UPDATE: Just got the email that my FAFSA has been fully processed and my SAI calculation is complete! It took 6 days total from submission to completion. The email says my data was successfully retrieved from the IRS and my information has been sent to the schools I selected. Thanks everyone for your help and advice. For anyone else experiencing this, it seems the new system does work - it just takes some patience!

I'm going through this exact same process right now! Just submitted my FAFSA three days ago and got that same email about the IRS data request. It's reassuring to see from the updates that the system is actually working, just takes some patience. The new direct data exchange sounds like it should be more accurate than manually entering everything, even if it's nerve-wracking to wait. Thanks for sharing your experience - it helps to know others are navigating this too!

I'm experiencing this exact same issue and it's driving me absolutely insane! My family's AGI is around $54k and we qualify for reduced lunch, so we should definitely be eligible for the simplified needs test. But just like everyone else here, I'm stuck in this nightmare loop where I get asset error messages even though the system never asked me about assets initially. I've tried the correction process five times now and it's the same story every time - identical screens, no asset questions appear, I submit, and then boom - same error messages about missing asset information. It's like the system is actively working against families who need financial aid the most. Thank you so much @Diego Vargas for that crucial update about the Department of Education acknowledging this as a known issue and schools being able to override these errors. That gives me some hope! I'm definitely calling the financial aid offices at my son's target schools first thing tomorrow morning. This whole FAFSA rollout has been such a disaster. I can't believe they launched a system this broken when so many families are depending on it for their children's education. The stress and anxiety this is causing during an already overwhelming college application process is just unacceptable.

I'm dealing with this exact same frustrating issue! My family's AGI is around $49k and we qualify for free lunch, so we should definitely be covered under the simplified needs test. But I'm experiencing the identical problem everyone else is describing - getting asset error messages even though the system never showed me any asset questions to begin with. I've been stuck in this correction loop for about two weeks now. Every time I try to fix the "errors," it takes me through the same exact screens, never shows any new asset questions, and then gives me the same error messages when I submit. It's absolutely maddening! After reading through all these responses, I feel so much better knowing this is a widespread system bug and not something I'm doing wrong. @Diego Vargas, thank you for that incredibly helpful update about the Department of Education acknowledging this issue and schools being able to override these errors. That's the first bit of hope I've had in this whole ordeal. I'm definitely going to call the financial aid offices at my daughter's schools tomorrow morning. It's frustrating that we have to work around the system like this, but I'm just grateful there seems to be a path forward. This whole FAFSA rollout has been such a nightmare for families who are already stressed about college costs. Hopefully they get this fixed soon so other families don't have to go through this!

I'm another parent just starting this journey and this entire discussion has been a lifesaver! My daughter is also a senior and I was completely lost about the FSA ID requirements. Reading through everyone's experiences has made me realize I'm not the only one who found the official government explanations confusing. The consensus seems clear - we both need separate FSA IDs, start the process 2-3 weeks early, have daughter create hers first, then I create mine with different contact info, and make sure all tax documents are finalized before starting. I particularly appreciate the warnings about scam websites and the tip about testing login credentials beforehand. It's so reassuring to have this roadmap from parents who've actually been through it! Thank you all for sharing your real-world experiences and making this feel much less intimidating.

I'm also a first-time FAFSA parent and this thread has been absolutely incredible! My son will be starting college in the fall and I was so confused about whether we needed one FSA ID or two. Reading through all these responses has completely cleared that up - we definitely both need separate accounts with different email addresses. What I found most reassuring is hearing from so many parents who went through the exact same confusion I'm experiencing. The step-by-step breakdown everyone has provided is so much clearer than anything I found on the official websites. I'm planning to follow the timeline advice - have my son create his FSA ID first, then I'll create mine a few days later, and we'll start the actual FAFSA process at least 2-3 weeks before any deadlines. The tip about having finalized tax documents ready before starting is huge too. Thank you all for making this feel so much less overwhelming!

Just wanted to jump in as someone who's helping their younger sibling through this process right now! One thing I wish I had known earlier is that some schools have their own financial aid portals where you can check the status of your application even before they send out official aid packages. It's worth creating accounts on each school's student portal if you haven't already - sometimes they'll show "FAFSA received" or "under review" which can give you peace of mind that everything went through properly. Also, if you're planning to apply for any merit scholarships at your schools, don't wait! Many have deadlines in the next few months and some require separate applications. The financial aid office can usually tell you what scholarships you might be eligible for based on your academics/activities. Good luck with everything - you're definitely ahead of the game getting your FAFSA submitted this early!

Welcome to the community! As someone who just went through this same process, I wanted to share a few additional things that helped me stay organized after submitting my FAFSA: 1. Set calendar reminders to check your email and school portals weekly - aid updates can come at random times 2. Keep digital copies of all your FAFSA documents in a folder on your computer - you might need them again for verification or corrections 3. Research each school's typical aid timeline - some are much faster than others at getting packages out One thing that really stressed me out last year was not knowing if schools actually received my FAFSA data. Most schools have a "to-do list" or checklist in their student portal that will show when they've received your FAFSA, so definitely set up those accounts as others mentioned. Also, if you haven't already, make sure you know the difference between subsidized and unsubsidized loans before you get your aid offers - it'll help you make better decisions when the time comes. The entrance counseling covers this but it's good to understand beforehand. You're doing great getting started early!

one more thing - tell her to make sure her son has his OWN FSA ID not using hers!! my daughter got all messed up cuz we didnt know this and tried to use my email for everything

As a newcomer to this community, I just want to say how helpful this thread has been! I'm in a similar situation with my sister who's been navigating FAFSA as a single mom. Reading through everyone's experiences and the official guidance has really clarified things. One question I haven't seen addressed - if the custodial parent (like your cousin) has joint legal custody but primary physical custody, does that change anything for FAFSA purposes? My sister has a similar arrangement where she has her daughter most of the time but they technically share legal decision-making. Also, I noticed someone mentioned keeping documentation ready for verification. Has anyone had experience with what specific documents they might request during that process?