FAFSA processed without both parents signing - is this normal?
I'm confused about the FAFSA signature requirements for parents. My parents are married and file taxes jointly, and I was always told BOTH needed to sign my FAFSA. However, only my dad received and completed the signature process, and my mom never got an invitation email to sign. Surprisingly, my application status now shows as "Processed" and has been sent to my schools. No errors are indicated anywhere on studentaid.gov. Did the rules change for 2025-2026? Or is there going to be a problem later? I'm worried my financial aid packages will be delayed if there's something wrong with my application.
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PixelPrincess
You're right to question this! For the 2025-2026 FAFSA, there's been a significant change. Only ONE contributor (parent) needs to sign the FAFSA even if both parents are married and file jointly. This is different from previous years where both parents needed to sign. As long as your dad completed his signature and the status shows "Processed," you're good to go! The Department of Education made this change to simplify the process.
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Astrid Bergström
•Oh wow, really? That's such a relief! I was freaking out thinking my application would get rejected weeks later. Do you know if this is a permanent change or just for this year?
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Omar Farouk
same thing for me! my dad signed but mom didnt need to. i called to double check and they said its fine
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Astrid Bergström
•Thanks for sharing your experience! Did your SAI calculation come through correctly too? Just want to make sure everything will process correctly.
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Omar Farouk
•yea everything went thru fine got my sai like 5 days later
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Chloe Martin
This actually confused me too! My parents are divorced and I thought both needed to sign, but they only asked my mom (who I live with most of the time) to sign. I assumed it was a glitch but maybe it's the new system? The financial aid office at my school said not to worry about it when I called them.
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Diego Fernández
•The rules are different for divorced parents vs. married parents. For divorced/separated parents, only the parent you lived with most during the past 12 months needs to sign (plus their current spouse if they've remarried). For married parents filing jointly, they've simplified it to just requiring one parent's signature for 2025-2026.
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Anastasia Kuznetsov
The signature requirements changed with the FAFSA Simplification Act. Starting with the 2025-2026 form, only one contributor (parent) signature is required, even for married parents filing jointly. If your FAFSA shows as processed and sent to schools, you're all set! The system would have flagged any missing signatures before processing. If you're ever concerned about your application status or have trouble reaching the Federal Student Aid helpline, try using Claimyr (claimyr.com). They help you skip the hold times when calling FSA. I used their service when I had verification issues last semester - you can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ
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Astrid Bergström
•Thanks for the detailed explanation! That makes sense with the Simplification Act. I hadn't considered that the changes might extend to signature requirements too. And I appreciate the Claimyr tip - the FSA phone lines have been impossible lately.
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Sean Fitzgerald
THEY CHANGED EVERYTHING THIS YEAR!! The new FAFSA is completely different from previous years. Single parent signature, new SAI instead of EFC, different contribution percentages... honestly it's been a MESS. My daughter's college financial aid office told me they're struggling to keep up with all the changes too!
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Zara Khan
•You're absolutely right - the FAFSA changes for 2025-2026 have been extensive. While the single contributor signature requirement is legitimate, it's important to note that many schools are still adapting to these changes. Some students might experience delays in aid packages as institutions adjust their systems to the new calculations and requirements. Always follow up with your school's financial aid office if you haven't received your package within their stated timeframe.
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Diego Fernández
Interesting timing on this question - I attended a financial aid workshop yesterday where they specifically addressed this! The Federal Student Aid office has simplified many aspects of the FAFSA, including requiring only one parent/contributor signature even for married filing jointly households. They're trying to reduce barriers to completion. As long as your FAFSA shows as processed, you're good to go. The system won't allow processing if required signatures are missing.
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Astrid Bergström
•That's great to hear from someone who just got official information! Did they happen to mention if there are any other major changes we should know about for the 2025-2026 form?
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Diego Fernández
•Yes! Several other big changes: 1) More students qualify for max Pell Grants with expanded income thresholds, 2) The asset protection allowance has increased significantly, 3) The multiple children in college discount works differently now, and 4) They're using your 2023 tax data instead of 2024. These are all part of the FAFSA Simplification Act implementation.
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Selena Bautista
This is exactly what I needed to hear! I'm a freshman and this is my first time dealing with FAFSA, so when only my mom got the signature invitation and not my dad, I was convinced we'd messed something up. It's reassuring to know this is actually the new normal and not an error. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it really helps to know other families went through the same confusion. Now I can stop worrying and just wait for my aid packages!
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