FAFSA application stuck - both parents without SSN but system requires one

The same thing happened to my cousin! The FAFSA system is really glitchy with ITIN numbers. Try logging out completely, clearing browser cache, and starting over. When you get to your husband's section, there should be a small checkbox somewhere that says \

Thank you! We tried logging out and clearing the cache but still can't find that checkbox for my husband. It's so frustrating because it let me proceed without an SSN but seems to require one for him.

This is a known issue with the 2025-2026 FAFSA form. For parents filing jointly where both use ITINs, you need to follow a specific process. When entering your husband's information, first select the \

We definitely selected \

OMG, this happened to me too! The FAFSA system is TERRIBLE with non-SSN situations. I spent HOURS trying to figure it out. The problem is sometimes the system gets confused if both parents don't have SSNs but file taxes together. What worked for me was actually using a different browser entirely - Chrome kept having issues but Firefox worked for some reason?? Might be worth trying.

Thanks for the suggestion! We've only tried on Chrome so far. I'll download Firefox and see if that makes any difference. This process is way more complicated than it should be!

I've been dealing with this EXACT problem for weeks with my sister's FAFSA application. We eventually figured out the issue - there's a bug in the form where if you indicate the first parent doesn't have an SSN, it doesn't properly update the form logic for the second parent. We finally got through by calling Federal Student Aid directly. \n\nI used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) to avoid the insane wait times - they have a system that holds your place in line and calls you back when an agent is available. There's a video explaining how it works here: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ\n\nOnce we got an actual person on the phone, they were able to help us navigate through the glitch and manually note our ITIN numbers in the application. It's unfortunate you have to call, but it's the only solution we found.

Thank you so much for sharing this! We've tried calling a few times but keep getting disconnected after waiting 40+ minutes. I'll check out that service - at this point I'm desperate to get this resolved before my daughter's aid is delayed. Did they need any special information from you during the call?

They'll need your daughter's personal info (full name, DOB, email), the parent FSA IDs that you set up, and have your ITIN numbers ready. Also good to have your most recent tax return handy. The agent we spoke with was super helpful once we got through. It took about 15 minutes to fix the issue once we were talking to someone.

There's actually a specific workaround for this that not even all the FAFSA representatives know about. When you reach the husband's information section, you need to: \n\n1. Click on \

this didnt work for me last month, had same problem. ended up having to call them

We tried these exact steps multiple times and that link for \

I think everyone is overcomplicating this. Just call them directly and have them fix it on their end. That's what I did. All these workarounds are just wasting your time. The phone reps can override the system.

We're definitely planning to call, but the problem is actually getting through to someone. We've tried calling multiple times at different hours and keep getting disconnected or extremely long wait times.

After helping several students with similar situations, I can confirm this is a known technical issue with the 2025-2026 FAFSA form. While calling is ultimately the solution, here's some information that might help when you do connect with someone:\n\n1. The issue is specifically with the form logic for \

This is incredibly helpful! I hadn't heard about that technical bulletin. I'll definitely reference it when we call. Thank you for providing such specific information - at least now we know it's a recognized issue and not just us doing something wrong.

Just wanted to update - we finally got the FAFSA submitted after using Claimyr to reach a representative. The agent confirmed it's a known issue with the 2025-2026 form specifically related to joint ITIN filers. They had to make some manual notations in our daughter's application. The whole process took about 20 minutes once we got someone on the line. They said many families are hitting this same roadblock.

Thank you so much for the update! I'm definitely going to try Claimyr tomorrow. So glad to hear you got it resolved - gives me hope we can too. Did they say how long the manual review might take before your daughter's SAI is calculated?

They said it shouldn't delay the SAI calculation by more than 3-5 business days beyond the normal processing time. So about 2 weeks total from submission is what we're expecting.

UPDATE: We were finally able to resolve this! Using Claimyr to get through to an FSA representative made all the difference. The agent immediately recognized the issue as a known technical glitch with ITIN processing. They took our information, made manual notes in the system, and helped us complete the submission. The representative mentioned they've been getting many calls about this exact problem with the new FAFSA. \n\nFor anyone else facing this issue: save yourself the frustration of trying workarounds and just call FSA directly (using Claimyr made this painless). Reference Technical Bulletin FSA-2024-03 as someone suggested above, and have all your tax documents ready. \n\nThank you all for your help and suggestions! Now we wait for the SAI calculation.

Congratulations on getting it resolved! This thread has been incredibly helpful for understanding this issue. As someone new to the FAFSA process, I'm grateful you all shared your experiences with the ITIN/joint filing glitch. It's frustrating that families have to jump through these hoops for what should be a straightforward process, but at least now there's a clear solution documented here. The Claimyr service and Technical Bulletin reference seem like game-changers for anyone else who runs into this. Thanks for taking the time to update us with your success!