FAFSA email conflict with ex-husband's account - can't create my own FSA ID

just use a diffrent email address?? thats what i did when my yahoo account got messed up

This is actually a common issue after divorce situations. You'll need to contact Federal Student Aid directly to resolve the email conflict. They can unlink your email from your ex-husband's account, but you'll both need to verify your identities separately. You should also know that for the 2025-26 FAFSA, you'll need to be listed as a contributor on your daughter's application. The new FAFSA requires information from the parent with primary custody and possibly your ex-husband too, depending on your custody arrangement and financial support details.

I had the exact same issue with my ex-wife's email. Called FSA about 50 times and could never get through. Finally found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an actual FSA agent in about 15 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ The agent was able to unlink my email and help me create a new FSA ID. Saved me weeks of frustration.

Professional financial aid counselor here. This email/account conflict is one of the most common issues we see with the new FAFSA. Here's what you need to do: 1. Contact FSA to unlink your email (1-800-433-3243) 2. Request a "contributor record disassociation" 3. After your email is freed up, create a new FSA ID 4. Have your daughter list you as a contributor on her FAFSA 5. Complete your portion of the financial information Because you have primary custody, you're considered the contributing parent for FAFSA purposes under the new SAI formula. Your ex-husband may still need to provide information if he provides substantial financial support. Also, if you're having trouble reaching FSA by phone (very common), try calling right when they open at 8am ET or use their live chat feature on studentaid.gov.

I went thru something similar last year and it was a total headache!! What fixed it for me was: 1) Called FSA like 20 times before finally getting someone 2) Had to provide all kinds of identity proof 3) They "reset" something on their end 4) Had to wait 3 days before creating new account The most annoying part was my ex didn't even remember using my email!!! But somehow it was in their system. Honestly the whole FAFSA process is designed to make parents lose their minds lol. Good luck!

Just to add some clarity on the contributor setup for 2025-26 FAFSA: - The student initiates the FAFSA and adds contributors (parents/stepparents) - Each contributor completes their section separately with their own FSA ID - The system calculates the Student Aid Index (SAI) based on all contributor information So once you resolve this email issue and create your FSA ID, make sure your daughter adds you as a contributor in her FAFSA portal. This new process actually makes it easier for divorced parents because you don't have to coordinate completing the form together - each contributor does their part independently.

My advice? Start calling FSA at 7:58am ET EXACTLY when they open. That's the only time I've ever gotten through without waiting for hours. And have ALL your documents ready - social, ID, tax returns, everything. They will verify every detail before they'll help with account issues. The whole system is ridiculous for divorced parents!!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now! My ex and I divorced 2 years ago and I just discovered he somehow used my email when he set up his FSA ID back in 2019. I had no idea until I tried to help my son with his FAFSA this year. One thing I learned from FSA customer service (after finally getting through) is that you should also check if your ex has your SSN linked to his account somehow. Apparently some people accidentally enter their spouse's info when creating accounts and it can cause even more complications down the line. They had to verify I wasn't him by asking detailed questions about my employment history and previous addresses. Also, make sure your daughter knows this might delay her application a bit - but colleges are usually understanding about technical issues with FAFSA, especially divorce-related ones. Most have seen this before and will work with you on deadlines if you can show you're actively trying to resolve it.

I'm going through this exact same nightmare right now! Been divorced for 2 years and just found out my ex somehow has my email tied to his FSA ID. The most frustrating part is that I can't even remember him ever using my email for anything financial, but here we are. What's been working for me so far: I called FSA at exactly 8:00 AM ET on Monday and actually got through after about 20 minutes on hold (miracle!). The agent was super helpful once I explained it was a divorce situation. They walked me through something called an "account separation request" and said it should take 3-5 business days to process. Pro tip: Have your divorce decree ready when you call. They asked for the case number and date to help verify that you should have separate accounts. Also make sure you know what year your ex might have created his account - they asked me about that too. Hang in there - I know it's stressful with college deadlines looming, but from what I've been told, this is way more common than we think and the FSA agents are pretty experienced with fixing it once you get someone on the phone.