FSA ID creation error: 'SS# already associated with account' for husband's 30-year-old account - help!

OMG I had the EXACT same thing happen with my wife!!! Her account was from like 1999 and we couldn't remember ANYTHING about it. The FSA site is such garbage, honestly. We tried for days to recover it and kept getting locked out. So frustrating!!!

call the FSA id helpline!! thats what i did when my mom had this exact issue. they can help reset everything for u

This is actually a common issue with the FSA ID system. The problem is that the Social Security Administration database that the FAFSA system uses to verify identities has your husband's record from his prior financial aid applications, but the modern FSA ID system (which replaced the old PIN system in 2015) doesn't have a current account for him. You have three options: 1. Call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-433-3243. They can help verify his identity and either recover the old credentials or properly reset the account. However, wait times are often 1-3 hours this time of year. 2. Try the "Forgot Username" option rather than creating a new account. Sometimes the system will recognize the SSN and allow you to reset through email verification if the email is still accessible. 3. If your husband has a different email than what might have been used decades ago, try creating the FSA ID again but use a different email address than the first attempt. Sometimes this resolves the conflict. The most reliable option is calling, but be prepared to wait. You'll need his SSN, date of birth, and address information ready when you call.

just wondering - did u try to make the account during maintenance hours? sometimes the system gives weird errors when they're doing updates which is usually like 11pm-5am on weekends

I had a similar issue and waited on hold with FSA for over 3 hours before getting disconnected! Then I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that holds your place in line and calls you back when it's your turn to speak to an agent. Saved me so much time and stress - they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ With FSA ID issues specifically, you really need to speak to a live person because they have to verify identity details that the automated systems can't handle, especially with accounts this old.

This issue requires direct intervention from FSA customer service. What's happening is that your husband's Social Security number is linked to a legacy account in their system, but there's no complete FSA ID associated with it. This is common for people who had financial aid in the pre-digital era or during the transition between systems. Important things to know: 1. You MUST resolve this before the FAFSA deadline. An unsigned FAFSA won't be processed, and your daughter will be ineligible for aid. 2. When you call FSA, specifically tell them it's an "FSA ID recovery for a legacy account with SSN conflict." This helps get you to the right department faster. 3. Have these documents ready when you call: - Your husband's Social Security card - A government-issued ID - Any old financial aid documents if you have them - Your daughter's name and Social Security number 4. The agent will likely need to manually override the system conflicts. They may need to delete the pending account attempt first. 5. Once resolved, create the new FSA ID immediately while on the phone with them to ensure it works. From what I've seen, this process typically takes 15-20 minutes with an agent once you actually reach someone, but getting through to an agent is the challenge.

I went through this EXACT situation last year with my husband's ancient account from 1997. After trying everything online and getting nowhere, I finally called FSA. The wait was over 2 hours, but the agent was able to fix it in about 10 minutes once I got through. They had to verify his identity and then completely delete the old account information before we could create a new FSA ID. One tip: after they fix it, create the new FSA ID immediately while you're still on the phone with them. That way if there are any issues, they can fix them right away. Our daughter got her aid package on time, so there is hope!

any update?? did u get it fixed??