I'm dealing with a similar SSA verification delay right now - it's been about 2.5 weeks for me. Reading through all these responses has been really helpful! I had no idea about checking the "Processing Results" section specifically, or that there could be technical glitches that require "kicking" the system with a correction. One thing I wanted to add for anyone else facing this: I called my school's financial aid office early in the process and they told me they keep a list of students with SSA verification delays, so when aid packages are being put together, they know to check back on those applications. Definitely worth letting your school know even if you haven't hit their deadline yet. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it's reassuring to know this is a common issue and not just me doing something wrong!

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! My FAFSA has been stuck on SSA verification for about 2 weeks and I was starting to panic. This thread has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea about checking the "Processing Results" section specifically, or that name mismatches (even tiny ones like hyphens or spaces) could cause such long delays. I'm going to double-check my information against my Social Security card right now and contact my school's financial aid office tomorrow to let them know about the delay. It's actually really reassuring to know this is such a common issue and that most schools have procedures to handle these situations. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and solutions!

Maya, this thread has been absolutely wonderful to read! As a recent grad who lived off-campus for my last two years using financial aid, I can confirm everything everyone has said - YES, you can definitely use both FAFSA funds and Parent Plus loans for off-campus housing! You've received incredible advice here, but I wanted to add one thing that really saved me: **ask your financial aid office about their "early disbursement" policy**. Some schools will disburse aid a few days earlier if you're living off-campus and have documentation showing your rent is due before the standard disbursement date. Not all schools do this, but mine did and it made timing so much easier! Also, since you mentioned feeling "dumb" for asking - please don't! I remember calling the financial aid office probably 6 times my first semester because I kept thinking of new questions. The staff there told me they'd much rather have students ask questions upfront than run into problems later. You're being incredibly responsible and smart by planning ahead. Your decision to go off-campus sounds financially wise, especially if you found a cheaper option than the dorms. I ended up saving almost $5,000 over my two years off-campus, which helped me graduate with less debt. Keep us posted on how your call with financial aid goes tomorrow - you've got a whole community here cheering you on! 🎓💙

Maya, what an incredible thread this has become! As someone who just wrapped up my junior year living off-campus using financial aid, I can absolutely confirm what everyone has said - YES, you can definitely use both FAFSA funds and Parent Plus loans for off-campus housing! Reading through all these responses, you've gotten some of the best real-world advice I've ever seen in one place. Everyone has covered the key points perfectly: call your financial aid office first, get that exact housing allowance number, make sure you're classified correctly as "off-campus," and plan for timing issues with deposits. One small thing I'd add that helped me: when you're apartment hunting, consider asking potential landlords if they've worked with college students before. Some are really understanding about financial aid disbursement timing and might even be flexible with due dates for your first month if you can show them your award letter. Also, don't forget to factor in internet costs when budgeting! It's usually not included in rent but is absolutely essential for school. I budget about $50/month for reliable internet. You're making such a smart financial decision by choosing the cheaper off-campus option. I've saved thousands compared to dorms over the past two years, and the independence has been amazing for my personal growth too. Best of luck with your call to financial aid tomorrow - you're going to do great! This community will be here if you have any follow-up questions after you get those official details. You've got this! 🏠✨

I'm new here but dealing with exactly the same situation! My daughter's SAI came out to $28,900 (compared to last year's EFC of around $15,500) and she also got Work-Study eligibility. I was completely panicking when I first saw that number, but reading through everyone's experiences here has been so helpful. It sounds like the Work-Study eligibility is actually a good sign that there's still some level of need recognition in the system, even with these higher SAI numbers. The advice about waiting for actual aid packages from individual schools makes total sense - apparently the colleges have much more flexibility with their institutional aid than the federal calculations suggest. I'm definitely going to try that Claimyr service to get through to FSA and ask about the dramatic change in our numbers. Thank you all for sharing your stories - it's such a relief to know so many families are going through this exact same confusion with the new FAFSA system!

I'm new to this community but going through the exact same stress! My son's SAI jumped to $31,200 from last year's EFC of $18,400, but he also received Work-Study eligibility. I was absolutely terrified when I first saw that number - it felt like we'd gone from having some hope for aid to being completely priced out. But reading through all these responses has been incredibly reassuring. It's clear that so many families are experiencing these dramatic jumps in their numbers, and the Work-Study eligibility seems to be a consistent positive indicator across all our situations. The advice about waiting for individual school aid packages really makes sense - apparently the colleges have much more flexibility than the federal calculations suggest. I'm definitely going to try that Claimyr service to get through to FSA and understand the new formula better. Thank you all for sharing your experiences - finding this community has been such a lifeline during this confusing transition to the new FAFSA system!

That gap between your SAI and actual costs is unfortunately pretty common! The SAI is just one factor schools use - they also consider their own institutional methodology and available funding. A few things to try: 1) Definitely call the financial aid office to ask for a breakdown of how they calculated your package, 2) Ask if there are any additional scholarships you can apply for, 3) See if they can reconsider if your family's financial situation has changed recently. Many schools are willing to work with families, especially if you can demonstrate need beyond what the FAFSA captured. Don't be afraid to advocate for your daughter!

I went through this exact same situation last year with my son! His SAI was around $5,500 but we ended up paying about $13,000 out of pocket. What I learned is that the SAI is more like a starting point for federal aid eligibility rather than what you'll actually pay. Schools often have limited institutional aid to go around, so they can't always meet full demonstrated need. One thing that really helped us was submitting a financial aid appeal with documentation of any special circumstances - things like medical expenses, job loss, or caring for elderly parents that might not show up clearly on the FAFSA. We ended up getting an additional $2,000 in grants after the appeal. Also, don't forget to look into work-study opportunities and see if your daughter can take on a small campus job to help cover some costs!

I'm new to this whole FAFSA process and honestly feeling pretty overwhelmed reading through everyone's experiences! My application just changed to "processed" status yesterday and I was expecting it to eventually say "approved" - so glad I found this thread because now I understand that's actually the final status. My biggest concern is that I have NO idea what my expected aid amount will be, so I don't even know how much I might need to pay out of pocket. When you all called your financial aid offices, were they able to give you an estimate of your aid package even before it was finalized? I'm worried about calling and them not having any information yet since my FAFSA just processed. Also, for those who got payment deferrals - did you have to fill out specific forms or was it automatic once they saw you had pending aid? Thanks for all the helpful info in this thread!

Just wanted to jump in with some additional reassurance! I work as a student financial aid advisor and see this exact situation dozens of times every semester. The confusion about "processed" vs "approved" is totally understandable - the FAFSA website really could be clearer about this! Here's what I always tell students: once your FAFSA shows "processed," you're done with that part. The federal government has calculated your Student Aid Index (SAI) and sent your data to your schools. Now it's entirely in your school's hands to create your aid package. Most schools have what we call "financial aid deferrals" or "pending aid holds" that automatically kick in when they see you have a FAFSA on file. However, policies vary widely between institutions, so definitely call your specific school. When you call, ask these key questions: 1) Has my FAFSA data been received? 2) What's your policy for students with pending aid regarding payment deadlines? 3) Can you provide an estimated aid amount for billing purposes? 4) What's your typical timeline for finalizing aid packages? Don't stress too much - schools want to help you stay enrolled and have systems in place for exactly this situation!