As a newcomer to this community, I want to add my voice to thank everyone who contributed to this incredibly helpful discussion! I'm a returning adult student who has been working overseas as a consultant, and I was completely stumped by this Foreign Earned Income Exclusion formatting issue on my FAFSA. Like everyone else here, I kept trying to enter the exclusion as a negative number since that's exactly how it appears on my tax documents. It's so validating to read through all these similar experiences and realize that this counterintuitive "positive number solution" is actually the correct approach, even though it feels completely wrong at first. What really impresses me about this thread is how it's become such a comprehensive guide for various international income situations - from military families to contractors to international students. The official FAFSA instructions clearly fall short when it comes to these non-standard tax scenarios, but this community has filled that gap with real-world experiences and practical solutions. I'm planning to tackle my FAFSA submission this week using the positive number approach that everyone has validated. Thank you all for creating such a supportive and informative discussion - this is exactly the kind of peer-to-peer knowledge sharing that makes these online communities so valuable!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm incredibly grateful to have found this thread! I'm dealing with the exact same Foreign Earned Income Exclusion issue and was pulling my hair out trying to figure out why FAFSA kept rejecting my entries. Reading through everyone's experiences has been such a relief - it's amazing how many of us went through the identical frustration of trying to enter what logically should be a negative number, only to discover that the system actually expects it as a positive value in the dedicated field. The counterintuitive nature of this is mind-boggling, but clearly that's just how FAFSA is programmed to handle these exclusions. I'm particularly thankful for all the detailed explanations and real-world examples from different international income situations. This thread has become the comprehensive guide that the official FAFSA documentation should have been from the start! I'll be submitting my application this weekend using the positive number approach that everyone has successfully validated. Thank you all for sharing your hard-won knowledge and creating such a valuable resource for navigating these bureaucratic hurdles!

Another tip: GET THE MOBILE APP!! Both of you! It makes connecting accounts so much easier. I tried doing everything through the website last year and it was a disaster. The app walks you through everything step by step. Trust me on this.

As someone just starting this process with my daughter, this thread has been incredibly helpful! I had no idea about the separate account requirement and was about to make the same mistake of trying to use my old account for everything. Quick question - when you mention the mobile app, is that the "Federal Student Aid" app or something else? I want to make sure I download the right one. Also, @Liam Fitzgerald, thanks for explaining the SAI changes - I hadn't heard about those updates and it sounds like they could actually benefit some families compared to the old EFC system.

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm in a similar boat with grandparent vs parent-owned 529 confusion. One thing I wanted to add that might help others - I just went through the FAFSA correction process for a different issue last month, and it was actually much smoother than I expected. You can log back into your FSA ID and make changes directly online for most corrections. The key is making sure you have all your documentation ready before you start. Also, don't forget that if you do transfer the 529 back to your mom, you'll want to make sure she understands she'll need to report any distributions on her tax return going forward (though this usually doesn't create any tax liability if used for qualified education expenses). The peace of mind from potentially getting more aid might be worth the paperwork hassle, especially with $63k involved!

As someone who works in college financial aid, I wanted to add a few practical tips for anyone considering this type of 529 ownership transfer. First, definitely contact your 529 plan provider before making any moves - each state's plan has different rules and some require specific forms or have waiting periods. Second, when you do make the FAFSA correction, be prepared to provide documentation showing the legitimate reason for the transfer (like proof your mom was the original owner). Third, consider the timing carefully - if your kid is already a senior and this is their last year of aid, the benefit might be minimal compared to the hassle. But for families with younger students or multiple kids like the OP, it could definitely be worth it. The key is being transparent with financial aid offices about why you're making the change - they deal with these situations more often than you'd think and are usually helpful if you're upfront about it!

I went through something similar when I started working more hours during my junior year! One thing I wish someone had told me earlier is that you can actually request a "professional judgment review" from your financial aid office if your income situation changes significantly after you file your FAFSA. This won't help with the prior-prior year issue, but if you end up in a situation where you worked a lot one semester but then your income drops again (like if you quit to focus on studies), they can sometimes adjust your aid package. Also, definitely look into whether your school offers any emergency grants or scholarships specifically for students who are working to avoid taking on more loans - many schools have these but don't advertise them well. The fact that you're thinking ahead about this shows you're being really responsible about your financial planning!

Hey Lucas! I just wanted to add one more perspective as someone who's been through the financial aid process multiple times. Something that really helped me was creating a multi-year financial plan before making any major work decisions. I actually made a spreadsheet that showed my projected aid for the next few years based on different income scenarios - it was eye-opening! Also, don't forget that some types of income have different treatment on FAFSA. For example, if any of your work involves tutoring other students or certain educational services, that might qualify for different reporting categories. Another tip: if you do end up working full-time, consider asking your employer about tuition assistance programs - many companies offer education benefits that can help offset any aid you might lose. The combination of everyone's advice here plus some strategic planning should help you make the best decision for both your immediate needs and long-term educational goals. You've got this!

This is such a relief to read! I've been panicking for the last two days thinking I was doing something wrong. The sign-in button has been completely unresponsive for me too, and I tried all the usual troubleshooting steps. It's so frustrating that they don't put clear notices on the website when they're doing maintenance - would save everyone so much stress! I'm going to try again now that others are saying it's working, and I'll definitely contact my school's financial aid office first thing tomorrow to let them know about the delays. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and solutions - this thread has been a lifesaver!

Just went through this exact same frustration last week! The greyed-out sign-in button issue seems to happen pretty regularly during their system updates. I'm glad to see from the recent comments that it's working again now. For anyone who might face this in the future, I found that having multiple backup plans really helps - like having the financial aid office contact info saved, taking screenshots for documentation, and even trying different devices/networks. The FAFSA system can be so unreliable during peak times, but at least this community is great at sharing solutions and supporting each other through these stressful situations!