As a newcomer to this community, I'm really grateful for this detailed discussion! I'm currently helping my cousin through her first year of college, and honestly, I had no idea post-disbursement verification was even possible until reading this thread. The information everyone has shared here is incredibly valuable - especially the practical tips like checking the student portal for specific document requirements, keeping digital copies of tax documents handy throughout the year, and the Claimyr service for actually getting through to financial aid offices. What strikes me most is how much anxiety this process creates for students who are already dealing with the stress of college coursework. It seems like schools could do a better job of explaining upfront that verification can happen at any point during the academic year, not just before aid is awarded. For the original student's situation, it sounds like the consensus is clear: submit those documents as quickly as possible, keep copies of everything, and try multiple channels to get clarification from the school if needed. The fact that this often results in no changes to aid (if the original FAFSA was accurate) should provide some reassurance during what I'm sure is a very stressful waiting period. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this kind of real-world knowledge makes such a difference for families navigating the financial aid system!

As someone completely new to this community and the FAFSA process in general, this thread has been absolutely eye-opening! I'm a parent of a high school senior who will be applying for financial aid next year, and I had no clue that schools could request verification AFTER disbursing aid. This seems like such an important thing for families to know about upfront. Reading through everyone's experiences, it sounds like the main things to remember are: keep all tax documents easily accessible throughout the entire school year (not just during FAFSA filing), respond to any verification requests immediately, and don't panic if it happens since most of the time aid doesn't change if your original information was accurate. The tip about students who receive refund money being more likely to get selected is particularly helpful to know. And the suggestion about using Claimyr to actually reach financial aid offices when phone lines are jammed could be a lifesaver - I'm definitely bookmarking that for future reference. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and advice here. This kind of real-world knowledge is invaluable for families trying to navigate the financial aid system. I feel much better prepared now for what my daughter might encounter next year!

Your SAI of 12,485 is actually really encouraging! As everyone has explained, lower is better, and you're definitely in a range where you should receive meaningful financial aid. I wanted to add something I haven't seen mentioned much - when those aid packages start coming in, don't be afraid to contact the financial aid offices directly with questions. I was so intimidated at first, thinking I'd sound clueless, but the financial aid counselors at most schools are genuinely helpful and want to make sure families understand their options. They can often explain school-specific policies or programs that might not be obvious from the written package. Also, keep track of priority deadlines for submitting any additional forms each school requires (like CSS Profile, verification documents, etc.). Missing these can delay or reduce your aid package even if your FAFSA was submitted on time. You're clearly being very thorough in researching this process, which is going to pay off when decision time comes. The fact that you're asking these questions now shows your daughter is going to have a well-informed advocate helping her navigate all the options!

Your SAI of 12,485 is actually in a great position for receiving financial aid! I know it seems confusing at first, but you're definitely not out of luck. Lower SAI = better for aid eligibility, so think of it as the government saying your family can contribute about $12,485 per year toward college costs. For that $34k school, you'd have roughly $21,515 in demonstrated financial need that could potentially be covered by grants, scholarships, work-study, or subsidized loans. Every school will put together different packages to help meet that need. Don't forget to also look into your state's financial aid programs and any merit scholarships your daughter might qualify for based on her grades/test scores - these often aren't tied to your FAFSA at all. When comparing aid packages, focus on how much is "free money" (grants/scholarships) versus loans. You're asking all the right questions! The first time through this process is overwhelming for every parent, but you're being thorough and that will definitely pay off when decision time comes.

Update for everyone: The Department of Education just announced they're working through a backlog of paper FAFSAs from January and February. They're prioritizing electronic submissions and those with approaching school deadlines. This is why I always recommend electronic filing when possible, but for those who submitted paper forms, contacting both your school and FSA directly is your best course of action.

I'm so glad you got it sorted out! Your experience is exactly why I always tell people to go electronic if at all possible. The paper processing delays have been getting worse each year, and with all the FAFSA changes this cycle, it's been particularly brutal. For anyone else reading this thread who might be in a similar situation - don't wait! Submit online immediately and document everything. Most schools are understanding about these processing delays if you communicate proactively with their financial aid office. And definitely keep that postal receipt if you mailed a paper form - it's your proof of when you actually submitted!

Here's an UPDATE on my similar situation: Paper form took 5 weeks to process (ugh!) but we finally got the SAI calculation yesterday. It's definitely slower than doing it all online, but it DOES eventually work. Make sure you follow up regularly though - nothing happens quickly without persistence!

I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now! My son submitted his portion online three weeks ago, but I had to mail my parent section due to constant "system unavailable" errors. I've been checking the status daily and it still shows "processing parent information." Reading through these comments is both reassuring (that it's a common issue) and terrifying (the processing times!). I'm definitely going to call his school's financial aid office tomorrow morning and also try that Claimyr service someone mentioned. Has anyone had luck getting updates by calling the school versus calling FSA directly? It sounds like the schools might be more helpful.

Update: I finally got through to someone at FAFSA (after taking the advice about using Claimyr - it actually worked!) and they confirmed our application is just waiting on IRS verification. They said they can't expedite it, but I also called my son's school and they were super understanding. They said they'll make a note on his file that the FAFSA was submitted before their priority deadline and will hold his aid package. Apparently they're seeing this with tons of students this year. Such a relief! Thanks everyone for your help!

This is such great news to hear! I'm a parent who went through something similar last year with my older daughter's FAFSA. The key thing you did right was being proactive and contacting the school directly - so many families just wait and hope the FAFSA will magically fix itself. For anyone else reading this thread who's in a similar situation: don't underestimate how understanding financial aid offices can be when you communicate early. They're dealing with these verification delays constantly this year and most have internal processes to handle them. The worst thing you can do is stay silent and miss deadlines without reaching out. Fingers crossed your son's verification processes quickly now! And thanks for updating us - it's really helpful for other families dealing with the same issue.