I just joined this community because I'm having the EXACT same problem! Got my first "Action Required" email yesterday and immediately panicked thinking we messed something up with our FAFSA. But when I logged into studentaid.gov, everything looks completely normal - just shows "processing" status with no errors or warnings anywhere. Reading through this entire thread has been such a lifesaver! It's incredible how many families are dealing with this same issue. The fact that @Yuki Sato confirmed this is a known system glitch from the Department of Education makes me feel so much better. We submitted our FAFSA about 12 days ago and like everyone else, my son's college keeps asking for updates. It's so awkward trying to explain that we're getting error emails but our account shows everything is fine! I'm definitely going to try the hidden button trick on the contribution summary page that @Andre Dubois mentioned. If that doesn't work, I might have to bite the bullet and use that Claimyr service to actually get through to someone at FSA. The regular phone line seems like a nightmare based on everyone's experiences here. Thank you all for sharing your stories and solutions - knowing this is a widespread technical issue and not something we did wrong has taken such a huge weight off my shoulders! This new FAFSA system has been an absolute disaster this year.

I'm brand new to this community but stumbled across this thread while desperately searching for answers about this exact same issue! Just received my second "Action Required" email this morning and was starting to panic until I found all of your experiences here. Like everyone else, our FAFSA dashboard shows "processing" with absolutely no visible errors or action items anywhere. We submitted about 8 days ago and I've been triple-checking everything thinking we must have missed something important. This thread has been such a godsend - knowing this is a confirmed widespread system glitch rather than our mistake has given me so much peace of mind! I'm definitely going to try @Andre Dubois's suggestion about checking that hidden "view status" button on the contribution summary page tonight. The new FAFSA system has been such a nightmare this year. Between the delayed launch, processing delays, and now these phantom error emails, it's adding so much unnecessary stress to families already worried about college costs. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and solutions - it's amazing how this community has come together to help each other navigate this mess!

I'm in a very similar boat - our SAI went from -$900 to $150 this year and I've been losing sleep over it! Reading through these responses has been so helpful, especially hearing from people who've actually been through this. It sounds like the key takeaway is that most schools look at the bigger picture beyond just the SAI number, which is reassuring. I'm definitely going to call my daughter's financial aid office this week to discuss it proactively like several people suggested. Has anyone had luck getting preliminary estimates from their school's aid office before the official packages come out? I'm hoping they might be able to give us some idea of what to expect rather than waiting until May to find out.

I went through this exact same worry two years ago when my son was a sophomore! Our SAI changed from -$1,100 to $0, and I was convinced we'd lose thousands in aid. The reality was much less dramatic - his package only decreased by about $600 total. What really helped was understanding that most schools don't just plug your SAI into a formula and call it a day. They look at trends in your financial situation, family circumstances, and academic performance. Since your income only went up $2,800 and everything else stayed the same, you're showing consistency rather than a major change in financial capacity. One thing I wish I'd known earlier: some schools have "SAI bands" rather than using exact numbers. So a change from -$1,500 to $0 might not even move you into a different aid category at your daughter's school. Definitely worth asking about when you call their financial aid office!

Carlos, I'm so sorry for your loss. Dealing with grief while navigating these complex financial aid implications is incredibly challenging. One important thing to clarify - are you currently listed as a dependent or independent student on your FAFSA? If you were previously dependent on your mom and she's now deceased, you may qualify as an independent student, which could actually help your situation since independent students have higher asset protection allowances. Also, regarding the house specifically - since your sister is living there and it's serving as her primary residence, there might be arguments for treating it differently in asset calculations. Some schools have more flexibility in how they handle family property that's providing housing for dependents. I'd recommend gathering these documents before meeting with your financial aid office: - Death certificate - Estate/probate documents showing asset transfers - Documentation of your sister's living situation - Records of any funeral/estate administration expenses you've paid Each school handles professional judgment differently, but your situation - sudden loss of parent with unexpected asset inheritance - is exactly what these provisions were designed to address. Don't lose hope about your financial aid eligibility just yet.

Carlos, I'm so deeply sorry for the loss of your mother. What you're going through is unimaginably difficult, and I admire your strength in trying to navigate these complex issues while grieving. I wanted to add something that others have touched on but bears emphasizing: the distinction between your dependency status change and how that affects asset protection. Since you're now an orphaned student under 24, you automatically qualify as an independent student for FAFSA purposes. This is actually significant because independent students have different asset protection allowances than dependent students. Additionally, I'd recommend documenting your role as your sister's caretaker. Since she's a minor still in high school and living in the inherited home, you may be able to argue that the house serves an essential function beyond just being an asset - it's providing stability for a minor dependent during a traumatic time. When you meet with your financial aid office, emphasize that: 1. Your actual earning capacity hasn't changed 2. The inheritance came with responsibilities (caring for minor sister) 3. The assets aren't liquid wealth but rather represent obligations and necessities Many financial aid officers are trained to recognize situations exactly like yours. The special circumstances process exists because the FAFSA can't capture every unique situation. Don't be afraid to advocate for yourself - your situation absolutely warrants special consideration. Take care of yourself during this process. You're handling an enormous burden for someone your age.

also make sure you look at the actual award letters when they come in!!! my sons SAI was similar (around 750) but the actual offers from different schools varied by like $15k!! some schools are way more generous than others even with the same fafsa info

That's fantastic news! An SAI of 690 puts your daughter in an excellent position for financial aid. Just to add some perspective - you might also want to check if your state has additional grant programs for students with low SAI numbers. Many states offer their own need-based grants that stack on top of federal aid. Also, don't forget to have your daughter apply for the work-study program at her schools if she's interested - with her SAI, she'll likely qualify and it can help cover personal expenses. The key thing now is just being patient while the schools process everything. You're doing great navigating this process!

Just an FYI - my wife and I retired last year and went through this whole process. Here's what to expect: 1. The FAFSA itself has NO mechanism to report income changes. None. You must use your tax return data from 2023. 2. Most schools had us fill out a "Special Circumstances" form plus provide documentation of our retirement and new income level. 3. Timeline-wise, we submitted the FAFSA in October, immediately contacted schools about the income change, submitted all documentation by December, and most schools adjusted our daughter's aid packages before the regular April decision letters went out. A couple schools made us wait until May for adjusted packages. 4. One school refused to adjust at all, claiming our retirement assets offset the income reduction (completely unfair, but they wouldn't budge). 5. Start gathering: last pay stubs, retirement letter, pension statements, Social Security estimates, current bank/investment statements. Good luck! It's a frustrating process but worth fighting for.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet - if you're retiring in 3 months, you might want to consider delaying your FAFSA submission until early 2025 if possible. While the "prior-prior year" rule means you'll still use 2023 tax data, being able to show you're already retired when you submit might strengthen your appeal case with financial aid officers. Also, document EVERYTHING about your retirement transition - separation agreements, final pay dates, benefit election forms, etc. I've heard some schools are more receptive to appeals when they can see the retirement was planned/structured rather than just a sudden decision. The more official documentation you have, the better your chances of getting approved quickly. Start reaching out to financial aid offices at your daughter's target schools NOW to ask about their specific appeal processes and timelines. Some schools are way more generous with professional judgment than others, and this could actually influence where she applies or chooses to attend.