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Keisha Taylor

FAFSA submission error showing 'no parent info' - Can we fix before deadline?

I'm freaking out! My daughter and I started her FAFSA application yesterday. I created my FSA ID first, and got a message saying it would take 1-3 days to verify with the Social Security Administration. While waiting for that, my daughter logged into her account and continued with the application. She filled out her part (no assets/income), selected her colleges, and submitted. Immediately got an error message saying they 'couldn't help her' because there was no parent information! Now the status just says 'processing' but we received an email telling her to contact ALL the schools she listed. The deadline is TOMORROW and we can't get through to anyone on the phone. Can she go back and fix this? Will this mess up her chances of getting financial aid? She's graduating in May and planning to start college this fall, but now we're both panicking that this one mistake might prevent her from attending her top choice schools. Help!!

This is a common issue with the new 2024-2025 FAFSA. Your daughter's application isn't rejected - it's just incomplete. Since your FSA ID is still being verified, the system couldn't link your information to her application. Once your FSA ID verification is complete, you should be able to log back in as a contributor and add your information. The 'processing' status is actually good news - it means the system is holding her application rather than rejecting it outright.

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Oh thank goodness! So once my ID is verified I can still add my information? I was so worried she'd have to start all over again. Will the colleges know it's just pending parent info and not a complete rejection?

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dnt worry to much, my kid did the same thing last yr. you can still fix it after the deadline passes. colleges understand the new FAFSA is a hot mess this year 👍

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That's a relief to hear! Did your student still get their financial aid package on time? I'm worried about her missing out on funds if we're late.

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The Federal Student Aid system is TOTALLY BROKEN this year!! My nephew had the exact same problem in January. We couldn't get through to anyone for THREE WEEKS!!! They keep saying they "fixed" the system but obviously they haven't. Your daughter might lose priority consideration at some schools because of THEIR mistake. It's absolutely CRIMINAL how they rolled out this disaster of a system and expect families to just deal with it!!!!

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I'm so stressed about this. Did your nephew ever get it fixed? Did he lose any financial aid opportunities because of the delay?

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You'll need to complete two steps: 1) Wait for your FSA ID verification (1-3 days), then 2) Log into studentaid.gov as a contributor to complete your portion. The confusion happens because the new 2024-2025 FAFSA separates student and parent/contributor sections. Even though the system is processing her submission, it's missing critical parent financial data needed to calculate her Student Aid Index (SAI). While technical deadlines do matter, many schools understand the FAFSA challenges this year and have some flexibility. I recommend immediately emailing the financial aid offices at each school explaining the situation rather than waiting to get through by phone.

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this happened to me too and i had to call like 87 times to get through to anyone. when i finally got someone they said i needed to use the EXACT same information on the fsa id as whats on my social security card - even my middle name being spelled out vs just the initial caused verification problems. double check that all ur info matches!!!

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I had a similar issue when helping my sister file earlier this month. After days of trying to get through on the Federal Student Aid phone line, I used Claimyr.com to connect with an agent without the wait. They have a service that holds your place in line and calls you back when an agent is available. Saved us hours of frustration! They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ that shows how it works. The agent we spoke with confirmed we could add contributor info after initial submission and walked us through the exact steps.

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Thank you! I'll check that out right now. We've been trying to call for hours with no luck.

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my daughter had this exact problem!!! we were so stressed but then we figured out that i could still add my info after she submitted. just wait for your FSA ID to get confirmed then go to the contributor section. the system is super confusing but it doesnt mean she cant get financial aid. just make sure to email all the schools and let them know whats happening so they dont think your ignoring the deadline!!!!

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But shouldn't the Department of Education have TESTED this system before forcing millions of families to use it?? I'm hearing the SAME problems from EVERYONE I know with college-bound kids. Some schools are extending deadlines, others aren't. It's completely INCONSISTENT and UNFAIR!!!

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Just to clarify a few points for everyone: 1. The new FAFSA separates the student application from contributor (parent) information 2. Your daughter's application IS saved in the system, just incomplete 3. Once your FSA ID is verified, you'll need to log in as a contributor and complete your section 4. The system will then recalculate her Student Aid Index (SAI) with your financial information 5. You should contact each school's financial aid office immediately to explain the situation Many schools are being flexible with FAFSA deadlines this year because of the widespread system issues. This won't prevent her from attending college, but you do need to be proactive about communicating with the schools.

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Thank you so much for breaking it down so clearly! I just sent emails to all five schools explaining our situation. Hopefully my FSA ID gets verified soon so I can add my information. This new system is so confusing compared to when I went to college!

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One more important tip: Once your FSA ID is verified and you can access the system, take screenshots of EVERYTHING as you complete the contributor section. The FAFSA system has been glitchy, and having documentation of your completion can be crucial if there are further issues. Also make note of your confirmation number when you successfully submit your portion. This will be valuable if you need to reference your submission when speaking with schools or FSA representatives.

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That's excellent advice! I'll definitely take screenshots of everything. My FSA ID just got verified this morning, so I'm going to log in and add my information right now. Fingers crossed it all works this time!

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Great news about your FSA ID! For future reference (or for anyone else reading this thread), here's what happens next: After you complete the contributor section, the system will recalculate your daughter's Student Aid Index. This might take a few days to process. Once complete, the colleges she selected will automatically receive the updated information. Each school will then prepare a financial aid package based on her SAI. Most schools will still be able to process her aid package on their normal timeline, especially if you've already communicated with them about the delay.

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Update: I successfully added my contributor information! The system shows her FAFSA is now complete and being processed. Three of the five schools already responded to my emails saying they'll still consider her for full financial aid. Such a relief! Thanks everyone for your help during this stressful situation.

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Congratulations on getting it sorted out! Your experience is so helpful for other families going through this. It's really encouraging to hear that the schools are being understanding about the FAFSA delays. For anyone else reading this thread who might be in a similar situation - this shows that while the new FAFSA system is definitely confusing and frustrating, the problems CAN be resolved and schools ARE working with families. Don't panic if you hit these technical hurdles - just be proactive about communication and keep trying to get through the system. Keisha's success story gives me hope for my own nephew who's dealing with FAFSA issues right now!

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This thread has been such a lifesaver! I'm a first-generation college student and my mom and I had no idea what we were doing with the FAFSA. We ran into the exact same issue last week - I submitted my part but forgot to wait for her FSA ID to be verified first. Reading through everyone's experiences here gave us the confidence to keep trying instead of giving up. We got it fixed yesterday and already heard back from two schools saying everything looks good. Thank you all for sharing your stories and advice - it really makes a difference for families like ours who are navigating this process for the first time!

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