The whole system is so confusing!! i applied for everythign and still didnt get my zell miller even with a 3.85 gpa because appparently the SAT score I submitted wasn't high enough?? And now I have to pay back the difference between HOPE and Zell for my first semester which is like $1500. make sure u read all the fine print!!

Hey Leo! I went through this exact same process last year as a Georgia resident. Definitely create your GAfutures account ASAP - I almost made the mistake of thinking FAFSA would handle everything. Your -1500 SAI is fantastic and should get you a full Pell Grant! Just a heads up - when you're setting up your GSFAPPS application, make sure all your personal info (SSN, name spelling, address) matches exactly what you used on your FAFSA. Any discrepancies can delay processing. Also, since you mentioned dual enrollment courses from your move to Georgia, those will definitely count toward your HOPE GPA calculation, but make sure GSFC receives transcripts from both your previous and current high schools. One more tip - UGA and Georgia State both have pretty good financial aid offices once you get past the initial phone confusion. Consider scheduling an in-person appointment if you're local. Good luck with everything!

This has been such an informative thread! I'm new to both this community and the FAFSA process, and I had no idea it could be this straightforward for remarried custodial parents. I was dreading having to coordinate with my ex-husband about financial documents, but knowing that I only need my current spouse's information makes this so much more manageable. It's really helpful to see so many people sharing their real experiences rather than just reading confusing government websites. Thanks to everyone who took the time to explain the custodial parent rule so clearly - you've saved me a lot of stress and probably prevented me from making mistakes on the application!

As a newcomer to this community and the FAFSA process, I just want to express how incredibly helpful this entire discussion has been! I'm in a nearly identical situation - I'm the custodial parent, recently remarried, and my ex has never been involved with FAFSA applications. Reading through everyone's experiences and the clear explanations about the custodial parent rule has been such a relief. I was initially worried about having to track down my ex's financial information, but now I understand that since my child lives with me most of the time, I only need to include my current spouse's information. The advice about using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool and keeping copies of documents is also noted for when I start this process. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - this community is amazing for navigating these complex financial aid waters!

I'm a financial aid advisor and wanted to add some additional guidance for everyone dealing with this issue. Beyond the steps already mentioned, here are a few more things that can help: 1. Screenshot your current FAFSA summary page before making corrections - this documents the error for your records 2. If you're close to school deadlines, consider submitting a CSS Profile (if schools accept it) as backup documentation of your financial situation 3. When corrections open, double-check that your FSA ID is properly linked as a "contributor" - sometimes you need to re-verify your identity in the system 4. Keep detailed records of all phone calls/case numbers from FSA - this helps if you need to escalate later Also worth noting: some schools are automatically extending FAFSA deadlines due to these widespread system issues, so don't panic if you're cutting it close. Most financial aid offices are very aware of these problems and are working with families on solutions. The Department of Education has also set up a dedicated email for FAFSA technical issues: FAFSAsupport@ed.gov - sometimes faster than phone support.

I'm a new member here but wanted to share that I'm experiencing this exact same issue! Just completed my son's FAFSA two days ago and I'm realizing now that it never asked for ANY of my parent financial information - no tax data, no income questions, nothing. Like others mentioned, my son is definitely a dependent (18, lives at home, I provide over 50% support) but the system seems to have treated him as independent. Reading through all these responses has been so helpful - I was starting to think I had somehow skipped a section or done something wrong. It's frustrating that this is such a widespread issue with the new system, but at least there seem to be clear steps to fix it. I'm going to try calling FSA tomorrow and also reach out to his college's financial aid office to give them a heads up about the glitch. Will definitely document everything as suggested. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences and solutions!

This thread has been incredibly informative! I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - my son's SAI is about 6800 and we received an aid package with federal loans but no Pell Grant. After reading all these responses, I'm now confident this is a processing error that needs to be addressed. The explanation about verification holds causing partial FAFSA processing really makes sense. I checked our FAFSA status online and it does show "under review" for certain sections, which probably explains the missing Pell Grant while other federal aid was processed. I'm planning to call the financial aid office tomorrow armed with all the great advice from this discussion - especially asking about verification status and requesting an email summary of our conversation. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and expertise - this community is such a valuable resource for families navigating the financial aid maze!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm amazed by how helpful and knowledgeable everyone has been in this thread! I'm currently going through the financial aid process with my oldest child, and this discussion has been such an eye-opener. I had no idea that processing errors like missing Pell Grants could happen even when other federal aid is awarded correctly. The detailed explanations from the financial aid professionals about verification holds and partial FAFSA processing have been incredibly valuable. It's clear that families need to be proactive in reviewing their aid packages rather than assuming everything is automatically correct. I'm definitely going to use the advice shared here - asking about verification status, requesting email summaries of conversations, and not being afraid to escalate if needed. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and expertise. This is exactly why communities like this are so important for families navigating complex processes like financial aid. I'll be sure to pay it forward by sharing what I learn as we go through this journey!

Just created my account after discovering this incredibly helpful thread! My daughter has been stuck with this exact "unknown error" since early February, and we've been going through the same frustrating cycle of endless FSA phone calls and unhelpful "try again later" responses. This community thread is absolutely amazing - I've learned more practical, actionable solutions here in 20 minutes than in two months of official support interactions! The E-43 error code information that Diego shared is a total game-changer. I had no idea there were specific backend error codes or that manual overrides were even possible. We're definitely going to try the proven approach that worked for Omar: using the Claimyr service to actually get through to an FSA agent efficiently, then requesting the "manual application override due to technical error code E-43." If that doesn't work, we have great backup options with the VPN approach from Luca and the alternative address strategy from Anastasia. It's both incredible and deeply frustrating that this community has developed more effective solutions than the official FSA support system. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share what actually worked - you're literally helping families secure their children's educational futures when the system has completely failed us. The mutual support here gives me real hope that we can all get through this nightmare together. I'll definitely update with our results!

Just joined this community after dealing with the same FAFSA nightmare! My son has been stuck with this "unknown error" since mid-February, and like everyone else here, we've been trapped in the endless cycle of unhelpful FSA calls and generic responses. This thread is absolutely incredible - I've learned more actionable solutions here than in weeks of official support interactions! The E-43 error code and manual override process that Diego shared is exactly the kind of specific technical information we desperately needed. I had no idea there were backend codes or that manual overrides were even possible. We're definitely going to try the winning combination that worked for Omar: using Claimyr to get through to an actual agent, then requesting the "manual application override due to technical error code E-43." It's both amazing and infuriating that this community has provided more concrete solutions than the official system. Thank you to everyone who documented what actually worked - you're literally saving families' educational opportunities when the system has failed us. The level of mutual support here gives me real hope that we can overcome these technical failures together. I'll definitely come back to update on our progress!