Just wanted to chime in as someone who works at a college financial aid office - you've gotten excellent advice here! One additional tip: when you're both creating your FSA IDs, make sure to do it from separate devices or at least separate browser sessions if using the same computer. I've seen cases where the system gets confused if multiple FSA IDs are created from the same browser session. Also, keep your confirmation emails from the FSA ID creation process - they contain important reference information you might need later. The nursing program sounds exciting - best of luck with your FAFSA and your studies!

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who recently went through this with my spouse! We created our separate FSA IDs about a week apart (I created mine first as the student, then my husband created his), and everything worked smoothly. One thing that really helped us was setting up a shared password manager entry where we both saved our FSA ID login information - that way we could both access the details if needed during the FAFSA process, but we still maintained separate accounts as required. Also, don't stress too much about the process - once you get past the initial FSA ID creation, the actual FAFSA completion is pretty straightforward, especially compared to the old paper forms! The nursing field needs more dedicated people like you, so it's great that you're pursuing this path!

Just wanted to follow up - were you able to make any progress? Did you try contacting FSA directly using the service I mentioned or visiting your local SSA office? Sometimes bringing your marriage certificate and explaining the situation in person can expedite the process.

That's such great news that you finally got through to someone at FSA! Having a note on your account should definitely help smooth things over when you submit. And going to SSA in person is smart - they're usually more helpful face-to-face than over the phone. Make sure to bring copies of everything (marriage certificate, ID, any correspondence about the name change) just in case. Fingers crossed the SSA visit goes well and you can get this all sorted out soon!

man i wish i knew this last year i spent weeks trying to get my dads tax info and he was so difficult about it for nothing apparently 🙄

Just wanted to chime in as someone who works in financial aid at a state university - you're getting great advice here! The key thing to remember is that FAFSA follows a very specific definition of "parent" that's based on who you lived with, not biological relationships or financial support. Since your parents were never married and you live with your mom, she's your only "parent" for FAFSA purposes. One small tip: when you get to the parent demographics section, make sure to select "Single" as your mom's marital status rather than leaving it blank. This helps the system understand your family structure. And don't worry about verification - single-parent households with income around $38K are actually pretty common and shouldn't raise any red flags. Good luck with your application!

To summarize the correct information for your situation: 1. Only your custodial parent (the one you live with more than 50% of the time) needs to complete the FAFSA 2. Who claims you on taxes does NOT determine which parent completes the FAFSA 3. Child support is considered the custodial parent's income, not direct support from the non-custodial parent 4. If your custodial parent is remarried, the stepparent's information must be included 5. Some private colleges require the CSS Profile which may request non-custodial parent information Based on what you've shared, your mother should complete the FAFSA as your custodial parent. Your father's tax claiming status is irrelevant for FAFSA purposes.

Just wanted to add something that might help - make sure you and your mom complete the FAFSA together so she can answer all the parent financial questions accurately. I made the mistake of trying to fill it out myself first and had to go back and correct a bunch of stuff because I didn't know her exact income details. Also, have her tax returns handy because the FAFSA will ask for specific line items from her 1040. Good luck with everything!

As someone who just went through this process with my oldest last year, I can confirm what others have said - both parents definitely need separate FSA IDs! What I wish someone had told me upfront is to create both FSA IDs at the SAME TIME when you first start. We made the mistake of me creating mine first, then my husband tried to create his a week later and ran into verification delays that held up our whole application. Also, keep your FSA ID info somewhere safe because you'll need it again for renewals each year your child is in college. The process gets much smoother after the first year once you know what to expect!

As a newcomer to this whole FAFSA world, I just want to say THANK YOU to everyone who contributed to this thread! My daughter is a junior so we're a year out, but reading through all your experiences has been incredibly eye-opening. I had no idea both parents needed separate FSA IDs - I would have definitely made that mistake! I'm bookmarking this thread and plan to follow all the advice here when our time comes. Special thanks to those who shared the specific tips like using different email addresses and creating both FSA IDs at the same time. It's so helpful to learn from parents who've actually been through this process rather than trying to decipher the confusing official websites. You've probably saved me hours of frustration next year!