This thread is such a lifesaver! I've been pulling my hair out over this exact issue for the past two days. The FAFSA interface is so confusing - it's like they designed it to be as unclear as possible. I'm a first-generation college student and my parents have never dealt with this before, so we had no idea what to do when the system kept asking for tax info we don't have. Reading through everyone's solutions here gives me hope that I can actually get this done. Going to try the "Will not file" option with my W-2 info tonight. Fingers crossed!

As someone who works in financial aid, I want to emphasize something important that hasn't been mentioned yet: make sure you're consistent with whatever option you choose! If you select "Will not file," don't accidentally submit a tax return later without updating your FAFSA. This can trigger verification issues. Also, keep copies of all the W-2s and income documents you use for your estimates - you'll likely need them if your school selects you for verification. The key is being accurate with whatever information you do have, even if you don't have a completed tax return.

Just wanted to add that you should also check if your daughter's college participates in Florida's Bright Futures scholarship program! If she qualifies, that combined with Florida Prepaid can really maximize your savings. We found that having the prepaid plan actually made us more strategic about applying for other aid since we knew tuition was covered. Also, make sure to submit your FAFSA before any state deadlines - Florida has some state grant programs that require early submission and having prepaid doesn't disqualify you from those either!

As a newcomer here, this thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm in a similar situation with my son who will be starting college next year and we also have Florida Prepaid. Reading through all these responses really put my mind at ease about still being able to apply for FAFSA. I had no idea about the SAI calculation only using 5.64% of parent assets - that's way less impact than I was worried about. Also really appreciate the tips about Bright Futures and state deadlines. Definitely going to look into that scholarship program and make sure we submit everything early. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences!

And BTW the FAFSA is wayyyy easier this year than before with the new simplified version (thats what I heard at least). They cut like 30 questions and streamlined the whole thing. So don't stress about it being super complicated - it's mostly just inputting basic tax info.

Thanks everyone for the advice! I've decided to fill out the FAFSA since it seems like the safer option. Already created my FSA ID and started the application. Some of my schools have priority deadlines coming up soon, so I'll try to get it done this week. I appreciate all the insights!

As a newcomer to this community, I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who contributed to this thread! @9f241d062528 what an incredible journey you went through - I can't imagine the stress of dealing with that SSA verification loop for over a month. Your persistence really paid off and I'm so glad you shared the solution that finally worked! The Claimyr service that @c0a759d0a949 mentioned is something I had never heard of before but sounds like it could be a game-changer for anyone dealing with these endless hold times. It's frustrating that students have to resort to third-party services just to reach actual humans who can help, but at least options like this exist. @8505111f7185 and @083be97810bd - your detailed technical advice throughout this thread has been invaluable. The tips about FSA ID timing, name formatting variations, and especially the manual override option are things I never would have known about otherwise. It's clear you both have real expertise in navigating these systems. I'm bookmarking this entire thread as a reference guide. The combination of troubleshooting steps, the Claimyr service, and knowing that manual overrides exist gives me so much more confidence about tackling my own FAFSA. This community is amazing - thank you all for being so generous with your knowledge and support!

As a newcomer to this community, I just have to say WOW - this thread has been absolutely incredible to follow! @9f241d062528 congratulations on finally breaking through that bureaucratic nightmare! Your persistence over a month of dealing with the SSA verification loop is truly inspiring, and I'm so grateful you took the time to share your complete solution. The Claimyr service that @c0a759d0a949 recommended sounds like a total game-changer - I had no idea such services existed to help navigate those impossible hold times with government agencies. It's honestly frustrating that students need to rely on third-party tools just to reach actual humans who can help, but I'm definitely keeping this in my back pocket. @8505111f7185 and @083be97810bd - thank you for providing such detailed technical guidance throughout this entire discussion! The insights about FSA ID timing, name formatting nuances, manual overrides, and even trying during off-peak hours are invaluable tips that I never would have known otherwise. Your expertise really shines through. This whole thread is going straight into my FAFSA reference folder. Between the step-by-step troubleshooting advice, the Claimyr service discovery, and learning that manual overrides are actually possible (why don't they advertise this?!), I feel so much more prepared to handle any verification issues that might come up. This community is amazing - the willingness to share knowledge and support each other through these stressful financial aid processes is exactly what makes forums like this so valuable. Thank you everyone for creating such a helpful resource for current and future students!

I'm also going through a separation and FAFSA correction right now, so this thread has been incredibly helpful! One thing I wanted to add that I learned from my tax preparer - when you're doing the Head of Household recalculation, make sure you're using the correct standard deduction amount for HOH filing status (it's higher than Single status). For tax year 2023, the HOH standard deduction was $20,800 vs $13,850 for Single, so that can make a significant difference in your calculated tax liability and ultimately your SAI. Also, if you had any joint estimated tax payments during the year, you'll need to figure out how to allocate those between you and your ex for the recalculation. My accountant suggested using the same percentage split as your income allocation, but definitely verify this with FSA when you speak with them. The whole process is overwhelming but everyone's advice here is making me feel more confident about tackling it!

I'm a tax professional who works with families going through separation, and I can confirm that Head of Household is absolutely the correct filing status for your situation since your daughter lives with you more than 50% of the time. A few practical tips that might save you some headaches: 1. When doing the tax recalculation, use tax software to run a "what-if" scenario rather than trying to calculate by hand - it's much more accurate and will handle things like the correct HOH standard deduction automatically. 2. For the FAFSA correction, you'll need to report your separated income AND update your household size (likely from 4 to 2 if it's just you and your daughter now). 3. Keep detailed records of how you separated joint assets and income - FSA may ask for your methodology during verification. 4. File the correction ASAP even if you don't have all documentation ready. You can provide additional docs during verification, but getting the correction in early helps protect your daughter's aid timeline. The good news is that switching from joint filing to HOH status usually results in a lower calculated contribution, which could mean more aid for your daughter. The verification process is tedious but manageable if you stay organized. Don't let the horror stories scare you - most corrections go through without major issues!