FAFSA parent account confusion - do I need a new FSA ID for younger kids?

You definitely use the same FSA ID! I just went through this with my third kid. As a parent/contributor, your FSA ID stays the same regardless of how many children you have applying for aid. Each student needs their own FSA ID, but you'll use your existing one to sign all their FAFSAs. When you start a new FAFSA, you'll enter your child's information, and then it will ask for parent information where you'll use your existing FSA ID to sign in. Just make sure you remember your username and password!

yes use same 1 but each kid makes there own FSA ID. my daughter just did her fafsa and i used same parent ID from when her brother did it 2 yrs ago

I TRIED USING MY OLD FSA ID FROM MY FIRST DAUGHTER BUT THEY LOCKED ME OUT!!!!! Said my password was wrong even though I KNOW it was right. Then I tried to reset and they said my email wasn't recognized!!! Spent THREE DAYS trying to get help and the phone line just disconnects you. The whole system is DESIGNED to fail! Now my second daughter might miss priority deadlines because of this stupid broken system. FURIOUS.

As an experienced financial aid advisor, I can confirm that parents should maintain a single FSA ID across all their children's FAFSA applications. Here are some important points to keep in mind: 1. Your FSA ID (username and password) remains valid for all your children 2. Each student must create their own unique FSA ID 3. Before starting new applications, log into your FSA ID account and verify your information is current: - Check that your name matches your Social Security card exactly - Update your contact information if needed - Verify your linked email is one you still have access to For the 2025-2026 FAFSA, there are significant changes to the parent contribution process with the new SAI calculation. I recommend reviewing the updated contributor requirements before starting applications for your twins.

When my second kid went to college I made a whole new FSA ID because I forgot I already had one lol. Ended up with two accounts and caused so much confusion! Had to call and get it sorted out. Don't make my mistake!!

Make sure to check if your FSA ID password needs updating! They implemented new password requirements last year, and many parents with older accounts have to update before they can use them again. I found out the hard way when trying to file for my younger daughter.

To answer your follow-up question about income changes - yes, there is a process for this! After you submit the FAFSA with your 2023 tax information, you can submit what's called a Special Circumstances Form (sometimes called a Professional Judgment Request) directly to each college's financial aid office. This form allows you to explain your income reduction and provide current information. Each school handles these differently, but most will adjust your SAI calculation if you provide documentation of the income change. This won't change your actual FAFSA, but it will affect how much aid each school offers.

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who went through this exact situation last year! I had the same confusion with my FSA ID from when my oldest applied in 2021. Here's what worked for me: 1. Log into your existing FSA ID account BEFORE starting any applications to make sure everything still works 2. Update your phone number if it's changed - they use 2-factor authentication now 3. Your twins will each need their own FSA ID, but they can create those during the application process 4. When you start each twin's FAFSA, you'll link your existing parent FSA ID during the contributor section One thing that caught me off guard - with twins applying in the same year, make sure to indicate on each application that you have "2" students in college. This can significantly help with your aid eligibility under the new SAI system! The schools will verify this with each other, but it's important to be consistent on both applications. Good luck with the process - having twins apply at once is stressful but you've got this!