Can't log in as parent contributor on FAFSA - 'unable to complete action' error message

Yes you need ur own fsa id. each parent contributor needs separate login now with the new system

With the new FAFSA simplification process, each contributor (including parents) must have their own FSA ID to access and complete their portion. The system no longer allows for shared access or temporary access codes like the old system did. Here's what you need to do: 1. Go to studentaid.gov/fsa-id/create-account 2. Create your own FSA ID with your personal information 3. Make sure to use YOUR email and phone (not your daughter's) 4. Once created, wait about 10 minutes for the system to process 5. Then try clicking the contributor link in your email again The error message you're seeing is common when trying to access the parent portion without having your own FSA ID first. This is a security measure in the new system to protect everyone's personal financial information.

omg same thing happened to me!!! i spent 3 hours trying to figure it out and kept getting that stupid error. why don't they just TELL US in the email we need our own id???? so frustrating

To answer your follow-up question - once you create your FSA ID, the system will automatically connect your contribution to your daughter's application when you use the link in the email. Make sure you're using the exact same email address where you received the invitation. Also important: after creating your FSA ID, you'll need to wait for your information to be verified with the Social Security Administration which can take 1-3 days. However, you CAN still log in and complete your portion while verification is pending - just be aware you might need to verify some information again later if there are any discrepancies. The most common mistake parents make is rushing through the FSA ID creation and entering information that doesn't exactly match their Social Security records. Take your time with this step!

I had the EXACT same problem last month and found out the hard way that the system times out if you wait too long between creating your FSA ID and trying to access the contributor section. If you keep getting errors even after creating your FSA ID, try this: 1. Ask your daughter to log into her FAFSA account 2. Have her go to the contributor section 3. Have her regenerate/resend the invitation to you 4. Use the NEW link in the fresh email This worked for me after much frustration. The old link in the original email seemed to expire or something.

Ugh I spent HOURS trying to call Federal Student Aid about this exact problem last month! Their phone system is awful - I kept getting disconnected after waiting for like 40 minutes each time! I finally found this service called Claimyr that got me through to an actual person at FSA who solved my problem in minutes. You might want to check out their video at https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ if you need to talk to someone at FSA. Their website is claimyr.com - saved me so much time and frustration when dealing with these technical glitches.

One more important tip - when you create your FSA ID, make sure you're not using any password manager auto-fill functions. The new FAFSA system has some strange conflicts with password managers and can cause the "unable to complete action" error. Also, use a personal email rather than a work email, as some employer email servers block the verification emails.

this whole FAFSA redesign is a DISASTER! my daughter couldn't get her SAI for TWO MONTHS because of these exact tech issues. missed scholarship deadlines because of it. absolute garbage system that was clearly never properly tested before launch. good luck!

UPDATE: I got everything figured out! For anyone else having this issue: 1. You MUST create your own FSA ID first at studentaid.gov before trying to access the parent portion 2. Use the same email address where you received the contributor invitation 3. After creating your FSA ID, wait about 15 minutes before trying the link in the email 4. If that still doesn't work, have your student regenerate the invitation Thanks everyone for your help! My section is now complete and she can submit her final application.

Great to see you got it working! Just wanted to add for future readers that if you're still having issues after following all these steps, try clearing your browser cache and cookies before attempting to log in with your new FSA ID. I had a similar problem where old session data was interfering with the new login process. Also, make sure you're not using any VPN services as the FSA system sometimes flags those as suspicious activity. The whole process really is unnecessarily confusing, but once you get through it, the actual parent contribution section is pretty straightforward to complete.

As someone who just went through this nightmare last month, I feel your pain! The new FAFSA system is so poorly designed when it comes to communicating what parents need to do. Here's what saved me after wasting hours on this: 1. Create your FSA ID at studentaid.gov/fsa-id/create-account BEFORE clicking any links 2. Use YOUR personal email (not your daughter's) and make sure it matches exactly what she put when adding you as a contributor 3. Wait at least 10-15 minutes after creating the FSA ID before trying to access anything 4. If you're still getting errors, have your daughter log into her FAFSA and resend the contributor invitation - sometimes the original links get corrupted The "unable to complete action" error almost always means you're trying to access the parent section without having your own FSA ID set up first. It's such a basic thing but nowhere in their emails do they clearly explain this! Once you get your FSA ID created and verified, everything should work smoothly. Don't give up - your daughter's aid depends on getting this done!