I'm going through this exact same frustrating situation right now! My son's FAFSA was processed about 6 weeks ago with an SAI of around 13k, and like everyone else here, there's absolutely nothing showing up in NJFAMS for 2025-2026 yet. I was starting to panic that we'd missed some critical step or deadline, but reading through all these responses has been such a huge relief. It's really disappointing that HESAA doesn't provide any clear communication about these processing delays on their website - a simple banner explaining the 4-6 week lag time would save so many families from unnecessary stress while we're trying to make financial decisions. Based on what others have shared about SAI thresholds, it sounds like we might still have a chance for partial TAG depending on which school he chooses, which gives me some hope. I'm definitely going to stop checking NJFAMS daily and just wait until May like everyone suggests. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and timelines - this community support makes navigating this confusing process so much more manageable for us first-time parents!

I'm dealing with this exact same issue as a first-time parent! My daughter's FAFSA was processed about 3 weeks ago with an SAI around 10k, and like everyone else here, there's absolutely nothing showing in NJFAMS for 2025-2026 yet. I was getting really worried that we'd somehow missed a crucial step or made an error in our application. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly reassuring - it's clear that these processing delays are completely normal, even though HESAA does a terrible job communicating this to families. The lack of a simple notice on their website explaining the 4-6 week processing lag is really frustrating when we're all trying to make important financial decisions with incomplete information. Based on what others have shared about SAI thresholds, it sounds like with our SAI of 10k we might actually have a decent shot at qualifying for some TAG funding, which gives me hope. I'm definitely going to follow everyone's advice and stop the obsessive daily checking routine - will just wait patiently until May before getting concerned. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and timelines, this community support makes navigating this confusing process so much more manageable!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now! Made the same retirement account mistake on my son's FAFSA and have been waiting 10 days for it to move out of "in review" status. One thing I learned from calling the financial aid office directly - they said that even if the correction takes a while to process, they can often work with estimated numbers if you explain the situation and provide documentation of what the corrected SAI should be. Don't give up hope on the need-based aid! Also, some schools have extended their priority deadlines this year specifically because of all the FAFSA issues, so it might be worth asking about that too.

I'm in the exact same boat! Just discovered I included our 401k balance in investments and my daughter's SAI is inflated by about $22,000. Been waiting 8 days now for it to move from "in review" status. Reading through all these responses is giving me some hope though - especially the suggestion about checking if her school has a special form for FAFSA errors. I'm going to contact her financial aid office tomorrow to explain the situation and see if they can put a hold on processing until I can submit the correction. It's such a relief to know this is a common mistake and that there are ways to fix it! Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this community is a lifesaver when dealing with this stressful process.

As a newcomer to this community, I'm absolutely devastated to learn about this FAFSA formula change! My twin brother and I are both high school seniors heading to different colleges this fall, and we just received our SAI results yesterday - we each got 24,850 when our older sister's EFC was only 12,100 last year with virtually identical family finances. Our parents are in complete shock. They've been saving and planning for years based on how the system worked for our sister, and now we're looking at potentially tens of thousands more in costs that weren't budgeted for. It's honestly heartbreaking to see families being punished for having multiple children in college at the same time. After reading through all the incredible advice in this thread, I've already started calling financial aid offices at our prospective schools. So far, I've spoken to three schools - one private college mentioned they have a "family enrollment grant" that might help, while two state schools said they'd review our situation but couldn't make any promises. I'm also working on that spreadsheet comparison that several people mentioned to clearly show the financial impact of this formula change. Planning to get a letter from our counselor too explaining that our family circumstances are identical to last year. Thank you to everyone who's shared their experiences and strategies here - this community has been more helpful than our entire school guidance department! It's terrifying to navigate this, but at least we're not alone.

As a newcomer to this community, I'm absolutely horrified to discover this FAFSA formula change through everyone's posts! My older brother is currently a sophomore in college and I'm starting this fall. We haven't gotten our SAI results back yet, but based on all the experiences shared here, I'm expecting a massive shock. His EFC last year was around 11,500, so if the pattern holds, we're probably looking at SAIs of 23,000+ each. That's nearly double what our family budgeted for! Our parents specifically structured their college savings plan around the old EFC system with the sibling adjustment, and this change could completely upend our ability to afford college. I'm incredibly grateful for all the detailed advice shared in this thread - the tips about calling financial aid offices proactively, preparing spreadsheet comparisons, and getting counselor letters are invaluable. I'm definitely starting my outreach to schools THIS WEEK rather than waiting for our results. It's absolutely unacceptable that such a massive policy change wasn't clearly communicated to families during the planning and application process. How are we supposed to make informed decisions when the Department of Education doesn't properly explain how dramatically the formula has changed? Thank you to everyone who's shared their strategies and experiences - this community has been more helpful than our entire school counseling office in preparing us for what we're facing!

I'm really glad to see all the detailed advice you're getting here - your situation is definitely not hopeless! As someone who went through a similar appeal process, I wanted to add one practical tip that helped me immensely: when you're preparing your documentation, include a simple one-page "executive summary" at the front of your packet. This summary should clearly state: 1) What your family's financial situation was during the FAFSA tax year, 2) What happened to change it (specific dates of job losses), 3) Your current financial reality, and 4) What you're requesting from the school. Financial aid counselors review dozens of appeals, and having that clear overview right up front makes it easier for them to quickly understand your situation before diving into all the supporting documentation. It also shows you're organized and taking the process seriously. Also, don't forget to ask about payment plan options when you meet with them. Even if your SAI gets reduced through the appeal, spreading the remaining costs over monthly payments instead of lump sum payments can help preserve more of your family's emergency fund during this uncertain time. You're handling this really well by getting ahead of it now. The spring semester financial aid deadlines are still manageable if you get your appeal submitted in the next couple of weeks.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this stressful situation, but I want to echo what others have said - you absolutely have grounds for a successful appeal! Your circumstances are exactly what the professional judgment process was designed to address. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that you should also ask your financial aid office about their "cost of attendance" calculations. Sometimes schools can adjust not just your SAI based on changed circumstances, but also increase the official cost of attendance to account for additional expenses your family might face during unemployment (like COBRA health insurance premiums, job search costs, etc.). This can create more "financial need" even if your SAI doesn't decrease as much as hoped. Also, document everything in writing - after your in-person meeting, send a follow-up email summarizing what was discussed and any next steps. This creates a paper trail and shows you're serious about the process. You mentioned having siblings who will need college funding soon - that's actually a really strong point in your favor. Financial aid offices understand that families need to preserve assets for multiple children's education, especially during periods of income uncertainty. Don't give up hope! I've seen students in very similar situations get meaningful adjustments that made staying in school possible. You're being smart by addressing this proactively rather than waiting until you're in crisis mode.

As a newcomer to this community, I just want to say how incredibly helpful this entire thread has been! I'm getting ready to start the FAFSA process with my daughter and honestly had no idea about all these potential technical issues. Reading about @Paloma Clark's journey from complete frustration to finally getting resolution through the "hidden application" fix has been both terrifying and reassuring. I'm definitely saving the Claimyr recommendation and taking notes on all the troubleshooting steps everyone shared. It's amazing how this community came together to help solve such a complex system problem. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their experiences - it could save other families from missing crucial deadlines due to these technical glitches!

As a newcomer to this community and the FAFSA process, I'm so grateful for this incredibly detailed thread! Reading through @Paloma Clark's experience with the "hidden application" glitch has been both educational and nerve-wracking - I had no idea these kinds of technical issues could completely stall the application process. I'm just beginning this journey with my oldest child and I'm definitely bookmarking all the solutions mentioned here, especially the Claimyr service and that specific "hidden application" terminology that seems to help agents identify the problem faster. It's amazing how everyone came together to troubleshoot such a frustrating system issue. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and solutions - this kind of community support makes navigating these complex financial aid processes feel so much less overwhelming!