FAFSA missing signature error despite everyone signing - greyed out button problem

This is happening to a lot of people with the new FAFSA. The system has serious bugs with the signature verification process. You need to call FSA directly at 1-800-4-FED-AID and specifically ask for a "signature override." They can manually verify your identity and mark the signatures as complete in their system. Make sure to mention you already signed it in January and the button is now greyed out. They can reset it on their end.

same thing happened to me!!! so annoying. been waiting since jan 12 and now this signature nonsense. the whole new system is garbage

The signature errors are usually caused by one of these issues: 1. SSN/name mismatch with Social Security records 2. Different FSA IDs were used than the ones registered on the application 3. The new FAFSA system glitched during submission (VERY common this year) You should definitely call, but be prepared to wait 2-3 hours or get disconnected. I recommend calling right when they open at 8am Eastern.

I had this problem too with my son's FAFSA. The signature button was greyed out and it took me 3 days of calling to finally get someone who could help. They had to do a manual override in their system. Make sure you have all your FSA ID information and be ready to answer identity verification questions when you call.

I gave up trying to call the Federal Student Aid number after getting disconnected five times and waiting hours. I used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through - they hold your place in line and call you when an agent is ready. Saved me so much frustration and got my signature issue fixed in one call. Check out their demo: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ

Financial aid advisor here. The signature issue is one of the most common problems with the 2025-2026 FAFSA. When both a parent and student have signed, but the system still shows a missing signature, it's usually because of data verification issues in the backend. The fastest resolution is to call Federal Student Aid, but you should also immediately contact your school's financial aid office. They can often place a note on your file indicating that you're actively resolving a FAFSA system error, which can prevent you from missing priority deadlines while this gets fixed.

It's probably an issue with the contributor permissions. The new FAFSA is different from previous years and requires specific permissions for each contributor. Did you add yourself as a contributor with editing permissions or just viewing permissions? Also, sometimes the system doesn't correctly link the FSA IDs even if you both signed it. You might need to remove yourself as a contributor and add yourself back with full permissions before trying to sign again.

After you get this fixed, make sure to check your SAI (Student Aid Index) calculation. Many people are finding errors in the calculation after signature issues get resolved. The system sometimes drops income information or miscalculates the contribution amounts when there have been submission errors.

my daughter got an acceptance packet from her school yesterday even though her fafsa still shows as incomplete with the signature thing! schools know the system is messed up and some are being flexible

I'm dealing with this exact same issue! My son's FAFSA has been stuck with the signature error for 3 weeks now. I called the FSA hotline and they told me it's a "known system issue" affecting thousands of applications. The rep said they're working on a batch fix, but couldn't give me a timeline. In the meantime, she suggested I contact each school directly with our confirmation number and explain the situation. Most schools are apparently creating exception lists for students affected by this bug. It's so stressful when you've done everything right and the system just fails you!

This signature glitch is such a nightmare! I'm a parent who went through something similar last month. Here's what finally worked for me: I cleared my browser cache completely, logged out of my FSA ID, then logged back in using a different browser (switched from Chrome to Firefox). Sometimes the signature button becomes ungreyed when you access it from a fresh browser session. If that doesn't work, definitely try the contributor removal/re-adding suggestion someone mentioned above - that actually fixed it for my neighbor. Also, when you do call FSA, ask specifically for the "FAFSA Technical Support" department rather than general customer service. They seem to understand the signature issues better and can escalate faster. Hang in there - this system is a mess this year but most people are eventually getting it resolved!