Just want to echo what everyone else has said about being thorough and honest with reporting all income sources! I went through this same process last year with my veteran husband's disability and SSDI. One thing that really helped me was printing out the FAFSA completion guide specifically for military families from the Federal Student Aid website before I started - it has examples of exactly where each type of benefit gets reported. Also, since you mentioned being a stay-at-home mom, make sure you still include your Social Security number and demographic information even though you don't have income. The system needs both parents' basic info to process the application correctly. One last tip - if you run into technical issues while entering the military benefit information (which happens more often than it should), try using a different browser or clearing your cache. The FAFSA system can be finicky with complex income situations, but persistence pays off. You're doing great by asking these questions upfront rather than guessing!

As a newcomer to this community, I just wanted to say how incredibly helpful this entire discussion has been! I'm in a somewhat similar situation with navigating FAFSA complexities, though not military-related, and reading through all these detailed responses has taught me so much about the importance of thorough documentation and understanding the nuances of different income reporting categories. What really stands out to me is how supportive everyone has been in sharing their specific experiences - both the mistakes to avoid and the strategies that worked. The practical tips about organizing documentation beforehand, using military-specific resources, and reaching out to school veterans' services offices are golden nuggets of advice that I'm sure will help many families beyond just the original poster. It's clear that the FAFSA process can be particularly challenging for military families with unique income situations, but this thread proves that with the right information and community support, it's definitely manageable. Thank you all for creating such a comprehensive resource for anyone facing similar challenges!

I'm a parent of twins who will be college sophomores next year, so I went through this exact transition when the FAFSA changes hit. The reality is brutal - our family contribution essentially doubled overnight. However, I want to share some hope and practical strategies that actually worked for us. First, the appeals process is more powerful than most people realize. I wrote detailed letters to each school explaining our multiple-student situation and attached documentation showing our unchanged income but doubled expected contribution. Three out of four schools made significant adjustments to their institutional aid - one school increased aid by $8,000 per child. Second, look into schools with "meets full need" policies. While the federal formula changed, schools like Vanderbilt, Rice, and many liberal arts colleges still consider family context in their institutional methodology. We actually ended up paying less at a "more expensive" private school than we would have at our state flagship because of their generous aid adjustment. Finally, timing can be everything. If possible, consider having one child start in spring semester rather than fall - you'll get a different aid calculation and it might help with cash flow. We also discovered that some schools have emergency aid funds specifically for families hit by the FAFSA changes. Don't give up hope - this system is broken but there are still paths forward with persistence and strategy.

As someone who just went through the 2024-2025 FAFSA cycle with twins, I can confirm that the elimination of the sibling discount is as devastating as you fear. However, I want to share some hope based on our experience. While the federal formula won't help you, I discovered that many colleges are quietly implementing their own "equity adjustments" to counteract this policy change. When I contacted financial aid offices directly and explained our situation, several schools made substantial institutional aid increases - one increased aid by $12,000 per child specifically citing our multiple enrollment situation. Also, keep an eye on policy developments. I've been following several education advocacy groups, and there's genuine momentum building in Congress to restore the sibling adjustment. The College Board, NASFAA, and even some Republican legislators have voiced support for fixing this issue. While I can't promise changes will come before your twins start in 2026, the political pressure is building because stories like yours are becoming impossible to ignore. My advice: start building relationships with financial aid offices now, cast a wide net for applications, and don't be afraid to negotiate. The system may be broken federally, but individual schools still have discretion to help families like ours.

I went through this exact same panic last year! My heart was racing for days thinking I'd committed some kind of federal crime. Here's what I learned: this mistake is SO common that financial aid offices have streamlined processes just for fixing it. I called my daughter's school first thing Monday morning, explained the situation, and they had me come in with our tax documents that same week. The correction was submitted within 2 business days and processed in about a week. Much faster than trying to reach FSA directly! The financial aid counselor told me they see this error multiple times every application cycle, especially from parents rushing to meet deadlines. She said as long as you correct it promptly (which you're doing), there are zero legal concerns. One thing I wish I'd known - even though we didn't qualify for need-based aid either, having the correct FAFSA on file actually helped with some merit scholarships that required "complete financial aid applications." So definitely worth fixing even if you don't expect federal aid! You're being a great parent by taking care of this quickly. Your daughter is lucky to have someone so thorough looking out for her college finances!

I'm a financial aid officer and want to reassure you - this is absolutely NOT fraud and we see this error constantly! Parents rushing to meet deadlines accidentally check that box all the time. Here's the fastest way to fix it: Contact your daughter's financial aid office directly rather than trying to reach FSA by phone. We can submit corrections much more efficiently than going through the federal helpline. You'll need: - Your daughter's FSA ID - The Save Key from your original application - Your 2023 tax documents - A brief written statement explaining it was an accidental selection Most schools can process this correction within 3-5 business days. Don't worry about merit scholarships being affected - once corrected, your FAFSA will be complete and accurate for all aid consideration. The key is acting quickly (which you are!) and working with professionals who handle these corrections daily. You're doing everything right by addressing this promptly!

Welcome to the community! I'm also a newcomer here and just discovered this incredibly helpful thread while struggling with my own FAFSA rollover confusion at 2:30am. Like so many others have shared, I was completely baffled about how to report my 401(k) to IRA rollover ($41,200 on line 5a, $0 on line 5b) on my son's financial aid application. This discussion has been absolutely invaluable! The clear consensus from everyone's experiences is: report ZERO for the rollover amount and make sure to check YES when the FAFSA asks if it was a rollover. I was literally about to make that same devastating mistake of reporting the full amount as income before stumbling upon this thread - thank goodness for this community! What really strikes me is how many newcomers like us are here at various hours dealing with this identical confusion. It's both comforting to know we're not alone and frustrating that something this common isn't explained clearly in the FAFSA instructions. The willingness of experienced members to share their knowledge and costly mistakes is truly remarkable - you're literally preventing families from making errors that could significantly impact their children's aid eligibility. Thank you to everyone who's made this such a supportive space for overwhelmed parents navigating this confusing process. Reading about how incorrectly reporting rollovers can artificially inflate the Student Aid Index really opened my eyes to how critical accuracy is here. Now I can finally complete our application with confidence knowing we won't be penalized for our retirement planning decisions!

Welcome to the community! I'm also a newcomer here and just found this incredibly helpful thread while dealing with my own FAFSA rollover confusion at 2am. Like so many others have shared, I was completely puzzled about how to report my husband's 403(b) to IRA rollover ($63,400 on line 5a, $0 on line 5b) on our daughter's financial aid application. This discussion has been absolutely lifesaving! The clear consensus from everyone's experiences is: report ZERO for the rollover amount and make sure to check YES when the FAFSA asks if it was a rollover. I was literally about to make that same costly mistake of reporting the full amount as income before discovering this thread - thank goodness I found it in time! What really amazes me is how many newcomers like us are here at various hours dealing with this exact same confusion. It's both reassuring to know we're not alone and incredibly frustrating that something this common for families with retirement accounts isn't explained clearly in the FAFSA instructions. The generosity of experienced members sharing their knowledge and costly mistakes is truly remarkable - you're literally preventing families from making errors that could significantly reduce their children's aid eligibility. Thank you to everyone who's contributed to making this such a supportive space for overwhelmed parents navigating this confusing process. Reading about how incorrectly reporting rollovers can artificially inflate the Student Aid Index really drove home how critical it is to get this right. Now I can finally complete our application with confidence knowing we won't be penalized for our retirement planning decisions!

Hey TillyCombatwarrior! I just created my account here specifically to respond to your post because I went through this EXACT same panic just a few weeks ago! "Processed" is actually amazing news - it means you've officially completed the federal side of financial aid and your Student Aid Index has been calculated and sent to all your schools. I was in the same boat where I couldn't find my SAI anywhere at first, but like everyone mentioned, check under "My Documents" on studentaid.gov for your Student Aid Report. That's where you'll find that magic number that schools use to build your aid packages. The waiting for award letters is brutal (I'm still waiting on 2 out of 5 schools myself), but each institution really does work on their own timeline. I've been keeping a simple spreadsheet with my schools, their financial aid office phone numbers, and dates of any contact - it's helped me stay organized and less anxious. Since you submitted in April and it's now processed with no verification flags, you're in great shape! The hardest part (that terrible FAFSA form) is behind you. Now it's just a matter of waiting for schools to work their magic with your SAI. You've got this! 🎉

Hey TillyCombatwarrior! I just went through this same exact situation with my 2024-25 FAFSA and totally understand the confusion! "Processed" is actually really great news - it means the Department of Education has finished calculating your Student Aid Index (SAI) and has officially transmitted all your data to the schools you listed on your FAFSA. You're basically done with the federal government portion! I was in the same anxious boat a few weeks ago wondering if I needed to do something else, but it turns out "processed" means you've successfully cleared the biggest hurdle. The reason you're not seeing award letters yet is because now it's up to each individual school to create their financial aid packages using your SAI - and they all work on completely different timelines. Your SAI should be available in your Student Aid Report under "My Documents" on studentaid.gov if you want to check what number the schools are working with. The fact that you don't see any verification requests or additional document needs is a really good sign! I'd recommend checking your individual school portals regularly (not just email) since some schools post financial aid updates there first. The waiting is definitely the hardest part, but you've done everything right. Hang in there - award letters should start coming in the next few weeks to months depending on your schools! 🙂