FAFSA parent account created as student - can't sign as contributor for ASU deadline!
My 19-year-old is FREAKING OUT because his FAFSA submission is stuck in limbo since January! We've hit a weird technical issue that nobody seems able to fix. When my ex-husband created his studentaid.gov account, he apparently selected 'student' instead of 'parent/contributor' on the account type. Now when my son tries to get his dad to electronically sign as a contributor, the system won't allow it because of this account type mismatch. The really frustrating part? FAFSA customer service told us his dad CAN'T change his account type and CAN'T create a new account with the same info! My son can't even get a paper signature page to print out as a workaround. We've now missed ASU's priority deadline for financial aid, and I'm terrified he's going to lose scholarship opportunities. We've called FAFSA multiple times (impossible to get through) and even ASU's financial aid office isn't sure what to do. Has anyone dealt with this contributor signature problem before? Is there ANY way to fix this mess without starting the entire application over?
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Adrian Hughes
Same exact thing happened with my daughter last year! The parent/student account mix-up is SO common but FAFSA makes it impossible to fix. After 3 weeks of panic, we finally got it resolved by having my husband create a new FSA ID with a DIFFERENT email address. They say you "can't create a new account" but that's not entirely true - you just need a completely different email that's never been in their system before. Then he could sign as a contributor.
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Lara Woods
•Thank you!!! Did you have to start the whole FAFSA over again, or were you able to just add the new FSA ID as the contributor? I'm worried about messing something up even worse if we try creating a new account.
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Molly Chambers
Hi there, I work at a college financial aid office and see this issue frequently. The system limitation is frustrating but there are three potential solutions: 1. Your ex-husband CAN create a new FSA ID with a different email address as someone suggested (this is technically against the rules but widely done as a workaround) 2. Request a signature page by calling 1-800-433-3243 - they can mail a physical form for him to sign 3. Ask ASU specifically about their late FAFSA policy - many schools have exceptions for technical issues like this Don't panic about the priority deadline yet. Document all your attempts to resolve this (dates you called, etc.) as this helps with appeals.
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Lara Woods
•Thank you for these options! We've been trying that 800 number for weeks with no luck getting through. Do you know if there's a specific department or option in the phone menu to request the signature page? The automated system keeps disconnecting us.
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Ian Armstrong
I just went thru this nightmare last month!! The FSA ID system is horrible and the instructions r so unclear. We kept getting error messages when my mom tried to sign. FAFSA customer service was USELESS - 2+ hr waits just to get hung up on 😡 We finally fixed it but not the "official" way. We made a completely new FSA ID for my mom using my little brother's email (which was never used for FAFSA) and then it worked. Had to wait another week for processing tho, so annoying.
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Lara Woods
•The system really is a mess! But I'm glad you found a workaround. Did you have any issues later with having created that unauthorized second account? I'm worried they might flag the application or something.
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Eli Butler
After trying for weeks to reach a FAFSA agent about a similar issue, I discovered a service called Claimyr that got me through to a live person in 25 minutes instead of the usual 3+ hour wait. They call FAFSA for you and then connect you when an agent answers. Saved my sanity! You can see how it works at https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ or visit claimyr.com. The agent I finally reached was able to manually update the account type in their system without creating a new FSA ID.
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Marcus Patterson
•does that actually work? seems sketchy to use a third party when dealing with financial info...
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Lydia Bailey
Have you tried reaching out to ASU's financial aid office directly about an extension? When my son had FAFSA technical issues, Ohio State gave him a 2-week extension on their priority deadline since he could document that he'd been trying to resolve the issue. Worth asking about!
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Lara Woods
•That's a great suggestion - I called ASU yesterday and left a message but haven't heard back. I'll try them again today and specifically ask about a deadline extension. Did your son need to provide any specific documentation to get the extension?
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Mateo Warren
What a nightmare situation! This is exactly why I decided to do my FAFSA alone without parents. I declared myself independent (I'm 24 so I qualify) even though it probably meant less aid. The system is SO confusing when you have to deal with parent contributors! If I were you, I'd start over with a completely fresh application using a new email for your ex-husband's account. Yes, it's annoying to redo it all, but it's better than losing out on thousands in aid. ASU *might* be understanding about the deadline, but don't count on it - some schools are super strict.
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Lara Woods
•Unfortunately my son can't claim independence at 19 without meeting specific criteria (married, military, etc.). Starting over completely is our last resort option, but you're right that it might be better than missing out on aid. Thanks for the input!
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