I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! My FAFSA application keeps getting stuck when I try to enter my parent's investment account information and my summer job earnings. I've been refreshing the same page for two days straight and was starting to panic about missing our school's deadline. Reading through all these experiences and solutions has been such a huge relief - it's clearly a widespread system bug, not something we're doing wrong. I'm going to try Lucas's 24-hour reset method tonight, entering each financial section separately with the full waiting period between them. It's incredibly frustrating that families have to deal with these technical glitches during such a stressful and time-sensitive process, but I'm so grateful for this community sharing practical workarounds. Thank you to everyone who took the time to document what worked for them - it's making such a difference for those of us still struggling with these broken FAFSA systems!

I'm currently experiencing this exact same problem with my 2025-2026 FAFSA! My application keeps freezing on the financial information section when I try to enter my parents' checking account balance and the small amount of child support we receive. I've been stuck on this for almost a week now and was getting really worried about missing deadlines. Reading through all these experiences and solutions has been incredibly helpful - it's such a relief to know this is a known system bug and not something I'm doing wrong. I'm definitely going to try Lucas's 24-hour reset method, entering each financial section separately with the full waiting period. It's really frustrating that such an important application has these kinds of technical issues, but I'm so grateful for this community sharing practical workarounds that actually work. Thank you all for documenting your experiences - it gives me hope that I can get this resolved!

Update: For anyone following this thread, the Department of Education just published a notice about this issue on studentaid.gov. They acknowledge the problem and state it should be resolved within 14 days. They also confirm that this status change does NOT affect your actual financial aid eligibility or calculations. Schools can still access your correct information.

This is such a relief to read! I'm a new parent going through the FAFSA process for the first time with my daughter, and when I saw this exact same thing happen to her application yesterday, I completely panicked. She had been "Processed" for weeks, then got that correction email, and boom - back to "In Process" even though we didn't change anything. I've been losing sleep thinking we somehow messed up her entire financial aid package! It's so reassuring to hear from financial aid professionals and other parents that this is a known system issue and won't actually affect her aid eligibility. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences - this community is a lifesaver for stressed parents like me!

As someone who just went through this process last year, I want to echo what everyone else is saying - you're absolutely on the right track with your questions! The SAI confusion is SO real, and honestly, even after going through it with my oldest, I still find myself double-checking things. One thing that really helped me was understanding that schools essentially have their own "budgets" for financial aid, and they allocate it differently. Some prioritize keeping their loan amounts low, others focus on meeting full need, and some use aid strategically to attract students they want most. It's like each school is playing by slightly different rules even though they're all using the same SAI starting point. Also, don't forget to look into work-study opportunities if they're offered in your aid packages - my daughter found a great campus job that not only helped financially but also gave her valuable experience and connections. Sometimes the work-study component gets overlooked when families are focused on grants and loans. You're being such a proactive parent by learning all this now. Trust me, when those award letters start coming in, you'll be so much better prepared than most families to make informed decisions! 🎓

Just wanted to jump in as another confused parent going through this for the first time! This thread has been incredibly helpful - I've been bookmark-ing responses left and right because there's so much valuable info here. I think what's hitting me the most is realizing that our SAI of $19,000 could mean we end up paying anywhere from like $15K to $30K depending on the school. That's a HUGE range when you're trying to budget and plan! The tip about calling financial aid offices directly is brilliant - I'm definitely doing that this week. And I'm stealing the spreadsheet idea too because I know I'll get overwhelmed trying to compare everything in my head when the award letters come. One thing I'm curious about - has anyone had success with the CSS Profile schools offering better aid than FAFSA-only schools? Some of my son's target schools require both and I'm wondering if that extra paperwork actually leads to more generous packages or if it's just more hoops to jump through. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences - this community is saving my sanity! 🙏

Mei, I completely understand your worry - I had the exact same anxiety when I first got my FAFSA results! Reading through all these responses has been so helpful because everyone is absolutely right. I just wanted to add my own experience: I'm currently a sophomore and received the max Pell Grant both years. The first year I was terrified it wouldn't actually come through, but it did exactly as promised. What really helped me was understanding that the Department of Education has already done all the hard work - they've calculated your need, determined your eligibility, and set aside that funding. Your SAI qualifying you for the maximum amount is like getting a voucher that's already been approved by the federal government. The school is basically just the middleman who processes the payment. As long as you stay enrolled full-time and maintain good academic standing (which sounds like you're totally prepared to do), that $7,000 is yours. I know the waiting for your school's official package is nerve-wracking, but try to shift your mindset from "will I get it?" to "when will I get it?" because the answer to the first question is definitely yes! Congratulations on qualifying for the full amount - it's going to make such a huge difference in your college journey.

Congratulations on qualifying for the maximum Pell Grant, Mei! As someone who just went through the FAFSA process myself, I can totally relate to that mix of relief and confusion. Everyone here has given you excellent advice - when you're eligible for the max Pell Grant based on your SAI, it really is guaranteed money, not a maybe. I wanted to add one thing that helped me feel more confident: once you get your official award letter from your school, you'll see the Pell Grant listed as a specific dollar amount with clear disbursement dates. That made it feel much more real and concrete for me. Also, most schools have a student portal where you can track when the funds are actually deposited to your account, which was really helpful for planning my expenses. The fact that you're taking 15 credits and this is your first year means you're in perfect shape to receive the full amount. Try to enjoy this moment - qualifying for the maximum Pell Grant is a huge accomplishment and it's going to make such a difference in your college experience!

As a newcomer to this community, I want to thank everyone for sharing such detailed experiences with the FAFSA review process! I'm currently facing a similar situation with my twin daughters' applications - both have been "In Review" for 3 weeks, and I've been losing sleep wondering if I made errors on their forms. Reading through this thread has been incredibly reassuring, especially learning that the extended review times are system-wide issues rather than problems with our specific applications. The advice about documenting correction attempts via email and the distinction between work-study and regular student income has been invaluable. It's also helpful to know that financial aid offices at colleges are aware of these delays and may be more flexible with deadlines. This community seems like such a supportive resource for parents navigating what feels like an increasingly complex financial aid process!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm so relieved to find this discussion! My son's FAFSA has been stuck "In Review" for nearly 3 weeks now, and I was starting to think we'd done something terribly wrong. Reading through everyone's experiences has been both reassuring and informative - it's clear this is a widespread issue with the new system rather than individual application problems. The advice about documenting correction attempts via email is something I hadn't thought of but makes perfect sense. I'm also grateful to learn about the distinction between work-study and regular student income, as my son had both types of earnings last year and I wasn't sure how they'd be treated differently. The tip about contacting schools directly about deadline flexibility is also really valuable - I hadn't considered that they might be accommodating the FAFSA delays. Thank you all for creating such a supportive space for parents dealing with this frustrating but apparently normal situation!