As someone who just went through this process with my oldest child last year, I'd echo what others have said about creating a new FSA ID if you had the old PIN system. One thing I'd add is to make sure you verify your identity through the FSA ID process ASAP - it can take 1-3 business days for that verification to complete, and you'll need it fully verified before you can sign your daughter's FAFSA. Also, keep your FSA ID login info somewhere safe because you'll need it not just for the initial FAFSA but also for any corrections, renewals, and potentially loan servicing down the road. The peace of mind of having everything set up and tested months in advance is worth it!

I went through this exact same situation last year with my son! Since you mentioned having login credentials from 15 years ago, you definitely had the old PIN system, not an FSA ID. The PIN system was completely discontinued, so you'll need to create a brand new FSA ID. I'd recommend doing it ASAP - not just because of the verification time (which can take a few days), but also because the new FAFSA system is much more sensitive about data matching. When you create your FSA ID, triple-check that your name matches your Social Security card exactly - even something like "Jr." vs "Junior" can cause problems. Also, once you create it, test logging in and out a few times to make sure everything works. The last thing you want is to discover login issues in October when everyone is trying to submit applications at once!

Thank you all so much for your help! We were able to find the SAR in the My Documents section and download it. Everything looks correct and her SAI score matches what we saw on the dashboard. Such a relief to know this wasn't something we did wrong. For anyone else with this issue - check your documents section on studentaid.gov and don't panic if you didn't get an email!

As someone who went through this exact same situation last month, I can confirm what everyone else is saying - the missing email notification is NOT a problem! My son's FAFSA showed processed but we never got the email either. I was panicking for days until I realized I could just download the SAR directly from studentaid.gov. All his colleges received the information automatically and he got his financial aid packages on schedule. The system is definitely working behind the scenes even when the notifications aren't. Don't stress about it!

Glad to hear you got through to FSA and they're working on fixing it! Just wanted to add for anyone else reading this thread - if you're having trouble getting through to FSA by phone, try calling right when they open (8am ET) or during lunch hours when call volume might be lower. I've noticed the wait times are usually shorter then. Also, make sure you have your FSA ID and all relevant documents ready before calling so you don't waste time once you get connected. Good luck with getting everything resolved before your deadline!

Just wanted to share my experience for anyone else dealing with this issue - I had the exact same problem last year with my daughter's FAFSA when I accidentally entered my SSN with a typo. The key thing I learned is to be persistent but patient with FSA. When you call, make sure to explain that it's a contributor SSN error specifically, not the student's SSN, because they handle those differently. Also, if the first agent you talk to seems unsure about the process, don't be afraid to politely ask to speak with a supervisor who deals with FAFSA corrections regularly. Some agents are newer and might not know all the steps for unlocking those locked fields. Document everything with dates and reference numbers - this saved me when I had to call back for a follow-up. The whole process took about 2 weeks from start to finish, but my daughter's aid wasn't delayed because we caught it early and kept the school informed throughout the process.

Congratulations on getting it sorted out! 🎉 Your persistence really paid off. The 5:30 AM timing tip is brilliant - I never would have thought to try during off-peak hours. I'm bookmarking this whole thread because the combination of troubleshooting steps here is like a masterclass in FAFSA problem-solving. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences and solutions. This kind of community support is exactly what students need when dealing with these frustrating technical issues!

As someone who just went through this exact nightmare last month, I feel your pain! What ended up working for me was actually calling the Federal Student Aid Information Center early in the morning (around 7 AM EST) when call volume is lower. I got through in about 20 minutes instead of hours. The rep told me that there's been a known issue with certain browser cache conflicts that aren't fully resolved by normal clearing methods. She had me go into Chrome's developer tools (F12) and manually clear the application storage and service workers. Sounds technical but she walked me through it step by step. After that, the signature page worked perfectly. Worth trying before you resort to the mail option! Also, make sure you're not using any password managers or auto-fill extensions when you get to that page - they can interfere with the signature verification process.

Quick update for everyone dealing with this issue: FSA just released a statement acknowledging the parent approval synchronization problem. They're implementing a fix this weekend. If you've submitted multiple approvals, the system should update correctly by Monday morning. No need to resubmit again if you've already done it multiple times.

This is such a relief to read! I'm a parent going through the exact same nightmare right now - I've submitted my approval 4 times over the past two weeks and my son keeps telling me it's still showing as incomplete on his end. I was starting to think I was losing my mind! The confirmation emails made it seem like everything was working fine. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and especially to Sofia for the update about the weekend fix. It's frustrating that this is such a widespread issue, but at least now I know it's not something I'm doing wrong. Fingers crossed the system actually works properly after Monday!