How to add second parent as FAFSA contributor after application started? Stuck in edit loop
I'm completely stuck trying to add my daughter's other parent as a contributor on her FAFSA application. We're both single parents living in the same household, and I know both of us need to be listed as contributors according to the FAFSA rules. She only added one parent initially, and now we can't figure out how to add the second parent anywhere! The contributor section only allows editing the existing parent's info - there's no option to add another contributor, delete the current one, or start over. I've been clicking through every screen for hours trying to find where to add the second parent. Has anyone dealt with this same issue and found a solution? The 2025-2026 FAFSA interface seems so much more confusing than last year's version.
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Connor Rupert
I just went through this last week! It's super confusing. You need to actually go back to the contributor list page (not the edit page). From there, you should see an option labeled something like "Add another contributor" at the bottom of the page. If you don't see that option, try logging out completely, clearing browser cache, and logging back in. Sometimes the FAFSA portal gets stuck in weird states where options disappear.
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Sophie Footman
•Thanks! We tried looking for that button but couldn't find it anywhere. I'll try the logout/clear cache trick tonight. It's so frustrating that they made this process even more complicated this year.
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Molly Hansen
omg the same thing happened to me!! ended up having to call FSA support and wait for like 2 hrs before someone picked up. they said its a known glitch with the new system
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Sophie Footman
•2 hours?! I don't have that kind of time with work and everything else. Did they at least fix it for you when you finally got through?
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Molly Hansen
•yeah they fixed it while i was on the phone. had to like reset something on their end. was annoying but worked
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Brady Clean
This is a known issue with the 2025-2026 FAFSA's new contributor system. The correct process should be: 1. Go to the "My FAFSA" dashboard 2. Select "Edit" on your application 3. Navigate to the "Contributors" section 4. At the bottom of the page (you may need to scroll down), there should be a blue button that says "Add Another Contributor" If you don't see this button, it means one of three things: - Your screen resolution may be hiding it (try zooming out) - You've reached the maximum permitted contributors for your situation - There's a technical glitch in your specific application In the case of a glitch, you'll need to contact Federal Student Aid directly at 1-800-433-3243. Be prepared for long wait times as they're experiencing high call volumes during this application cycle.
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Sophie Footman
•Thank you so much for those detailed steps! We've tried everything exactly as you described, but there's definitely no "Add Another Contributor" button anywhere on the page. I'm guessing it's the technical glitch you mentioned. I'll try calling, but with how busy they are, I'm worried about getting this fixed before her aid package gets processed incorrectly.
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Skylar Neal
•I had to call them for a different FAFSA issue last month and was on hold for over 3 hours before giving up. Tried again the next day and same thing. These wait times are ridiculous!
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Vincent Bimbach
Why are u even bothering with adding both parents? I only put my mom on mine even tho both parents live with me. The financial aid office said it only matters for determining the SAI calculation but doesnt affect eligibility for most aid. Unless ur both making big $$$$ it probably doesnt even matter tbh
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Brady Clean
•This is actually incorrect and could cause serious problems. When both parents live in the same household, FAFSA requires both to be listed as contributors regardless of marital status. Failing to report all required contributors is considered inaccurate reporting and can result in verification flags, delayed processing, or even accusations of fraud. The Student Aid Index (SAI) calculation absolutely affects the amount of need-based aid a student receives, including Pell Grants and subsidized loans.
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Sophie Footman
•We definitely need to include both parents. My daughter's financial aid counselor at her school specifically told us that both parents' information is required since we all live together. I don't want to risk her losing aid or getting flagged for verification because we didn't report correctly.
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Kelsey Chin
The 2025-2026 FAFSA is COMPLETELY BROKEN!!! I've been dealing with similar issues trying to remove my ex-husband who doesn't even live with us anymore!!! The system keeps crashing, contributors can't be added or removed properly, and when you finally reach someone they just say "we're aware of these issues" but don't FIX anything! I've been dealing with this for THREE WEEKS and my daughter's college is asking why her FAFSA isn't completed yet. It's just ridiculous that they rolled out such a broken system when people's education depends on it!!
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Molly Hansen
•same!!! this new system is the WORST
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Sophie Footman
•That's exactly what I'm worried about - getting stuck in limbo while deadlines approach. Have you found any workaround for your situation at all?
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Norah Quay
my cousin had this same problem, they ended up having to scrap the whole application and start over from scratch
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Sophie Footman
•How did they scrap it? I can't even find an option to delete the application and start over. Did they contact FSA to have them delete it?
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Norah Quay
•yea they had to call and ask them to delete it. took forever to get thru tho
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Connor Rupert
Just wanted to follow up - were you able to resolve this? I had a thought that might help. If you go into your student's account (not the parent's FSA ID), then navigate to the application, sometimes more options appear that aren't visible from the parent login. Also, try using a different browser completely - I've found Chrome works better than Safari for the FAFSA site.
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Sophie Footman
•We actually tried using Claimyr like someone suggested above, and it worked great! Got through to an agent after about 45 minutes (instead of the 3+ hours we were expecting). The agent confirmed it was a glitch and manually added the second contributor while we were on the phone. Our application is finally complete! Now just waiting for the SAI calculation. Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions!
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Emma Wilson
That's great news that you got it resolved! For anyone else reading this thread who might be dealing with similar FAFSA contributor issues, here are a few additional tips that have helped other families: 1. Try accessing the FAFSA from different devices - sometimes mobile vs desktop shows different options 2. If you're still stuck, document everything with screenshots before calling FSA support - it helps them understand the issue faster 3. Consider calling early in the morning (around 8 AM EST) when wait times tend to be shorter 4. Have all your tax documents and FSA IDs ready before calling so they can fix everything in one session The 2025-2026 FAFSA definitely has more bugs than previous years, but most issues can be resolved with persistence. Don't give up - your daughter's financial aid is worth the hassle!
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Sofia Martinez
•Thank you for these additional tips! I'm actually dealing with a similar issue right now with my son's FAFSA application. The mobile vs desktop suggestion is really helpful - I hadn't thought to try that. It's reassuring to know that these problems are being resolved even though the process is frustrating. I'll definitely try calling early in the morning before the lines get too busy. Has anyone had success with the live chat feature, or is calling still the best option?
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