FAFSA system won't accept my DOB as parent/spouse - can't complete application

I had a similar issue last month. The DOB field has a specific format requirement (MM/DD/YYYY) and sometimes doesn't display properly what you're typing. Try using the TAB key after entering each component (month, then tab, day, then tab, year) rather than clicking between fields or using slashes. Also, if you're using any autofill browser features, try turning those off completely. The FAFSA system often conflicts with browser autofill.

omg the same exact thing happened to me!!! so annoying!! i ended up having to completely log out, delete my browser history/cookies/EVERYTHING, and then wait 24 hrs before trying again. idk why but that worked for me. the new fafsa system is such garbage compared to the old one tbh

This is a known issue with the 2025-2026 FAFSA form that several parents have reported. The problem occurs specifically in the contributor section when adding a spouse after the first contributor has already completed their portion. There are three potential solutions you can try: 1. Use the "Save and Exit" feature, then have your husband log in again using his FSA ID (not yours), go to the contributor section, and manually add you as his spouse with your information. 2. If that doesn't work, you may need to start a new FAFSA application entirely. Unfortunately, this means redoing your husband's section, but sometimes the system corrupts the contributor linkage. 3. Check if your FSA ID was properly linked to the application. Sometimes the system shows you as a contributor but doesn't properly link your FSA ID, causing issues with specific fields like the DOB. If none of these work, you'll likely need to contact Federal Student Aid directly for assistance.

Try CALLING them! But goodluck with that... I spent 3 hours on hold last week trying to fix our dependency override issue and got disconnected twice! This FAFSA system is a complete disaster this year with all their "improvements." 😤

Have you tried using a completely different device? My wife had weird FAFSA glitches on her laptop but when she switched to my desktop computer it worked fine. Also check if your internet connection is stable - sometimes weak WiFi causes form submission issues but doesn't give proper error messages.

UPDATE: I was finally able to fix this issue! For anyone having the same problem, here's what worked: 1. I had my husband log in with his FSA ID 2. Instead of trying to add me as a contributor through the "Add Spouse" function, he went to "Edit FAFSA" and then "Contributors" 3. From there, he manually entered all of my information INCLUDING my FSA ID (this was the key part we missed before) 4. Once he added my FSA ID correctly, I received an email invitation to complete my portion 5. I was then able to log in separately with my own FSA ID and complete my section without the DOB field issue Apparently, the system has a bug where if you try to add a spouse after one contributor has completed their section, certain fields won't work unless you go through this specific process. Hope this helps someone else!

Just a heads up - make sure you complete everything well before your daughter's priority deadline. Even after fixing the technical issues, the processing times for SAI calculations are taking 7-10 days for many students this year, and she'll need that SAI score to complete her college financial aid applications. Don't cut it too close!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm so grateful to find this discussion! I'm currently dealing with a very similar issue where the FAFSA system keeps rejecting my tax information even though I've triple-checked everything against my 1040. Reading through all these solutions gives me hope that there's a way forward. The suggestion about using the specific workflow to add a spouse contributor seems particularly helpful - I had no idea there was a bug in the "Add Spouse" function. For anyone still struggling with technical issues, I've found that sometimes these government systems work better during off-peak hours (like early morning or late evening) when fewer people are accessing them. The servers seem less overwhelmed then. Also, if you're using any VPN or security software, try temporarily disabling it - I've seen that cause form submission problems on other federal websites. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences and solutions here. It's reassuring to know we're all in this together navigating these FAFSA challenges!