As for your question about timing - the actual FAFSA processing is usually quick (3-5 business days) but the new FAFSA system has been experiencing significant delays this year. Once processed, your son's Student Aid Index (SAI) will be calculated and sent to the schools listed on his FAFSA. One strategy that might help with your timeline: Some schools will accept a tuition deposit even before financial aid is finalized. You could contact the school's financial aid office directly to explain your situation and ask if they'll accept the deposit with the understanding that you're in the process of completing the FAFSA and PLUS loan application. Many schools will work with you on the timing.

Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this exact situation last year! The FAFSA requirement for Parent PLUS loans caught us completely off guard too. One thing I'd add that hasn't been mentioned - make sure you have all your tax documents ready before starting the FAFSA. The new system uses the IRS Data Retrieval Tool which can pull your tax info directly, but if that doesn't work for any reason, you'll need to input everything manually. Also, don't forget that Parent PLUS loans have higher interest rates than student loans (currently around 8.05% vs 5.5% for undergrad Direct loans), so definitely take advantage of those unsubsidized loans Chloe mentioned first. Good luck with the process - you've got this!

Great to hear you got it sorted out with Claimyr! I'm dealing with the same issue right now for my twin daughters - both FAFSAs processed but no SAI visible anywhere. I was dreading spending hours on hold with FSA, so I'm definitely going to try that callback service. Quick question - did they give you the SAI for both kids in one call, or did you need separate calls since they have different FSA IDs?

Just wanted to add another option that worked for us - if your daughter's colleges use the CSS Profile in addition to FAFSA, some schools will display the SAI in their CSS Profile institutional methodology calculations even before they fully process the FAFSA data. We found our son's SAI listed in the financial aid portal of a private college that uses CSS Profile about a week before the other schools had it available. It's worth checking if any of her schools use CSS Profile and logging into those portals first. Also, some state financial aid websites (like Cal Grant in California) will show the SAI once they receive the FAFSA data, which can be faster than waiting for individual colleges.

Just wanted to add that if your parents are truly separated (living apart with intent for permanent separation), you should also be prepared to report only one parent's income and assets going forward. Since they filed jointly in 2022, you'll use that joint return for the 2024-25 FAFSA, but you'll need to determine which parent you lived with more in the past 12 months - that's your "custodial parent" for FAFSA purposes. Their income and assets (and any new spouse's) will be what counts for future aid calculations. This can actually work in your favor financially if the custodial parent has lower income than what the joint return showed.

One thing to keep in mind is that when you report "separated" as the current marital status, the FAFSA will then ask you to identify which parent is your custodial parent (the one you lived with most during the past 12 months). This is crucial because it determines whose financial information you'll need to provide in addition to the 2022 joint tax return. Make sure you're clear on this before you start filling out that section, as it affects which parent's current assets and any new spouse information you might need to include. The custodial parent determination can be tricky if you've been splitting time between both parents since the separation.

I'm going through something very similar with my daughter starting college this fall and my son following next year. What I've discovered through extensive research is that you really need to approach this systematically. I created a detailed spreadsheet tracking not just schools' published financial aid policies, but also their actual practices based on conversations with current families. One strategy that's been working for us is applying Early Action (not Early Decision) to multiple schools to compare aid packages early. This gives you leverage to negotiate - many schools will match or beat aid offers from comparable institutions, especially if you can demonstrate multiple students in college even without the federal adjustment. Also, don't overlook work-study opportunities and campus employment. While it won't cover tuition, having your kids earn $2-3k per semester on campus can significantly help with living expenses. Some schools even have programs where siblings can share certain campus jobs or housing arrangements. The key is starting these conversations with financial aid offices now, before applications are even submitted. I've found that building relationships with aid counselors early makes a huge difference when it comes time to negotiate packages.

I'm a parent of twins who will be college sophomores next year, so I went through this exact transition when the FAFSA changes hit. The reality is brutal - our family contribution essentially doubled overnight. However, I want to share some hope and practical strategies that actually worked for us. First, the appeals process is more powerful than most people realize. I wrote detailed letters to each school explaining our multiple-student situation and attached documentation showing our unchanged income but doubled expected contribution. Three out of four schools made significant adjustments to their institutional aid - one school increased aid by $8,000 per child. Second, look into schools with "meets full need" policies. While the federal formula changed, schools like Vanderbilt, Rice, and many liberal arts colleges still consider family context in their institutional methodology. We actually ended up paying less at a "more expensive" private school than we would have at our state flagship because of their generous aid adjustment. Finally, timing can be everything. If possible, consider having one child start in spring semester rather than fall - you'll get a different aid calculation and it might help with cash flow. We also discovered that some schools have emergency aid funds specifically for families hit by the FAFSA changes. Don't give up hope - this system is broken but there are still paths forward with persistence and strategy.

wait does anyone know if child support counts as income for taxes too?? i didnt include that on my taxes last year...

As someone who's navigated this exact situation, I completely understand your frustration! The FAFSA system really doesn't capture the full financial picture for blended families. I'm so glad to see from your update that the school's financial aid office was helpful - that's exactly the right approach. For anyone else reading this thread, I want to emphasize that the Special Circumstances/Professional Judgment process is really your best friend in these situations. A few additional tips from my experience: - When documenting the child support your husband pays, include both the court order AND proof of actual payments (bank statements, etc.) since sometimes what's ordered vs. what's paid can differ - If possible, get a letter from your husband's ex confirming the amounts and that payments are current - this can help speed up the review process - Keep a detailed spreadsheet showing the net effect on your household budget (support received minus support paid out) Don't give up if the first school you contact isn't as helpful as others. Each financial aid office has different policies and some are more experienced with these complex family situations. The appeal process exists for exactly these circumstances!