" section on your dashboard 3. Check if the invitation expired (they only last 14 days) 4. If none of that works, have your daughter log into her account and resend the invitation If you still can't see it, it might be a caching issue with your browser. Clear ALL browsing data (not just cookies) and try again.

have u tried logging in on ur phone instead? the website is super glitchy on computers sometimes but works on mobile for some reason. happened to me last month.

The same exact thing happened to me!! Turns out my son had to select me specifically as a contributor when he was completing his part. He didn't realize he needed to enter my email and info during his portion to generate the invitation correctly. Have your daughter log back in and check if she properly added you as a contributor. She might need to go back to the parent/contributor section of HER application and verify your information was entered correctly.

I had this EXACT problem. What worked for me was logging out completely, clearing cache, and then clicking the link in the email again. But most importantly - don't click "Get Started" in the email! Instead, click the actual lengthy URL that should be in the email below the button. Sometimes the button redirects wrong but the actual URL works. The whole system is a mess this year with the redesign.

What you're experiencing is actually a known issue with the contributor portion of the 2025-2026 FAFSA. The system sometimes fails to properly link the contributor invitation to your existing FSA ID. Here's what you need to do: 1. Have your daughter log in and verify she entered your correct email address 2. Ask her to check the contributor status - if it shows "Invited" but not "Started" or "Completed," she should delete your contributor information and re-add you 3. Once she sends a new invitation, wait at least 30 minutes before attempting to access it 4. Use the direct URL in the email instead of the button 5. If you still encounter issues, you may need to contact Federal Student Aid directly The new FAFSA design is causing significant confusion for many families this application cycle, especially with the contributor section.

If u still cant get it worked out, try using Claimyr to reach a FAFSA agent directly. I was stuck in the same situation for 2 weeks trying to access my son's FAFSA as a contributor. After trying everything online, I used Claimyr (claimyr.com) and actually got through to a person at Federal Student Aid in about 10 minutes instead of waiting on hold forever. They fixed something on the backend of my account that was preventing the contributor section from appearing. Check out their demo video to see how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ

THE ENTIRE FAFSA SYSTEM IS COMPLETELY BROKEN THIS YEAR!!! I've been trying for THREE MONTHS to complete my twins' applications. Called FSA 8 TIMES! They keep telling me different things every time. One rep says it's a browser issue, another blames it on my FSA ID, another says to wait 48 hours for system updates. NOBODY KNOWS WHAT THEY'RE DOING!! This redesign is the worst thing ever. My kids might lose scholarships because of this disaster. I'm beyond furious.

UPDATE: We figured it out! The problem was that my daughter had accidentally listed my ex-husband as the only contributor, not me. When she logged into her account, she was able to add me as an additional contributor, and I immediately received a new invitation email. This time when I clicked the direct URL (not the button), it took me right to the contributor section! We're halfway through completing it now. Thanks everyone for your help!

Excellent! For anyone else reading this thread with similar issues, here's a summary of the solution: 1. The student must correctly add each parent/contributor with the exact email associated with their FSA ID 2. Contributors should use the direct URL in the email rather than the "Get Started" button 3. If problems persist, have the student remove and re-add the contributor 4. Clear browser cache and cookies before attempting access 5. Try using the mobile app if the desktop site isn't working The 2025-2026 FAFSA has several known issues with the contributor invitation system, but most can be resolved with these steps.

Just wanted to add another tip that helped me last week - if you're still having trouble after trying all these solutions, check if your daughter accidentally used her school email instead of your personal email when adding you as a contributor. My son did this and I kept looking for the invitation in the wrong inbox! Also, some email providers (especially corporate ones) automatically send these FSA emails to spam folders, so definitely check there too. The subject line is usually something like "Complete your FAFSA form as a contributor" so search for that specifically.

As someone who just went through this nightmare with my oldest last month, I'm so glad you got it resolved! One additional tip for future reference - if you ever need to make changes to your contributor information after submitting, you'll need to contact your daughter's school's financial aid office directly rather than trying to do it through the FAFSA system. The new interface doesn't handle corrections very well. Also, keep screenshots of your completed sections just in case there are any processing delays or glitches later. The whole system feels like it's still in beta testing honestly, but at least you made it through! Good luck with the rest of the process.

So glad you were able to get this resolved! This thread is going to be super helpful for other parents dealing with the same issue. I'm bookmarking this for when my younger son applies next year. It's honestly ridiculous how many technical problems this "simplified" FAFSA has caused, but at least there's a community here to help each other figure out the workarounds. Hope the rest of your daughter's application process goes smoothly and she gets into her top choice school!