This thread is exactly what I needed to find! I'm dealing with this same nightmare - got the "successfully submitted" email on Monday, then "missing information" today. It's so frustrating because you think you're done and then BAM, back to square one. Reading through everyone's experiences, it's clear this isn't user error but a legitimate system problem. I'm definitely going to try the password reset method tonight. Quick question for those who've been through this - when you reset your FSA ID passwords, did you reset both parent and student at exactly the same time, or does the timing not matter as long as you wait the 24 hours before attempting signatures again? Also, has anyone noticed if this issue happens more with certain types of applications (like dependent vs independent students)? Thanks for creating such a helpful resource thread - wish the official FAFSA help was this useful!

Just wanted to add my experience to this incredibly helpful thread! I'm a parent helping my daughter with her junior year FAFSA, and we hit this exact same issue last week - "successfully processed" email on Thursday, then "missing information" on Tuesday. After reading through all the solutions here, we tried the password reset method that @Cameron Black suggested, and it worked perfectly! One additional tip I discovered: after resetting passwords and waiting the 24 hours, I noticed the system seemed to work better when we completed the entire signature process between 10 PM - 6 AM EST. I think there might be less server load during those hours. We tried twice during peak daytime hours and got error messages, but it went through smoothly at 11 PM on our third attempt. Also want to emphasize what others have said about taking screenshots - I screenshotted every confirmation page this time, which gave me peace of mind. Our SAR came through in exactly 7 days after the final confirmation. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and technical workarounds. This community knowledge is invaluable when dealing with such a broken system!

Just checking in - were you able to make any progress with contacting FAFSA? If you're still struggling, I recommend documenting everything and bringing it to your school's financial aid office ASAP to request an extension on their deadline. Most schools have contingency plans for FAFSA verification delays, especially with all the problems this application cycle.

That's such great news that your financial aid office was able to help! This is exactly why I always tell students to get their school involved early - they have so much more power to work with FAFSA behind the scenes than people realize. The 3-week extension should give you plenty of time to resolve the verification issue. For anyone else reading this thread who might be in a similar situation, Evelyn's experience shows that visiting your financial aid office in person with all your documentation really is the way to go. They can often work magic that individual phone calls to FAFSA can't accomplish!

Welcome to the community! I'm new here too and this thread has been incredibly helpful. I was in almost the exact same situation last week - totally stressed about tax filing status and FAFSA deadlines. Like others mentioned, definitely check which tax year you actually need first! I made the same mistake initially thinking I needed my most recent taxes when I actually needed the prior-prior year. Once I figured that out, everything became so much easier. The FAFSA can definitely be overwhelming at first, but this community seems really supportive. Good luck with your application!

As someone who just went through this process, I can't stress enough how important it is to get the tax year right! I was in the same boat earlier this year - panicking about my accountant not filing my 2024 taxes yet, only to discover I actually needed my 2023 taxes which were already processed months ago. The prior-prior year rule is confusing but it's actually designed to make things easier since those tax returns are already complete and processed by the IRS. One tip that saved me time: before you start entering numbers, have your actual tax return pulled up (either downloaded from the IRS website or your paper copy) and enter the information line by line exactly as it appears. The IRS Data Retrieval Tool is great when it works, but sometimes it's faster to just enter everything manually to avoid any potential hiccups. You're doing great by starting early - that's honestly half the battle with financial aid!

I understand your stress completely! As someone who works in financial aid, I can confirm what others have said - Parent PLUS loans are credit-based, not income-based, so your marriage won't prevent you from borrowing the full amount needed. However, there's one nuance worth mentioning: while your new spouse's income won't affect Parent PLUS eligibility, it WILL impact your daughter's need-based aid calculation. This means she might receive less in grants or subsidized loans, which could increase the amount you need to borrow through Parent PLUS. But the good news is you can still borrow up to the full cost of attendance. For the custody situation, definitely keep records showing you provide more financial support than your ex. This includes things like health insurance premiums, medical expenses, clothing, school supplies, etc. The "financial support" rule is newer and many people (including some school counselors) still think it's about physical custody. Don't postpone your wedding over this! You'll be able to cover her education costs either way. Just be prepared that you might need to borrow slightly more if she loses some grant eligibility due to the higher household income.

Just wanted to add my perspective as someone who went through this exact situation two years ago! I was also worried about getting married before my son started college, but it worked out fine with the Parent PLUS loan. One thing I wish someone had told me earlier - even though your new spouse's income won't affect the Parent PLUS loan approval or maximum amount, it's still worth having a conversation with your fiancé about expectations. My husband and I agreed upfront that my kids' college costs were my responsibility, which helped avoid any future tension about the loan payments. Also, since you mentioned your daughter's father refuses to contribute - make sure you're not counting on him to cosign anything or provide tax information if needed. I learned the hard way that it's better to assume you'll handle everything yourself from the start. You should definitely go ahead with your February wedding plans! The Parent PLUS loan system is designed to let parents borrow what they need regardless of income level. Best of luck with both the wedding and college preparations!

Update: Just checked NJFAMS again this morning and it now shows "FAFSA RECEIVED"! Looks like it was just a processing delay. Thanks everyone for the reassurance - you saved me a lot of stress!

That's such a relief to hear your update! I'm dealing with a similar situation with my state aid portal showing delays. For anyone else still waiting - I found it helpful to set up email notifications through my state's financial aid portal so I get alerts as soon as my FAFSA data arrives. Also worth double-checking that you listed your state correctly on the FAFSA if you haven't received confirmation after 3-4 weeks. The processing delays this year have been unprecedented but it sounds like most are eventually getting resolved!