I'm so sorry you're dealing with this stress! As someone who just went through the FAFSA process with my youngest, I can share what worked for us. We had similar login issues and after weeks of frustration, we ended up creating brand new FSA IDs for both of us. Since your daughter is a first-time applicant, this is actually the safest route - no risk of duplicate account issues. A few tips: 1) Create the FSA IDs during off-peak hours (early morning or late evening), 2) Use personal email addresses you'll always have access to, 3) Triple-check that names match exactly what's on your Social Security cards, and 4) Wait 3 full days after creating the IDs before attempting to submit the FAFSA. Also, definitely have your daughter contact her school's financial aid office immediately to explain the situation - most schools are being very flexible with deadlines this year due to the widespread FAFSA problems. You've got this!

I feel for you - this FAFSA rollout has been absolutely brutal! I'm a parent who just finished helping my twin daughters through this process last month, and we faced similar issues. Here's what I learned: the FSA account recovery system is completely overwhelmed and unreliable right now. Given that your daughter is a first-time applicant, I'd strongly recommend creating brand new FSA IDs for both of you. I was hesitant at first too, but it's actually the fastest path forward. Just make sure to use current email addresses you'll always have access to, and be extremely careful that names and SSNs match your Social Security cards exactly - even a middle initial difference can cause delays. The 3-day waiting period after creating new IDs is crucial (learned that the hard way!). Also, most financial aid offices are being very understanding about delays this year - have your daughter call them ASAP to explain the situation. Many schools are quietly extending their priority deadlines due to all the FAFSA chaos. You're not alone in this struggle, and you WILL get through it!

Just wanted to add one more resource that might help - the Federal Student Aid website has a specific section about special circumstances that includes income changes like disability benefits ending. There's also a worksheet you can download that helps you organize all the information financial aid offices typically need for professional judgment reviews. I used it when my nephew went through this process and it made sure we didn't miss any required documentation. The worksheet is called "Special Circumstances Documentation Checklist" and it's really helpful for keeping track of what you've submitted to each school. Also, don't forget that some schools have their own special circumstances forms in addition to the standard FAFSA, so check each school's financial aid website for any additional requirements.

I'm going through this exact same situation with my daughter right now! She's been receiving SSI benefits but they'll end when she turns 18 in May. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea about the professional judgment process or that there was a specific "Benefits Verification Letter" I should request from Social Security. One question I have that I haven't seen addressed: has anyone dealt with timing issues where the benefits end partway through the tax year you're reporting? My daughter's benefits will stop in May 2024, so when I fill out the 2026-2027 FAFSA (which will use 2024 tax info), should I still report the full amount she received from January through May, or is there a different way to handle partial-year income changes? Also, for those who successfully went through the professional judgment review - did you find it helpful to include a timeline showing exactly when the benefits started and ended? I'm trying to make my documentation as clear as possible for the financial aid offices.

As someone who just went through this decision process last year, I'd strongly recommend completing the FAFSA annually even if you're paying out of pocket. Here's why: my family was in almost the exact same situation - didn't qualify for need-based aid, using 529 funds, thought we could skip it sophomore year. Then my husband's company went through layoffs mid-year, and suddenly we needed to explore loan options. Having a current FAFSA on file made that process so much smoother when we were already stressed about the job situation. Plus, I discovered our state has some merit-based programs that require FAFSA completion regardless of income level. The 20-30 minutes it takes now feels like cheap insurance against unexpected changes in circumstances. Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it!

As a newcomer to this community, I really appreciate all the detailed responses here! I'm actually facing this exact same decision with my daughter who's finishing her freshman year. After reading through everyone's experiences, it seems like the smart move is to just complete the FAFSA annually as a safety net. The examples about unexpected job changes, family circumstances shifting, and schools using FAFSA data for various programs beyond federal aid have been really eye-opening. I had no idea about things like work-study requiring it, or that some merit scholarships have FAFSA requirements for renewal. The point about graduate school planning is also something I hadn't considered. Thanks to everyone for sharing your experiences - this has been incredibly helpful in making our decision!

As a newcomer to this community, I just want to say THANK YOU all for this incredibly detailed thread! I was literally googling "how often FAFSA application" at 2am last night because I was panicking about the same thing. Reading through all these responses has been so reassuring - especially knowing that this confusion is super common and not just me being completely lost about financial aid. I'm also first-gen and honestly the whole college financial aid world feels like learning a foreign language sometimes. Posts like this make me feel less alone in trying to figure everything out. Already bookmarking this for when my friends inevitably ask me the same questions! One quick follow-up though - for those who mentioned summer aid being different, is there a typical deadline when schools want you to submit those extra summer forms? Don't want to miss anything important!

Hey everyone! As someone who's been lurking in this community for a while, this thread finally convinced me to create an account and jump in. I'm dealing with the exact same FAFSA confusion right now - submitted mine last week and then immediately started second-guessing whether I needed to do it again for spring. Reading through all your responses has been such a relief! It's crazy how something as basic as "how often do you apply" isn't clearly explained anywhere official. Like @Amina mentioned, you'd think after all the FAFSA redesigns they'd make this stuff crystal clear. I'm especially grateful for the tips about summer aid potentially needing separate forms - definitely going to check my school's website this weekend before I forget. And @Natasha, thanks for sharing that Claimyr resource! I've been putting off calling FSA because I know it'll be a 3-hour wait, but that sounds like it could actually make it manageable. This community is awesome - already feeling way less stressed about navigating all this financial aid stuff! 🙌

Wow, reading through all these experiences is both eye-opening and terrifying! I'm new to this whole process (first year college student) and my mom just submitted her Parent Plus application 3 days ago. Based on what everyone is sharing here, it sounds like I should mentally prepare for at least a 3-4 week wait minimum. The lack of transparency from FSA is really concerning - you'd think they'd at least send periodic status updates or give realistic timeline estimates on their website. I'm definitely going to proactively call my financial aid office next week to ask about emergency payment options before we get closer to any deadlines. Thanks everyone for sharing your timelines and advice - this thread is way more informative than anything I've found on the official government websites!

I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! My mom's Parent Plus loan application has been stuck at "processing" for 26 days now with absolutely zero communication from FSA. Reading through everyone's experiences here is both reassuring and infuriating - reassuring because clearly this isn't just us, but infuriating because the system is so broken! I had no idea the processing delays were this widespread this year. My payment deadline is coming up fast and I'm definitely going to call my financial aid office tomorrow to ask about emergency payment deferrals based on everyone's advice here. It's honestly unacceptable that they can't give us any realistic timelines or status updates beyond "processing." This thread has been more helpful than hours of searching the FSA website - thanks for posting this Dylan!