FAFSA system saying my mom 'doesn't exist' - who to call for parent verification?

omg same thing happened to me last year!!! the system said my dad wasnt real lol. took me forever to fix

This is actually a fairly common issue with the new FAFSA system. The parent verification error (PA-2345) typically happens when there's a mismatch between the information you entered and what's in the federal database. Here are a few things to check: 1. Make sure her name is EXACTLY as it appears on her Social Security card (including hyphens, spaces, etc.) 2. Verify if she's ever had a name change that might not be updated across all systems 3. Check if she's used any other variations of her name on tax returns 4. Confirm her date of birth format (MM/DD/YYYY) is consistent If all that checks out, you'll need to speak with an FSA representative who can manually verify her information and override the system error. The general number (1-800-433-3243) is your best bet, but you'll need persistence to get through.

The whole system is broken and they KNOW IT!! My daughter had the EXACT SAME PROBLEM and we wasted WEEKS trying to get it fixed!! The govt doesn't care that students might miss deadlines. They just launched a half-baked system and expect everyone to deal with it. So frustrating!!!

I helped my son fix this exact issue last month. The trick is getting through to an actual FSA agent who can do a manual override. The regular customer service people can't help with this. After struggling with the regular number, I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to a real FSA agent in about 15 minutes instead of hours on hold. They have a demo video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ Once I got through to an actual agent, they were able to verify my info and override the system error. They told me the PA-2345 error is happening a lot with the new FAFSA system, especially with parents who have hyphenated names, recent naturalization, or name changes.

my cousin works in financial aid and said these parent verification errors are super common right now...they have a huge backlog of people with similar issues. someone at your school's financial aid office might be able to help too if you cant get through on the phone

I was having the EXACT same issue with my parent verification but with my dad instead of mom. After trying for weeks, I finally got it resolved yesterday. I had to get through to the FSA's technical support team (not the general help line). When you call, press option 2 for "FAFSA form assistance" then option 4 for "technical issues" and finally option 1 for "verification problems." The agent asked me for my mom's: - Full legal name (exactly as on SS card) - Date of birth - SSN - Address on her most recent tax return - Whether she's a US citizen (if naturalized, they need the date) They did a manual override on their end that fixed the PA-2345 error. The whole process took about 15 minutes once I actually got someone on the phone. The change appeared in my FAFSA the next day and I was able to continue with my application. Good luck!

Financial aid advisor here. The "parent doesn't exist" error (PA-2345) is one of the most common issues with the new FAFSA system. I want to clarify a few important points: 1. This is a system matching error, not a reflection of your information being incorrect 2. Your school CAN'T fix this directly - it must be resolved with FSA 3. This will NOT affect your aid eligibility once resolved 4. While waiting for resolution, contact your school's financial aid office to document that you're actively working on the issue The fastest resolution is speaking directly with an FSA technical support agent who has the authority to perform a manual override. If you're struggling to get through on the phone, email FSA_FAFSA@ed.gov with "URGENT: Parent Verification Error PA-2345" in the subject line. Include your name, FSA ID (not password), and a brief description of the issue. Schools are aware of these system problems and most have processes in place to prevent these technical issues from affecting your aid packages, as long as you're actively trying to resolve them.

Update: I finally got through to FSA technical support this morning using the menu options that @FinAidHelper suggested! The agent confirmed it was an issue with my mom's hyphenated last name - apparently there was a space after the hyphen in the IRS database but not in the Social Security database. They did a manual override and told me it should be resolved within 48 hours. Thanks everyone for your help! I'll update again when I can confirm it's fixed.