FAFSA stuck because parent won't sign - need help recovering lost FSA ID
I'm about to lose my scholarship because I can't submit my FAFSA! My dad lives 3 states away and refuses to help with my education costs, but I still count as a dependent. I created an FSA ID for him months ago (with his permission over the phone), but now he claims he never got the confirmation email and can't remember the password. I've tried everything—calling the Federal Student Aid helpline multiple times, but after hours on hold they just tell me they can't locate his FSA ID using his email. The deadline for my institutional aid is in 9 days, and I'm panicking. I work part-time at the library but it barely covers my rent, and without this aid I'll have to drop out next semester. Has anyone dealt with uncooperative parents for FAFSA? Is there any way to recover his FSA ID without his involvement? Or can I somehow qualify as independent even though I'm only 20?
24 comments


Fiona Gallagher
u can try the "forgot username" option on the fsa id website. they'll send a recovery code to the email or phone # u used when setting it up. maybe try calling ur dad again and walking him thru checking all his email folders including spam?
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Xan Dae
•Thanks for responding! We actually tried that already. He says he never got the recovery code email (checked spam and everything). I think the problem might be that I mistyped his email when I first created it for him. The FSA helpline said they need his actual FSA ID to look it up, which is exactly what we're trying to recover 😩
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Thais Soares
This is unfortunately a common situation. For dependency override possibilities, you need to document that you've completely severed ties with parents OR demonstrate very specific circumstances (abuse, incarceration, etc). Simply having parents who won't help financially isn't enough for FAFSA purposes. Your immediate options are: 1. Create a NEW FSA ID for your father (the old one can be deactivated later) 2. Use the paper signature option - print the signature page and mail it to him 3. Request a dependency override from your specific school's financial aid office (though this is rarely approved) The fastest solution is creating a new FSA ID. Make sure to document EVERYTHING this time - username, password, email used, and challenge questions.
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Xan Dae
•Thank you so much for these options! I didn't know I could create a new FSA ID - I was worried it would cause problems with the existing one. If I create a new one, will there be any verification issues later when they see two IDs associated with the same SSN?
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Nalani Liu
I WENT THROUGH THE EXACT SAME THING last year!!! My mom moved to Florida and basically ghosted me after the divorce. I wasted WEEKS trying to track down her FSA ID info. Ended up having to drive 6 hours to get her signature on the paper form!!!! The financial aid system is COMPLETELY BROKEN if it forces independent students to somehow magically get cooperation from parents who don't support us!!!! 😡😡😡
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Axel Bourke
•thats rough! i had to do paper signature too when my dads computer broke. took forever to process tho
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Aidan Percy
After helping dozens of students with this exact issue, I can tell you there's a faster solution. First, try creating a new FSA ID for your father as suggested above. There's no penalty for having multiple IDs - the system will eventually flag duplicates but not until after your FAFSA is processed. If your father is truly uncooperative (not just technologically challenged), contact your school's financial aid office immediately about a Professional Judgment review or Dependency Override. While "parents refuse to provide information" isn't normally sufficient, many schools have emergency procedures for students at risk of dropping out. Additionally, check if you qualify for any of these automatic independent student categories: - Have dependent children you support - Veteran status - Graduate/professional student - Married - Emancipated minor (court documentation) - Homeless or at risk of homelessness (verified by shelter
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Xan Dae
•Thank you for the detailed advice. I don't qualify for any of those automatic categories unfortunately. I'll try creating a new FSA ID tonight and see if that works. If not, I'll definitely reach out to my financial aid office for the Professional Judgment review option - I hadn't heard of that before!
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Fernanda Marquez
I work in our university's financial aid office, and I see this problem constantly. If you're truly stuck with the FSA ID situation, try using the "Signature Page" option. After you complete the FAFSA online, you can print out a signature page, have your father physically sign it, and mail it in. It takes 5-7 business days to process versus electronic submission which is immediate, but it's better than missing the deadline entirely. I also strongly recommend documenting your situation with your school's financial aid counselors NOW. While they typically can't override dependent status without extreme circumstances, they might have institutional funds they can direct your way if they understand your situation.
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Norman Fraser
•i tried the paper signature thing 2 years ago and it got lost in the mail lol. ended up having to do the whole thing over again right before deadline. super stressful
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Xan Dae
•This is really helpful, thank you! I'll look into the signature page option as a backup plan. My only concern is that my dad is not reliable with this kind of thing, so I'm worried he would forget to mail it back to me in time.
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Fiona Gallagher
have u tried calling the fsa 1-800 number? sometimes u can get them to help reset stuff
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Xan Dae
•Yeah, I tried calling them 3 times this week. I was on hold for over 2 hours each time, and when I finally got through, they said they couldn't help without my dad's FSA ID (which is exactly what we're trying to recover). Super frustrating!
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Axel Bourke
i was stuck on hold with fafsa for almost 3 hours yesterday trying to fix a similar issue! ended up using this service called claimyr.com that got me through to an agent in like 10 mins. they have this thing where they wait on hold for you and call when an agent is on the line. saved me so much time, check out their demo video: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ might help you get this sorted faster
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Xan Dae
•Oh, that sounds amazing! I'll definitely check it out. Those hold times are killing me, especially with the deadline coming up so fast. Thanks for the suggestion!
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Nalani Liu
•OMG WHY didn't I know about this last year?!?!? I spent DAYS on hold 😭
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Aidan Percy
One more option to consider: If you believe you entered the wrong email when creating your father's FSA ID, you can try creating a new FSA ID with his correct information. Each person should only have one FSA ID, but in emergency situations this approach works to meet immediate deadlines. When creating the new one, be extremely careful to document everything: 1. The exact email used 2. Username chosen 3. Password (store securely) 4. Challenge questions and answers Once your FAFSA is processed, you can contact FSA to resolve the duplicate ID issue. This is not ideal but is sometimes necessary when facing critical deadlines.
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Xan Dae
•This is exactly what I'm going to try tonight. Thank you for the detailed steps and for confirming this approach can work. I'll make sure to document everything carefully this time!
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Fernanda Marquez
Just wanted to add - make sure to check if your school has an emergency aid application process. Many institutions have funds specifically for students at risk of dropping out due to financial hardship. This won't solve your FAFSA problem, but it might provide a temporary bridge while you get everything sorted out.
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Xan Dae
•That's a great idea. I'll check with my school's financial aid office tomorrow to see if they have anything like that. Thank you!
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Xan Dae
UPDATE: You all are amazing! I created a new FSA ID for my dad last night using his correct email (confirmed it 3 times). Then I used that Claimyr service someone suggested to get through to FSA quickly. The agent was able to help me complete the process and get my dad's portion signed! My FAFSA is now SUBMITTED!!! I'll deal with the duplicate FSA ID issue later as suggested. THANK YOU ALL for your help - you literally saved my education!
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Thais Soares
•That's fantastic news! So glad you were able to get it resolved in time. Make sure to follow up with your school's financial aid office to confirm they've received your FAFSA data.
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Nalani Liu
•YESSSS!!! So happy for you!! 🎉🎉🎉
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Amara Eze
•Congratulations! This is such a relief to read. I'm a new member here but I've been following your situation because I'm dealing with something similar with my own FAFSA. Your success gives me hope that there are ways to work through these bureaucratic nightmares. Thanks for posting the update - it's so helpful to know what actually worked!
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