FAFSA parent login error when using student invitation - can't access my part
I'm having trouble accessing the parent portion of my daughter's FAFSA application. She already completed her section and sent me an invitation. I'm trying to start by clicking on "Start Application" and then selecting the parent option. But when I enter my daughter's information and try to move to the next step, I get an error message saying I'm trying to access an account that isn't mine. Am I doing something wrong? This is my first time doing this and I'm completely lost. The deadline is coming up soon and I'm getting worried we'll miss out on financial aid if I can't figure this out.
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CosmicCrusader
You're not starting the right way. When your daughter sends you an invitation, you need to create your own FSA ID first, then use the specific link in the email invitation she sent - NOT the general "Start Application" button. That button is only for students starting a new FAFSA. Go back to your email and look for the invitation from studentaid.gov, then click the link in that email. It should take you directly to the parent contribution section.
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Aisha Rahman
•Thank you! I'll check my email again. I think I might have deleted it by accident. Is there any way to have my daughter resend the invitation if I can't find the original email?
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Ethan Brown
i had the EXACT same problem last week!! so frustrating!! you cant start from the main page, gotta use the link in the email they send you. also make sure your using YOUR fsaid not your daughters when you login
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Yuki Yamamoto
•Yep what they said^ My son sent me like 3 invitations before I figured out I was doing it wrong lol. The FAFSA system is so confusing!
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Carmen Ortiz
To properly complete the parent portion: 1. Create your own FSA ID (if you haven't already) 2. Find the email invitation from studentaid.gov 3. Click the direct link in that email 4. Log in with YOUR FSA ID (not your daughter's) 5. You'll be taken directly to the parent contribution section If you can't find the email, have your daughter log into her studentaid.gov account, go to her FAFSA application, and resend the parent invitation. It should arrive in minutes. Also note that for the 2025-2026 application, you'll need your 2023 tax information ready when you complete your section.
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Aisha Rahman
•Thank you for the detailed instructions! I created my FSA ID yesterday but didn't realize I needed to use the specific invitation link. I've asked my daughter to resend the invitation. Do you know if there's any waiting period between when she can send invitations? She's at college and says the system won't let her send another one yet.
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Andre Rousseau
Had this EXACT problem with my son's application!!! The whole FAFSA system is terrible this year with all the changes. What worked for me was having my son log back in, go to his application, and there should be a section called "Parent Information" where he can check if the invitation was sent or resend it. Once I got the new email and clicked THAT link, it worked fine. The instructions they give are SO CONFUSING!!!!!
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Zoe Papadakis
If you're still having trouble connecting with financial aid after trying these suggestions, I recommend using Claimyr to get through to a FAFSA agent directly. I was stuck in the same loop for days and couldn't get through on the phone until I tried it. They got me connected to an actual person at FSA in about 15 minutes who walked me through fixing the parent access issue. Their site is claimyr.com and they have a demo video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ The FAFSA helpline is completely overwhelmed right now with all the new system changes.
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Aisha Rahman
•I hadn't heard of this service before. I'll try the email invitation link first, but good to know there's a way to talk to someone if that doesn't work. The regular FAFSA phone number has been impossible - I was on hold for over an hour yesterday before giving up.
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Jamal Carter
The whole parents contribution thing is a JOKE. My son's mother and I are divorced and NEITHER of us could access the parent section properly. We both kept getting the same error you did. Then when we finally got in using the email link, the system kept crashing when entering tax info. The new FAFSA system is a total disaster compared to previous years!!! We ended up having to call and wait 2+ hours to get help. Absolutely ridiculous.
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CosmicCrusader
To answer your question about the waiting period - there's no official waiting period between invitations, but sometimes the system has delays. Ask your daughter to check if the first invitation shows as "pending" in her FAFSA portal. If it does, she might need to cancel that one before sending a new invitation. Also, double-check that the email address she's sending it to is correct. The invitation goes specifically to the email you used when creating your FSA ID.
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Aisha Rahman
•Update: We got it working! My daughter had to cancel the pending invitation and resend it to the correct email (I had given her my work email by mistake instead of personal). Once I got the correct invitation and clicked the link, everything worked perfectly. Thanks everyone for your help!
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