FAFSA application requires separate FSA IDs for parents and students?

Yes, both you and your son need separate FSA IDs - this is a security requirement for the 2025-2026 FAFSA. Your son creates his own FSA ID as the student, and you create yours as the contributor (parent). The verification process is usually quick if all information matches Social Security Administration records. Most people get verified instantly or within 1-3 days. Since your son is 17, his verification may take slightly longer because of limited credit history, but it should still process successfully. Important tip: Use different email addresses for each FSA ID (yours and your son's). Also, make sure all personal information (name, DOB, SSN) matches EXACTLY what's on your Social Security cards.

yep me and both my kids needed separate FSA ids last yr. annoying but not a big deal tbh

The FSA ID system is honestly such a headache!!! I had to help my daughter with this last month, and YES, you both need separate accounts. The most frustrating part was that after we created her FSA ID, it took FIVE DAYS for verification to complete! The website said 1-3 days but that was NOT true in our case. Meanwhile, mine was verified within hours. And watch out - if ANY information doesn't match EXACTLY with Social Security records (even a hyphen in a last name or slight spelling difference), you'll get stuck in verification limbo and have to call! I recommend creating both FSA IDs at least two weeks before you plan to submit the FAFSA. Don't wait until the last minute like we did!

To answer your specific questions: 1. Yes, both the student and the parent/contributor need their own FSA IDs for the 2025-2026 FAFSA. 2. The verification process for FSA IDs is typically automatic and happens in the background - it's matching your information with Social Security Administration records. Most people are verified within minutes, though some cases take 1-3 days. 3. For students with limited credit history, the process works a bit differently but still usually completes successfully. The system has accommodations for minors. 4. You can actually start filling out parts of the FAFSA while verification is pending, but you cannot submit until verification is complete. 5. Make sure to use different email addresses and phone numbers for each FSA ID. I've helped dozens of families through this process as a financial aid advisor, and while it seems complicated, it's actually quite manageable once you get started.

I was so confused by this too!!! The whole FSA ID thing is NOT explained well anywhere on the studentaid.gov site. My daughter and I went through this in December, and YES you absolutely both need separate FSA IDs. It's super annoying but apparently it's for security reasons. For what it's worth, both our IDs were verified almost instantly, so I think the horror stories about long waits might not be typical? But definitely don't wait until the last minute just in case! One weird thing that happened - we got an email saying her verification failed, but when we logged in it showed as verified! So definitely double-check by actually logging in rather than just relying on email notifications.

If ur worried about verification taking too long try Claimyr (claimyr.com). I waited 2 weeks for my son's FSA ID to verify and kept getting errors. Used Claimyr to reach an actual person at Federal Student Aid and they fixed it in ONE phone call. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ Totally worth it to avoid missing deadlines. Just having a real human look at our application made all the difference.

You 100% both need separate FSA IDs, and I STRONGLY recommend creating them NOW even if you're not planning to fill out the FAFSA right away. My son and I both created ours last month, and while mine verified immediately, his got stuck in some kind of verification loop. We had to upload additional documentation (his birth certificate and Social Security card) and it still took another week to resolve. Also important - when you create the FSA IDs, write down the date of birth, Social Security number, and name EXACTLY as you entered them. Even tiny differences like using a middle initial vs. full middle name can cause problems later. Don't ask me how I know this... 😫

Just to provide some additional information: The 2025-2026 FAFSA requires multi-factor authentication for all FSA IDs as an added security measure. This means both you and your son will need to provide a phone number or email address where you can receive a verification code each time you log in. And for verification timing: While most accounts are verified quickly, I always tell families to create their FSA IDs at least 7-10 days before they plan to submit the FAFSA, just to be safe. Some state and institutional priority deadlines come earlier than you might expect (some as early as February for the following fall), so planning ahead is crucial.

when i made fsas for me n my twins last yr ONE of them got verified instantly, ONE took 2 days, and MINE took a week!!! makes no sense lol. but ya everyone needs their own id thats just how it works now

Since a few people have mentioned verification delays, I want to clarify that there are two different types of "verification" being discussed here: 1. FSA ID verification - This is the process of confirming your identity when you first create an FSA ID. This usually takes minutes to a few days. 2. FAFSA verification - This is completely different and happens AFTER you submit your FAFSA. About 30% of FAFSA applications are selected for this more intensive verification process. For your immediate question about FSA IDs: Yes, both you and your son need separate FSA IDs before starting the FAFSA. You can begin creating the FAFSA application while waiting for FSA ID verification to complete, but you won't be able to sign and submit until both IDs are fully verified. Hope this helps clarify the process!