Glad to hear you got it resolved! For anyone else dealing with similar FAFSA correction glitches, here's what I learned from my experience last year: The system seems to have "peak error times" - usually weekends and evenings when traffic is highest. I had better luck making corrections during weekday mornings (9-11 AM EST). Also, if you're getting the "cannot process your correction" error, try logging out completely, clearing your browser cache, and waiting at least 30 minutes before trying again. Sometimes the system needs time to "forget" your previous failed attempts. The FSA agents are definitely your best bet for technical issues that won't resolve on their own.

I'm dealing with a similar FAFSA correction nightmare right now! My situation is slightly different - I need to correct my parent contribution information after realizing I miscalculated some retirement account distributions. Like you, the correction system keeps giving me error messages and timing out. Reading through all these responses is so helpful. I'm definitely going to try the weekday morning approach that Ella mentioned, and if that doesn't work, I'll contact our school's financial aid office directly. It's reassuring to know that these technical glitches are fairly common and that there are actual solutions. Thanks for posting about this - sometimes it helps just knowing you're not the only one fighting with the system!

My parents use my address for everything cause they move around a lot but I never include them on my FAFSA. Been doing it this way for years with no problem. You're good.

Just wanted to add that if you do get selected for verification, make sure you have copies of your lease agreement and any documents showing you pay your own bills. I got selected last year as an independent student and the school's financial aid office was really helpful in walking me through what documentation they needed. The process was way less scary than I thought it would be! Good luck with your FAFSA!

As someone who just joined this community, I'm amazed at how helpful everyone has been in this thread! @FireflyDreams, your situation sounds incredibly stressful but it's great that you got it resolved so quickly. This whole discussion has been eye-opening - I had no idea that old vocational training could result in federal loans that might affect future FAFSA applications. The advice about checking the National Student Loan Data System and keeping multiple copies of all documentation is so valuable. I'm definitely going to share this thread with other parents in my area who are starting the college prep process. It's scary how easy it is to have forgotten loans lurking in the system!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm really grateful to have found this thread! @FireflyDreams, your experience is both eye-opening and terrifying - I can't imagine the shock of discovering a 15-year-old loan you never knew existed right when you're trying to help your daughter with college applications. What strikes me most is how this highlights a gap that many parents probably don't even know exists. The fact that vocational training programs can result in federal loans that later impact your children's FAFSA eligibility is something I wish was more widely known. I'm planning to do a comprehensive check of my own financial aid history before my youngest starts the college application process in two years. The detailed advice everyone has shared here about loan rehabilitation, small-balance resolution options, and the importance of documentation is incredibly valuable. This community seems like such a supportive resource for navigating these complex financial aid challenges!

Update: I tried the correction option this morning and it worked! I was able to add my additional schools. The system showed my application as "processed" even though I haven't received my official SAI calculation yet. Thanks everyone for the help!

Paolo's update is really helpful! For anyone still worried about this - I went through the same thing last year and was able to add schools immediately after submission without any issues. The key thing to remember is that even if you add schools right away, they won't receive your info until your FAFSA is fully processed anyway. So there's really no downside to adding them as soon as the system lets you. Just make sure to double-check that all your school codes are correct before saving the changes!

Just a follow-up on my earlier comment - if you're struggling to get through to FSA by phone (which is unfortunately common), remember that the financial aid office at your daughter's school can handle this correction for you. They have direct access to make these types of changes and are generally much easier to reach than the federal helpline. Even at schools where you don't expect need-based aid, a correctly completed FAFSA is often required for merit scholarships, state grants, and sometimes even private scholarships. Plus, financial circumstances can change unexpectedly (job loss, medical expenses, etc.), so having an accurate FAFSA on file is always a good backup.

I went through this exact same panic last year! My heart was racing for days thinking I'd committed some kind of federal crime. Here's what I learned: this mistake is SO common that financial aid offices have streamlined processes just for fixing it. I called my daughter's school first thing Monday morning, explained the situation, and they had me come in with our tax documents that same week. The correction was submitted within 2 business days and processed in about a week. Much faster than trying to reach FSA directly! The financial aid counselor told me they see this error multiple times every application cycle, especially from parents rushing to meet deadlines. She said as long as you correct it promptly (which you're doing), there are zero legal concerns. One thing I wish I'd known - even though we didn't qualify for need-based aid either, having the correct FAFSA on file actually helped with some merit scholarships that required "complete financial aid applications." So definitely worth fixing even if you don't expect federal aid! You're being a great parent by taking care of this quickly. Your daughter is lucky to have someone so thorough looking out for her college finances!