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That's awesome! So glad it worked out for you. Sometimes these FAFSA glitches make me think they're intentionally making it difficult so people give up on getting financial aid!
Honestly sometimes it feels that way! I'm just relieved it's finally fixed. Now hoping my aid package doesn't get delayed because of all these issues.
As someone who just went through the 2025-2026 FAFSA cycle, I can totally relate to your frustration! The new system definitely has some quirks. I had a similar issue where I couldn't update my college list properly. What ended up working for me was a combination of the suggestions already mentioned here - clearing cache, using incognito mode, AND most importantly, doing it during off-peak hours like Grace mentioned. The timing really does matter with this new system. Also make sure you're not trying to add and remove colleges in the same session - do one action, save, log out completely, then come back later for the next change. The system seems to handle individual changes better than bulk updates. Hope this helps and glad to see you got it sorted out!
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Welcome to the community! I'm also new here and dealing with the same Parent PLUS loan confusion for my daughter who will be a returning sophomore. This thread has been incredibly helpful - I was completely panicked about missing deadlines and was about to apply for the Parent PLUS loan without having the aid package first! Reading through everyone's experiences, especially hearing from the financial aid professionals, has really put my mind at ease. The consistent advice to wait for the official aid package makes so much sense, and it's reassuring to know that schools are adjusting their timelines to accommodate the FAFSA delays. I'm planning to call our financial aid office this week based on all the recommendations here. One question I have - for those who've already called their schools, did you find it helpful to ask about estimated tuition increases for next year? I'm trying to get a rough idea of what we might be looking at compared to last year so I can start mentally preparing, even though I know the exact amount will depend on the official aid package. Thank you to everyone who's shared their knowledge and experiences. It's such a relief to know we're not navigating this stressful situation alone!
Welcome to the community! Yes, asking about estimated tuition increases when you call the financial aid office is definitely a smart idea. Most schools publish their tuition rates for the upcoming academic year by late spring, and the financial aid staff should be able to point you to where those numbers are posted or give you a ballpark figure over the phone. From what I've seen in this thread and my own experience, tuition typically increases 3-5% annually, but some schools have been more aggressive with increases lately. Getting that rough estimate will help you mentally prepare, like you said, even though the exact Parent PLUS loan amount will depend on your daughter's complete aid package. When I called my son's financial aid office last week, they were really helpful about walking me through both the estimated costs and their adjusted timeline for aid packages. It sounds like most schools are being very accommodating and understanding about family concerns this year. You're definitely on the right track with your planning - this community has been such a great resource for getting practical advice from people actually going through the same situation!
Welcome to the community! I'm also brand new here and dealing with the exact same situation with my son who's going to be a returning sophomore. Like many others, I was completely overwhelmed by the FAFSA delays and was actually considering applying for the Parent PLUS loan early just to stay ahead of things - thank goodness I found this thread first! The consistent advice from everyone, especially the financial aid professionals, to wait for the official aid package before applying makes perfect sense. It's such a relief to see that schools are being proactive about adjusting their timelines and prioritizing returning students for aid packages. I wanted to add one thing I learned when I called our financial aid office yesterday - they mentioned that they're also sending out email updates to families about their adjusted deadlines and processing timelines. The advisor suggested making sure our contact information is current in their system so we don't miss any important communications about when aid packages will be released. This community has been absolutely invaluable for understanding what felt like an impossible situation just yesterday. Thank you to everyone who's shared their experiences and expertise - it's amazing how much less stressful this all feels when you realize you're not navigating it alone!
Welcome to the community! That's such a great tip about making sure your contact information is current with the financial aid office. I hadn't thought about that, but you're absolutely right - with all these adjusted timelines and changes, we definitely don't want to miss any important updates about when aid packages are being released. I'm so glad you found this thread before applying for the Parent PLUS loan early! I was in the exact same boat and was about to make that same mistake. It's incredible how much clearer everything becomes when you can learn from others who are going through the same experience. The financial aid professionals who've commented here have been particularly helpful in explaining why waiting for the aid package is so important. I'm planning to call our financial aid office tomorrow to both confirm our contact information and ask about their timeline updates. This community really has been a lifesaver during what felt like an impossible situation - we're definitely not alone in navigating these FAFSA delays!
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I'm new to this community and just went through this exact same experience! I was filling out my 2025-2026 FAFSA yesterday and completely freaked out when I saw the bank account questions. Like so many others here, I thought it was a scam or that I had somehow ended up on a fake website. I actually closed the browser and started over three times because I was so suspicious! This thread has been a lifesaver - thank you to everyone who took the time to call and verify this information. It's really frustrating that the Department of Education didn't do a better job communicating this major change to families. A simple email or announcement on their website would have saved so many of us from this confusion and stress. I'm still not comfortable sharing my bank information, but at least now I know it's legitimate and I can move forward with my application.
Welcome to the community! I'm so glad you found this thread helpful - your experience sounds exactly like what so many of us went through. I actually did the same thing with closing and reopening the browser multiple times because I was convinced something was wrong! It's really reassuring to know we're all having the same reaction to this change. You're absolutely right that better communication from the Department of Education would have prevented so much confusion and anxiety for families. At least we have each other to help navigate these frustrating changes. Hope the rest of your FAFSA process goes smoothly!
I'm new here and just wanted to say thank you to everyone who shared their experiences! I'm a parent helping my son with his FAFSA and had the exact same panic attack when those bank account questions appeared. I literally thought we were being phished or something. Reading through this thread has been so reassuring - it's crazy how many of us had the identical reaction of thinking it was fake or a scam. The lack of communication from the Department of Education about this change is really unacceptable. They should have sent clear notifications to families about what to expect, especially since this is such a major departure from last year's simplified process. I'm still not happy about having to provide this financial information, but at least now I know we're not alone in this confusion and that it's actually legitimate. Thanks again everyone for doing the legwork to verify this!
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Thanks everyone for the advice! I think I'll take a combined approach: 1. Contact financial aid offices at my top 3-4 schools to ask about their specific procedures 2. Be honest but brief about parent employment in Common App 3. Submit FAFSA/CSS with 2023 data when it opens 4. Follow up with each school's financial aid office immediately with formal special circumstances requests 5. Make sure to ask about both college-specific adjustments AND the federal SAI adjustment process I really appreciate all the different perspectives!
Good plan! One last piece of advice - keep a detailed log of all communications with financial aid offices. Note who you spoke with, when, and what they told you. This saved us multiple times when different officers gave contradictory information or couldn't find documents we'd already submitted. Good luck!
That's great advice! I'll definitely start keeping track of everything. Getting organized now rather than scrambling later seems smart.
As a financial aid counselor, I want to emphasize something that hasn't been mentioned yet - timing matters A LOT for documentation. Start gathering your paperwork NOW, not later. You'll need: - Official termination/layoff letter from your dad's employer - Unemployment benefit award letter (if applicable) - Bank statements showing reduced income deposits - Any severance documentation - Updated tax projections for 2024 (even if estimated) Many families wait until they're asked for documentation and then scramble to get everything together. Having this ready before you even contact schools will speed up the entire process significantly. Also, some schools have earlier deadlines for special circumstances reviews than their regular financial aid deadlines, so don't assume you have until spring to handle this. One more tip: if your dad is actively job searching, keep records of that too (applications submitted, interviews, etc.) as some schools factor job search efforts into their professional judgment decisions.
This is incredibly helpful - thank you! I hadn't thought about getting documentation ready before even contacting schools. My dad's company did give him a severance package and termination letter, so I'll make sure we have copies of everything. Quick question though - when you say "updated tax projections for 2024," do you mean we need to estimate what our 2024 taxes will look like? Should we have an accountant help with that or can we do rough estimates ourselves?
You can definitely do rough estimates yourselves initially! Most schools understand these are projections, not exact figures. Create a simple spreadsheet showing: - Dad's income through February 2024 (from paystubs) - Any severance payments received - Unemployment benefits (if applicable) - Other family income for full year - Estimated total for 2024 If the income difference is substantial (sounds like it will be), the rough estimate is sufficient for the initial special circumstances request. You can always provide more detailed projections later if schools request them. Save the accountant fees unless a school specifically asks for a formal tax projection. The key is showing the dramatic change in circumstances, not perfect precision in the numbers.
Logan Scott
I went through this exact situation two years ago! The key thing to understand is that the new FAFSA rules prioritize which parent provides MORE financial support, not just custody arrangements. Since your mom provides 100% of your support and your dad contributes nothing, you should only report your mom's income initially. However, I'd recommend being proactive - start gathering documentation NOW showing your mom's sole financial support (her tax returns claiming you as dependent, receipts for major expenses like medical/school costs, etc.) in case you need to file a special circumstances appeal later. Also, reach out to the financial aid offices at your target schools early to explain your situation - many are familiar with divorced parent issues and can walk you through their specific process. Don't let your dad's income on paper destroy your aid eligibility when he's not actually contributing!
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CosmicCommander
•This is so reassuring to hear from someone who actually went through it! I'm definitely going to start gathering all that documentation now. Quick question - when you say "receipts for major expenses," what kinds of things counted? Like would things like my school registration fees, doctor visits, car insurance count as proof my mom supports me financially? I want to make sure I'm collecting the right stuff in case I need it later.
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Fatima Al-Suwaidi
•Yes, those are exactly the kinds of receipts that help! Car insurance, medical bills, school fees, even things like clothes shopping or groceries if your mom pays for them regularly. I also included bank statements showing my mom's regular transfers to my checking account for personal expenses, proof she paid my phone bill, and documentation that she covers my health insurance through her work. The financial aid office told me they want to see a clear pattern that shows your mom is your primary source of financial support - so anything that demonstrates she's covering your basic living expenses works. Bank records are especially helpful because they create a clear paper trail of who's actually paying for what.
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NeonNebula
I'm dealing with a similar nightmare right now! My parents divorced 5 years ago and my dad moved across the country. He's legally supposed to pay child support but rarely does, and when the FAFSA asked about his income I panicked because I know he makes way more than my mom. Reading through all these responses though, it sounds like the key is documenting that your mom provides all your actual support. I'm going to start collecting everything - bank statements, receipts, insurance records, everything that shows my mom is the one actually taking care of me financially. The special circumstances appeal route seems like our best bet. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences, this thread is giving me hope that I won't get totally screwed over by my deadbeat dad's income!
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