Who Is a Contributor on the 2024–25 FAFSA® Form?

There’s a new term on the 2024–25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form—contributor.

A contributor is anyone required to provide information, a signature, and consent and approval to have their federal tax information transferred directly into the FAFSA form. This may include the student, the student’s spouse, a biological or adoptive parent, or a stepparent. Contributors are not financially responsible for the student’s education.

By providing consent and approval, a contributor’s federal tax information will be used to determine the student’s eligibility for federal student aid.

[yolow]

Just as an fyi- when you enter the contributor info on your account, the contributor must also list their name on their own Created FAFSA account EXactly like you listed it otherwise they’ll never see the section to sign their portion. You also must make sure you sign your part as well prior to them signing! I had nothing but issues with this new method until I figured it out!! 😮

[BrandiFetters-ks]

So if you are not contributing to your child’s college you still have to file Fafsa? Doesn’t seem fair to the student if you are not helping.

[overrunwithboys]

BIG QUESTION here : as I understand, IF you are a "CONTRIBUTOR" -you are then required to have a FAFSA ID, which requires you to apply for this before filling out the FAFSA so you have it at hand.. Also I am confused and want to know if a Dependent Student with Married parents - who filed "Married filing Jointly" for our Taxes - will require myself AND MY HUSBAND to now have a Fafsa ID? I was hoping this little video supplied that information.

[kylemckinnon]

Has anyone's parent[ decided to enter your SSN under their e-mail and now you can't create your own account with that SSN?

[Elizabeth]

I have nothing but trouble with this contributor (spouse) issue. My husband cannot see any options to fill out ANYTHING!

[loriyoung]

My ex-husband and I don't really talk and my daughter hasn't talked to him in three years. He will not have to pay child support after she graduates high school and will not be contributing to her college expenses. If he doesn't give us his information on the form, how will that affect our chances of getting fafsa aid?

[Ronald__vet]

My emotional wish: may you smile always.

[MYFAVTECH]

Q:I am a parent as well as a student myself. I have not decided any notification to fill out as a contributor. How can I fill my portion out when I am registered already as a student?

[seekingsoull]

Do independent students need to file the contributor information?

[bdan]

FAFSA keep sending me a reminder to complete the FAFSA Parent Contributor form, but I'm unable to see my second student name. My second student has completed his part of the FAFSA is waiting on me completing the parent contributor part. How do I add his name? The new format is very confusing.

[PINEAPPLEKELLY]

What if I’m not helping why do I need to file this?

[Fercaroleym]

So as a parent I am trying to access my daughters fafsa form on my account. I cant seem to fing her form on my account to sign and submit it. She has been trying to edit contributer info(me)on her account so I can have access. I log in to my account and I still cant seem to find her form to sign. Help. How can I sign on my behalf of my daughters fafsa form. Sorry really long comment.

[sohanarahaman]

Well, that’s really interesting to hear more about this and this video same thing with the original two-year video.

[XxRigBarxX]

My wife (student spouse) received an invite and created a fafsa account but she wasn’t prompted to fill out her financial information or anything. What did we do wrong? Does it take time for them to send anything to my wife to fill out?

[tanyastokes]

I'm a parent and was filling out the financial information and had to stop. When I went back to the application, to finish, I can't financial section. It almost seems like I need to sign the application and then hope that I can edit later (if it allows me). Has anyone else had this issue?

[anumkamran]

Hello, first-time FAFSA form filer here. I am a student and I have a question regarding the contributor (Spouse) in the FAFSA application. I have filled and submitted the FAFSA application as an independent status however my husband didn't receive any email invite to fill in his financial info. I received an email confirmation after an hour of applying, and the confirmation email didn't mention anything about my husband if he needed to file his info. We live together and file our taxes as married jointly. I am confused and I want to know what I should do. Should I wait for the invite or does my husband just use his FSA ID and fill out his info without an email invite?

[CHIN-owjg]

I already have an account, but I can't enter my financial information, there is no such page....

[MomosHxnnz]

Do both parents need a fafsa account to fill out the email link for contributor?

[William__g]

Ah, a system error has led the transaction astray to an invalid email address.

[azenethgrodrigues]

How can I take one of my contributors off