So glad you got this resolved! This is a perfect example of why it's always worth reaching out to the school's financial aid office directly when you hit roadblocks with the FAFSA system. They deal with these issues constantly and are usually much more helpful than trying to navigate the broken federal system alone. For future reference for anyone reading this thread - always check for those little notification icons or alerts in your FAFSA account. The verification requirements can be easy to miss but they'll completely block your ability to make any changes until resolved. Thanks for posting the update - it'll definitely help other families facing the same situation!

As a newcomer to this whole FAFSA process, this thread has been incredibly eye-opening! I'm currently helping my younger sibling prepare their FAFSA for next year, and honestly, I had no idea there were so many potential pitfalls. The fact that verification requirements can completely block your ability to make corrections is something I never would have thought to check for. @Ella Lewis - I'm so glad you got everything sorted out! Your experience is a perfect reminder that sometimes the human touch (calling the school directly) works way better than fighting with automated systems. It's also really encouraging to hear how understanding the financial aid office was about extending deadlines given all the FAFSA chaos this year. I'm definitely going to bookmark this thread and make sure we stay on top of any verification requests when we submit. Thanks to everyone who contributed solutions - this community is amazing for sharing real-world problem-solving advice!

This entire thread has been a goldmine of information! As someone who works as a volunteer tax preparer and helps families with FAFSA issues during tax season, I see these contributor access problems constantly. What's really striking is how many different technical factors can cause the same error message - browser issues, duplicate applications, incomplete demographics sections, timing problems with invitations, even Google account conflicts. One pattern I've noticed is that families who document each step they take (including screenshots of error messages) tend to resolve issues faster, either through self-troubleshooting or when they need to contact support. The FAFSA system has definitely become more secure, but the tradeoff is that it's much less forgiving of small mistakes or technical hiccups. For anyone still struggling with this issue, I'd recommend creating a simple checklist based on all the solutions shared here: verify browser type, check for duplicate applications, confirm student demographics are complete, ensure exact name/email matching between accounts, and most importantly - don't let frustration lead to rushed attempts. The 30-minute cooling off period mentioned earlier is brilliant advice. Thanks to everyone who contributed their solutions - this thread should be required reading for all FAFSA families!

Just wanted to thank everyone in this thread for sharing such detailed solutions! I'm a newcomer to this community and stumbled across this discussion while researching FAFSA issues for my own family. The level of detail and willingness to help each other here is incredible. What really stands out to me is how many different technical factors can cause the same "not authorized" error message - it's like a puzzle where you need to check multiple pieces before finding the right combination. The step-by-step approaches shared here, especially the emphasis on doing things in the correct sequence and not rushing through error messages, are so much more helpful than the generic troubleshooting guides on official websites. I'm bookmarking this entire thread for when we start our FAFSA journey next year. It's clear that preparation and knowing these potential pitfalls ahead of time can save families enormous amounts of stress and wasted time. Thanks for creating such a supportive community where people actually take the time to document what worked for them!

Update: I spent all evening comparing the applications side by side and found the problem! Somehow on my son's application, I accidentally entered our home value and mortgage in the "investments" section, which added about $150,000 in assets that shouldn't have been counted. No wonder his SAI was so much higher! I submitted a correction request and hopefully it will be processed soon. Thank you everyone for your help and suggestions - you saved us potentially thousands in financial aid!

Wow, I'm so relieved you found the error! That's exactly the kind of mistake that would drive me crazy - accidentally putting home equity in the wrong section. The FAFSA interface can be really confusing about where different assets should go. Your story is a perfect example of why it's so important to double-check everything before submitting. I'm bookmarking this thread because I have twins who will be applying next year and this gives me a great checklist of things to watch out for. Thanks for sharing the solution!

I'm running into the same frustrating situation! My parents have a small accounting practice and even though the IRS data transfer worked for their basic income info, I still had to manually enter tons of details about their business expenses, office equipment depreciation, and professional fees. What really threw me off was that some of the FAFSA questions seemed to want the same information but phrased differently than how it appears on their Schedule C. I ended up having to call their CPA to make sure I was interpreting the questions correctly and using the right numbers from their tax return. The whole "automatic" data transfer feels like false advertising when you have any kind of business income. I spent way more time on this application than I expected, and I thought the new FAFSA was supposed to make things easier! At least now I know for next year to have all the business tax documents organized ahead of time.

I'm dealing with this exact same frustration right now! My family runs a small consulting business and I was really looking forward to the "simplified" FAFSA process, but it turns out that only applies if you have straightforward W-2 income. The IRS data transfer did pull our basic information like AGI and filing status, but then the application started asking all these detailed questions about business income, expenses, and depreciation that weren't automatically filled in. I ended up having to dig through our Schedule C forms just like in previous years. What's particularly annoying is that some of the business-related questions on the FAFSA are worded differently than how the information appears on our tax forms, so I kept second-guessing whether I was entering the right numbers. I had to stop multiple times to double-check our tax documents and make sure I understood what they were actually asking for. The whole "automatic" data transfer is really only helpful for families with simple tax situations. For anyone with self-employment income, rental properties, or other business activities, you're still going to need all your tax documents ready and should plan to spend just as much time as you did with the old FAFSA format.

When my niece went through this, we found out there's a difference between "unwilling" parents and "unsafe" parents in FAFSA terms. Your situation sounds like the latter, which actually makes the process somewhat easier. The unsafe parent documentation lets them potentially exclude his information entirely, while just unwilling means they might still try to estimate his contribution somehow.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this difficult situation. I went through something similar with my stepson a few years ago. One thing I'd add to the excellent advice already given - start this process as early as possible with each school. Some financial aid offices get backed up with these requests, especially during peak season. Also, keep copies of EVERYTHING you submit. I learned this the hard way when one school "lost" our documentation and we had to resubmit everything. Create a master file with all your documents scanned, then you can easily send to multiple schools. The good news is that once you get through this process with one school, you'll have all the documentation ready for the others. It's emotionally exhausting but so worth it for your daughter's future. Hang in there!