my bro had this happen when he moved apartments but didnt update his adress with social security. if u moved recently thats another thing that causes the error

As someone new to the FAFSA process, this thread has been incredibly eye-opening! I'm helping my nephew with his application next month and had no idea there were so many technical pitfalls to watch out for. The browser compatibility issues alone seem like a major hurdle - it's crazy that something as important as financial aid depends on using the "right" browser. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and solutions. I'm definitely bookmarking this for reference and will make sure we have his Social Security card handy to double-check every detail before starting. It's reassuring to know this community exists to help navigate these frustrating technical problems!

Don't feel overwhelmed - you're actually ahead of the game by asking these questions now! I just went through my first year with this process too and wish I had found this community earlier. One thing that really helped me was setting up text alerts from my son's school financial aid office - they send reminders about upcoming deadlines and when aid packages are ready. Also, if you're using tax software like TurboTax or H&R Block, they often have a feature to export your tax info directly to the FAFSA which can save time and reduce errors. You've got this! The second year is definitely easier once you know what to expect.

Just wanted to chime in as another first-time college parent! Reading through all these responses has been SO helpful - I'm bookmarking this thread for reference. One thing I learned the hard way this year is to screenshot or print your FAFSA confirmation page after submission. My son's school asked for our "DRN" (Data Release Number) during verification and I had no idea where to find it since I didn't save that initial confirmation. Had to dig through old emails to locate it. Small detail but could save you some stress later! Also echoing what others said about staying on top of your school's student portal - they post financial aid updates there that don't always get emailed out.

I'm in the exact same situation - submitted my FAFSA on April 8th and it's been stuck in processing for over a week now. Reading through everyone's experiences here is both reassuring and terrifying at the same time! It sounds like the 2-4 week processing time is becoming the new normal, which is crazy compared to previous years. I'm definitely going to take the advice about emailing schools with my confirmation number and asking about provisional aid packages. Has anyone had luck with the new detailed status tracking that was mentioned? I'm hoping to see that "SAI Calculation in Progress" update soon. This whole situation is so stressful when you're trying to make college decisions!

I'm going through this exact same nightmare right now! Submitted my FAFSA on April 9th and it's been sitting in "processing" status for 10 days. What's really frustrating is that I have scholarship deadlines coming up at two of my schools that require completed FAFSA data, and I'm watching those dates approach with no control over the situation. I've been checking studentaid.gov obsessively and finally saw it change to "SAI Calculation in Progress" yesterday, so hopefully that means movement soon. The advice about emailing schools with confirmation numbers is gold - I had no idea they could see applications in the pipeline before receiving full data. I'm definitely doing that this week along with asking about provisional aid packages. It's wild that we have to become experts in navigating a broken system just to access financial aid. Crossing my fingers that the Department of Education's promise about faster processing actually materializes!

Just wanted to add my experience as another newcomer who went through this exact same confusion! I completed my daughter's FAFSA two weeks ago and spent way too much time staring at the screen wondering where the bank account questions went. Like many of you, I had prepared all my financial documents expecting the old lengthy process. What really helped me understand the changes was learning that the Department of Education recognized that the old system was actually discouraging families from saving money for emergencies. The new approach makes so much more sense - why penalize responsible financial behavior? I do wish there was better upfront communication about these changes though. Maybe a simple comparison chart showing "Old FAFSA vs New FAFSA" right when you log in would help reduce all this confusion. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences here - it's such a relief to know this is normal!

New member here and just went through this exact same panic! I submitted my son's FAFSA last week and kept going back to check if I had somehow skipped pages because it seemed impossible that they wouldn't ask about our savings accounts. I had $25k in emergency funds ready to report and was genuinely worried the application was broken. Reading through everyone's responses has been such a huge relief - I had no idea about these FAFSA Simplification changes! It's actually really encouraging to learn that the Department of Education finally recognized that having emergency savings shouldn't be penalized. The old system always seemed backwards to me - punishing families for being financially responsible during uncertain times. My only frustration is the lack of clear communication about these changes. A simple "What's Different This Year" section at the start of the application would have saved so many of us from this confusion and stress. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and helping newcomers like me understand this is completely normal now!

Just want to add one more thing that saved me a lot of headaches during my mid-year transfer - make sure to get a copy of your Student Aid Report (SAR) before you leave your current school! Some community colleges will ask for this as part of their verification process, and it's much easier to get it while you're still enrolled at your university. You can download it from studentaid.gov, but having a printed copy in your transfer paperwork folder is really helpful. Also, if you're planning to take any summer classes at the CC, make sure to ask about their summer aid availability when you meet with their financial aid office - summer aid works differently and has separate deadlines that come up pretty quickly after spring semester starts.

As someone who just went through a mid-year transfer last semester, I can confirm that the process is definitely doable but requires staying super organized! One thing I wish I had known earlier - when you add your community college's school code to your FAFSA, make sure to also remove your current university's code if you're completely withdrawing. Some people leave both codes active which can cause confusion in the system. Also, keep screenshots of every step you take in the FAFSA portal - I had to prove to my CC's financial aid office that I had actually submitted the school code addition because their system wasn't showing it initially. The whole process took about 10 days from when I made the FAFSA correction to when my new school could see everything, but like others mentioned, calling regularly definitely helps speed things up. Good luck with your transfer - community college was honestly the best decision I made!