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I'm a new parent going through this FAFSA process for the first time and this thread has been incredibly reassuring! My daughter just submitted her application yesterday and we're already seeing the "Cannot Calculate SAI" message. Reading everyone's experiences here makes me feel so much better about waiting it out rather than immediately assuming we did something wrong. Quick question though - should we be doing anything proactive while we wait, like checking with her college's financial aid office to let them know about the delay? Or is it better to just wait until the SAI comes through before contacting anyone?
Welcome to the FAFSA journey! It's definitely overwhelming as a first-time parent. From what I learned going through this with my son, I'd suggest giving it at least a week before reaching out to colleges. Most financial aid offices are already aware of the processing delays this year and expect some students to have temporary SAI calculation issues. However, if your daughter has any upcoming financial aid deadlines at her schools, it might be worth sending a quick email to let them know her FAFSA is submitted but experiencing the common processing delay. That way they have a heads up and can potentially extend deadlines if needed. Good luck!
Going through the exact same thing right now with my twin daughters! Both submitted their FAFSAs last week and we're seeing "Cannot Calculate SAI" on both applications despite everything looking complete. It's such a relief to read this thread and know we're not alone. The new FAFSA system seems to have so many processing hiccups this year. One thing I wanted to add for other parents - I found it helpful to screenshot the "Submitted" status page as proof of on-time submission, just in case any of their colleges need documentation about the delay. Also keeping a simple log of when we submitted vs when (hopefully!) the SAI gets calculated so we have a timeline if we need to call for help. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and timelines - it's making this waiting period much more manageable!
@profile6 The financial aid counselor I spoke with mentioned asking specifically about their "sibling discount policy" or "multiple student adjustment." She also suggested requesting a "professional judgment review" once we have all the offers, explaining the triple college expense. Apparently some schools have discretionary funds they can use in unique situations like ours. And thanks! We're proud of our triplets but terrified of the cost!
As someone who just went through this process with my own complex household situation, I wanted to add that it's worth double-checking the specific wording on the FAFSA form itself. The question asks about people who "will receive more than half their support from you" between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026. So you're looking at future support, not just current. Also, keep in mind that "support" includes housing costs - if your mom lives with you rent-free, that counts toward the support calculation even if she pays for some of her own expenses. With triplets, every point matters on that SAI calculation, so make sure you're capturing everyone who legitimately counts!
UPDATE: We figured it out! It was exactly what several of you mentioned - I entered her name as "Katie" on the FAFSA but her FSA ID has "Katherine." Once she updated her FSA ID to match, the application showed up in her account and she was able to sign it. We got the confirmation email that the FAFSA is now complete! Thank you all for your help - this forum saved us so much stress!
So glad you got it resolved! Those little name discrepancies trip up so many people. Make sure you both keep an eye on your email over the next few weeks in case there are any verification requests. Good luck to your daughter with her college applications!
yay!! 🎉 now the fun part starts - waiting anxiously for the financial aid packages lol
This is such a common issue! I'm glad you got it sorted out. For anyone else reading this thread who might run into similar problems, here's a quick checklist that might help: 1. Make sure ALL names match exactly between FSA ID and FAFSA (including middle names, nicknames vs full names, etc.) 2. Double-check SSN entry - even one wrong digit will cause linking issues 3. If the student doesn't see the signature page, try logging out completely and back in 4. Look in "Incomplete Tasks" or "To Do" sections, not just the main FAFSA dashboard 5. Give it 24-48 hours sometimes - the system can be slow to sync between parent and student accounts The new FAFSA definitely has a learning curve, but once you know these tricks it gets easier. Good luck to everyone still working through their applications!
Just wanted to add my experience as someone who literally just went through this process last month! You absolutely use the same FSA ID for all your children - creating multiple parent accounts will only cause headaches down the road. One thing I wish I had known: make sure to verify all your personal information in your existing FSA ID account BEFORE your daughter starts her application. I discovered my address was outdated from when we moved two years ago, and it caused a delay in processing. Also, if you've changed banks since your first daughter's FAFSA, update your banking information in your profile too. The process is definitely smoother the second time around, but don't get overconfident - I still managed to make a silly mistake with one of the tax questions because I was rushing through it! Take your time even though it feels familiar. Good luck with your second daughter's college journey!
This is such great advice about updating your personal information first! I actually just realized I need to check if my address is current in my FSA ID account since we moved last year. It's so easy to forget about those details when you're not logging in regularly. Did you have to go through any verification process when you updated your address, or was it pretty straightforward? I'm worried about causing any delays since we're getting close to application season. Thanks for the reminder about taking time even when the process feels familiar - I can definitely see myself rushing through thinking I know it all!
As a parent who just completed this process for my third child last fall, I can absolutely confirm - you use the SAME FSA ID for all your children! Don't create multiple parent accounts as this will cause major headaches with verification and processing. Here's what worked smoothly for me: Have your daughter create her own FSA ID first (using her own unique email address), then she'll invite you as a contributor when she starts her FAFSA. You'll get an email notification and can log in with your existing FSA ID to complete the parent portion. A few practical tips from my experience: 1) Test your FSA ID login NOW before FAFSA season gets crazy busy, 2) Update any outdated personal info (address, phone, email) in your account, and 3) Have your tax documents ready since you'll need to re-enter that information fresh for each child - it doesn't transfer automatically between applications. The second time really is much easier since you know what to expect! The system is designed to handle multiple children per parent account, so don't worry about "messing anything up" - you've got this!
Zane Gray
I'm dealing with this exact same issue! Just wanted to add that if you're still not seeing your SAI after trying all the suggestions here, you can also log into your college's student portal (if they have one) - sometimes schools receive your FAFSA data before it fully updates on studentaid.gov. My school's financial aid office told me they can see my SAI even when I couldn't see it myself. Also, for anyone worried about scholarship deadlines, definitely email your financial aid office explaining the FAFSA processing delays - most schools are being super understanding about this since it's such a widespread issue this year. They might be able to give you a temporary extension or work with preliminary information.
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Isla Fischer
•This is really helpful advice! I didn't know colleges could see FAFSA data before we can see it on our end. I'm definitely going to check my college portal now and reach out to financial aid about the deadline. It's reassuring to know schools are being understanding about these delays - I was worried I'd automatically miss out on scholarships just because of technical issues that are completely out of my control. Thanks for sharing this tip!
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Leeann Blackstein
I'm a college financial aid counselor and wanted to add some additional context that might help. The 2025-2026 FAFSA rollout has been particularly challenging due to the major system overhaul. Here are a few things to keep in mind: 1. **Timeline expectations**: While the normal processing time is 3-5 days, we're seeing 7-10 days regularly due to the high volume and system issues. 2. **Mobile app vs website**: The mobile app has had more display issues than the website version. If you submitted through the app, try logging into studentaid.gov through a desktop browser to check your SAI. 3. **For urgent deadlines**: Most colleges have received guidance from the Department of Education about these delays and have contingency plans. When you contact your financial aid office, mention specifically that you're dealing with the "2025-2026 FAFSA SAI display issue" - they'll know exactly what you're talking about. 4. **Verification flags**: If you're selected for verification, your SAI might show as "pending" or not display at all until verification is complete. Check your to-do list on the portal. Don't panic - virtually every school is dealing with these same issues with multiple students. The system will catch up!
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