Just wanted to jump in as someone who went through this exact nightmare last year! The FAFSA login system has been plagued with issues for years now, especially during peak verification periods. A few additional tips that saved me when I was in your shoes: 1. Try logging in at odd hours (like 2-3 AM EST) when server load is lowest 2. If you're using a VPN, turn it off - FSA's system sometimes flags VPN traffic as suspicious 3. Make sure your browser accepts third-party cookies for studentaid.gov specifically 4. Don't refresh the page multiple times if it's loading slowly - this can trigger their anti-bot protection and lock you out further Also, pro tip for your verification documents: once you do get back in, upload everything in PDF format if possible. Their system handles PDFs much better than images, and you're less likely to get that dreaded "document unclear" rejection that forces you to resubmit. Really hoping you get this sorted before your deadline! The system is frustrating but you've got this! 💪

Ugh, I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! Been locked out since Tuesday and my verification deadline is this Friday. I've tried everything - password reset, different browsers, cleared cache, even tried my roommate's laptop. Nothing works! The most frustrating part is that I can see my login attempts in my email confirmations, so I know I'm using the right credentials, but the site just keeps saying "invalid username/password." Reading through all these responses is both reassuring (I'm not alone!) and terrifying (this has been going on for YEARS?!). Going to try the mobile app + incognito + forgot username combo that worked for Dylan. If that doesn't work, I'm definitely calling FSA tomorrow morning using that Claimyr service someone mentioned. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences and solutions - this thread is literally saving my financial aid right now! 🙏

As a newcomer to this community and someone just starting to deal with S-corp taxation for my small business, this entire thread has been absolutely invaluable! I've been putting off filling out my daughter's FAFSA because I was so confused about the income reporting, but reading through everyone's real experiences has made it so much clearer. The consensus seems crystal clear: use your AGI from line 11 of your 1040 (which already includes both W-2 salary and pass-through business income), answer yes to owning a small business with fewer than 100 employees to exclude business assets, and definitely use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool once your return is fully processed. What strikes me most is how the official FAFSA guidance is so vague for business owners, yet this community has provided more clarity in one thread than hours of searching government websites. It's reassuring to know that so many other S-corp owners have successfully navigated this same confusion. Thank you all for sharing your experiences - it's made what seemed like an impossible task feel completely manageable!

As someone who just started an S-corp for my freelance marketing business and is facing the FAFSA for the first time, this thread has been a godsend! I was completely panicking about how to report my income correctly, but seeing all these real-world experiences from other S-corp owners has been so reassuring. Just to make sure I understand the process correctly: I use my AGI from line 11 of my 1040 (which already combines my W-2 salary and K-1 pass-through income), mark "yes" for owning a small business under 100 employees to exclude business assets, and wait for my tax return to be fully processed before using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool. Is that the right approach? It's incredible how much clearer this community makes everything compared to the official FAFSA instructions. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - it's making what seemed like an impossible task feel totally doable now!

This is such a valuable thread for anyone going through this transition! I'm actually in a similar boat but still in the planning stages. Reading through everyone's experiences, it sounds like the key takeaways are: 1) Contact your financial aid office ASAP, 2) Get everything in writing, 3) Ask about processing timelines, and 4) Don't forget to loop in your academic advisor too. One thing I'm wondering about that I haven't seen mentioned - does anyone know if there are any implications for work-study eligibility when you transition mid-year? I currently have a work-study position and I'm hoping I can keep it through the spring semester even with the status change. Has anyone dealt with that aspect of the transition?

This thread has been incredibly comprehensive and helpful! As someone who just went through a similar transition last semester, I wanted to add one more thing that caught me by surprise - make sure to check if your health insurance coverage changes with your student status. My university's student health plan had different requirements and costs for graduate vs undergraduate students, and I almost missed the enrollment deadline for the graduate plan. The coverage was actually better as a grad student, but I had to actively enroll rather than being automatically continued from my undergrad plan. It's not directly financial aid related, but it's another administrative detail that can affect your overall costs and should be on your checklist when making this transition!

As someone completely new to the FAFSA process, I can't express how much relief this thread has given me! I received that same terrifying email yesterday morning and immediately went into full panic mode thinking we had somehow ruined our daughter's chances at financial aid. Our FAFSA has been showing "processed" since late February and we have our SAI number, but that automated email made me question everything. I've been frantically checking the portal every few hours and trying to call FSA with zero success - those wait times are absolutely brutal and then you just get disconnected anyway. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been more informative and reassuring than anything I could get from the official channels. It's both comforting and infuriating to know so many families are dealing with this exact same system failure. The fact that their automated email system is sending out false alarms while families are stressing about their children's education funding is just unacceptable. Thank you all for sharing your stories and especially to the financial aid office worker who broke down what to actually trust. Taking screenshots of our processed status and SAI right now and will definitely be ignoring any more of these panic-inducing automated emails!

As another newcomer to this community and the FAFSA process, I'm so grateful I found this thread! I received that exact same panic-inducing email this morning even though our FAFSA has been showing "processed" since mid-February with an SAI number. My first instinct was to assume we had somehow messed something up catastrophically. I've been trying to reach FSA all day but gave up after multiple 45+ minute waits that ended in disconnections. It's absolutely ridiculous that families are being subjected to this level of stress over what turns out to be a system glitch. The fact that their automated email system is sending false alarms while parents are worried sick about their kids' college funding is completely unacceptable. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been infinitely more helpful than anything from the official channels. Special thanks to the financial aid office worker who clarified what indicators to actually trust - that breakdown was incredibly reassuring. I'm taking screenshots of our processed status and SAI right now and will definitely be ignoring any more of these erroneous automated emails. This community is a lifesaver when you need real answers!

As someone brand new to the FAFSA process, this discussion has been incredibly reassuring! I was also stressing about the timing of my checking account balance - I get my financial aid refund deposited right before tuition is due, so my account looks completely different from one day to the next. Reading about the 5.6% assessment rate really puts things in perspective - I was imagining that reporting a higher balance would cost me thousands in aid, but now I understand it's much more minimal. The timing strategy everyone's discussed makes perfect sense, and I love that it's completely legitimate to be strategic about when you submit. I'm definitely going to wait until after my major expenses clear so I can report a balance that better reflects my actual financial situation. Thank you all for sharing your real experiences - it's made this whole process feel so much less intimidating for those of us just starting out!

As a complete newcomer to the FAFSA process, I've been reading through this entire thread and it's been such a lifesaver! I was literally about to submit my FAFSA today with a checking account balance that includes money already earmarked for next week's rent and utilities - exactly the same situation Mei described. I had no clue that the asset assessment was only around 5.6% and would have such minimal impact compared to income. I was convinced that reporting a higher balance would somehow disqualify me from aid or dramatically reduce what I'd receive. The timing strategy everyone's discussing makes so much sense now, and knowing it's completely legitimate takes a huge weight off my shoulders. I'm definitely going to wait until after my major bills clear next week before submitting. It's incredible how much this community has demystified what felt like an overwhelming and high-stakes process. Thank you all for sharing your real experiences and practical advice - it's made such a difference for those of us just starting this journey!