I'm a newcomer to this community and unfortunately dealing with this exact same issue! I submitted my FAFSA on December 19th and it's been stuck "in review" for over 9 weeks now. Reading through all of your experiences has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea about the Data Field Flags or that the notification system was completely broken this year. Like so many others here, I've been checking my studentaid.gov account daily expecting some kind of update or request for additional information, but there's absolutely nothing indicating any problems. I've been passively waiting this whole time thinking these delays were just the new normal, but after seeing how many people discovered hidden errors that were never communicated, I realize I need to be much more proactive. The early morning Tuesday call strategy that multiple people have mentioned sounds like my best bet - I'm definitely going to try calling at 7:30 AM EST this Tuesday. It's honestly absurd that a community forum like this is providing more useful guidance than any official FSA communication. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and specific tips - I'll make sure to update everyone on how my call goes. Hopefully I can finally get some answers about what's been holding up my application all this time!

I'm a newcomer to this community and going through the exact same frustrating experience! I submitted my FAFSA on January 15th and it's been stuck "in review" for 7+ weeks now with absolutely no communication from FSA. Reading through this entire thread has been both a huge relief and incredibly eye-opening - relief because I now know I'm not alone in this nightmare, and eye-opening because I had no idea about Data Field Flags or how completely broken the notification system is this year. Like so many others here, I've been obsessively checking my studentaid.gov account every single day expecting some kind of update, flag, or request for additional information, but there's literally nothing there indicating any problems whatsoever. I've been passively waiting this whole time thinking these massive delays were just the "new normal" for the 2025-2026 cycle, but after reading all your stories about hidden errors that were never communicated, I realize I need to stop waiting and be way more proactive. The early morning Tuesday call strategy at 7:30 AM EST that multiple people have mentioned seems to be the most consistent advice from those who actually managed to get through and resolve their issues. I'm definitely going to try calling this Tuesday morning using that approach. It's honestly mind-blowing that this community forum has provided more practical, actionable guidance than any official FSA resource or communication I've received (which is basically zero). Thank you all for sharing your specific experiences, timing tips, and what to expect when calling - this thread has been more informative than months of trying to navigate the official channels. I'll make sure to report back on how my call goes to help others who might be reading this later. Hopefully I can finally get some answers about what mystery issue has been holding up my application for almost two months!

Something else to consider is that some schools prioritize verification based on enrollment date or financial need. If you contact them, make sure to mention your housing deadline and ask if they have any emergency assistance options while you wait for your aid to process. Many schools have short-term emergency loans specifically for situations like yours.

I just went through verification last month and here's what I learned: definitely keep copies of everything you submit! I scanned all my documents before sending them in case they got lost. Also, if you're really stressed about the timeline, ask your financial aid office if they can give you a priority review since you have a housing deadline coming up. Some schools will expedite processing if you explain the urgency. In the meantime, look into your school's emergency aid fund - most schools have small grants or interest-free loans for situations exactly like yours where aid is delayed. Don't suffer in silence, they want to help you succeed!

Once your application is fully submitted (both your part and your son's part), the Department of Education will calculate your SAI and send it to the schools listed on your FAFSA. This typically takes 3-7 days, but during peak season it can take up to 3 weeks. You'll be able to see your SAI by logging into studentaid.gov and viewing your Student Aid Report (SAR). Remember that your SAI is just one factor schools use to determine financial aid. Each institution has its own methodology for distributing institutional aid beyond federal programs.

I went through the exact same confusion with my daughter's FAFSA this year! It's definitely counterintuitive that they moved parent assets to the student section. One tip that helped us: I created a simple document with all our asset information (account balances, investment values, etc.) beforehand so my daughter could reference it easily during her portion. Also, make sure you're both sitting together when he completes it - some of those asset questions can be tricky to interpret correctly. The whole process feels backwards compared to previous years, but once you know what to expect, it goes smoothly. Good luck getting your SAI!

Did you remember to list both daughters separately on the FAFSA? A lot of people with twins only enter one child by accident

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this - a 68% SAI is absolutely unreasonable! As someone new to navigating FAFSA, I've been reading through all these responses and they're incredibly helpful. That $42k inheritance you mentioned is likely the main culprit here. The FAFSA formula hits liquid assets (cash/savings) much harder than most people realize - I think it's around 5.64% of assets vs about 22-47% of income above certain thresholds. So that inheritance could be adding over $2,000 to your SAI right there, on top of the income calculation. Definitely pursue the Professional Judgment review that others mentioned - financial aid officers can often work with families when the standard formula produces unrealistic results like yours. Keep us posted on how the meetings with the colleges go!

MAKE SURE you log back in next week and check that your SAI (Student Aid Index) calculation appears correctly! There have been issues with SAI not generating properly even after successful submission.

Just wanted to add another troubleshooting tip for future students who might find this thread - if you're still stuck after checking all the suggestions above, try logging out completely and logging back in with your FSA ID. Sometimes there's a session timeout issue that isn't obvious, and a fresh login can resolve signature problems. Also, if you're using a school computer or public WiFi, try switching to your home internet or mobile data - some networks have security settings that interfere with the FAFSA submission process. Good luck to everyone dealing with these technical issues!