I'm new to this community but wanted to chime in as someone who works with students in transitional situations. Your niece's case is actually more common than people realize, and it sounds like you're handling it exactly right by selecting "None of the above" for the orphan/ward question. One additional resource I'd suggest looking into is the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) website - they have great explanations of dependency status rules that can help you understand exactly why certain answers are required. It might give you both more confidence in your FAFSA responses. Also, many states have "former foster youth" or "homeless/unaccompanied youth" liaisons in their education departments who can provide guidance even for students who don't fit those exact categories but are in similar transitional situations. These folks often know about additional funding sources and support programs. You're doing an incredible job advocating for your niece during such a difficult time. The thoroughness you're showing in getting this right will pay off when she starts receiving aid packages.

I'm really impressed by how thoroughly everyone has addressed this situation! As someone who's been lurking in this community for a while but just created an account, I wanted to say how helpful it is to see such detailed, caring responses to complex FAFSA questions. One small thing I'd add based on my experience working with students - when your niece contacts the financial aid offices at her prospective schools, she should ask specifically about their "professional judgment" process. Some schools are more generous than others in using this discretion for students with unusual circumstances, and it can make a significant difference in her final aid package. Also, if she's considering multiple schools, it might be worth applying to a mix of public and private institutions. Sometimes private schools have more institutional aid available for students in her situation, even if their sticker price seems higher initially. Best of luck to both of you - it's clear she has an amazing advocate in you!

So glad to hear you got it resolved! That $45 AGI difference causing such a major headache is absolutely ridiculous - the FAFSA system really needs better error handling. Your experience is going to help so many other students who run into this same issue. For anyone else reading this thread, here's a quick summary of what worked for Jamal: 1. Use Claimyr service to actually reach a human agent without waiting on hold for hours 2. Double-check that manually entered tax info matches IRS records EXACTLY (even small differences can cause 401 errors) 3. Try resetting your FSA ID password even if you think it's correct 4. Clear browser cache completely and use incognito mode 5. Check for multiple saved applications in your account Thanks for updating us with the solution - this thread is going to be a lifesaver for future students dealing with the same problem!

As a newcomer to this community, I just want to say THANK YOU for this incredibly detailed thread! I'm currently dealing with the exact same 401 error on my FAFSA application and was about to have a complete meltdown. Reading through all these solutions has given me hope that I can actually get this resolved before my deadline. I'm definitely going to try the Claimyr service first since it sounds like talking to a real person is the key to figuring out what's actually wrong. The fact that a $45 difference in AGI can cause such chaos is honestly mind-blowing - no wonder so many students are struggling with this process. Has anyone noticed if this issue is more common this year compared to previous years? I'm wondering if all the FAFSA Simplification changes have made the system more sensitive to data mismatches. Either way, this thread is going to save me (and probably countless other students) from weeks of frustration!

One more thing to check: make sure you're on the legitimate studentaid.gov website. There are unfortunately some scam sites that look very similar to the official FAFSA site. The official site will have a .gov domain and a secure connection (https). If you've been using a bookmark, try accessing the site directly by typing studentaid.gov in your browser to ensure you're on the correct site.

That's amazing that you got it resolved so quickly with Claimyr! I'm dealing with a similar SS# mismatch issue right now and have been on hold with FSA for over 2 hours today. It's so frustrating when it's an error on their end but we're the ones who have to jump through hoops to fix it. Thanks for sharing your solution - I'm going to try that service too. Did they charge anything for connecting you to the agent?

UPDATE: We finally got through!! My son checked his FSA inbox as someone suggested and found a different phone number specifically for verification issues. Still took 4 calls, but eventually got connected to someone who could help. They said there was an issue with how my birthdate format was entered - even though it looked correct on our end! The agent manually overrode the verification flag and said our application should be processed within 3-5 business days. Thanks everyone for your suggestions and support through this frustrating process!

Congratulations on getting it resolved! This is such valuable information for others dealing with the same issue. The birthdate format bug is something I hadn't heard about before - it's crazy how these seemingly minor technical glitches can cause such major headaches for families trying to secure financial aid. Your persistence really paid off, and I'm sure your experience will help other parents who find this thread when they're going through the same nightmare. Fingers crossed your son's aid package comes through quickly now!

My parents use my address for everything cause they move around a lot but I never include them on my FAFSA. Been doing it this way for years with no problem. You're good.

Just wanted to add that if you do get selected for verification, make sure you have copies of your lease agreement and any documents showing you pay your own bills. I got selected last year as an independent student and the school's financial aid office was really helpful in walking me through what documentation they needed. The process was way less scary than I thought it would be! Good luck with your FAFSA!