Hi Daniela! I'm new to this community but just went through the FAFSA process for the first time this year, so I totally understand your frustration with waiting for the SAI! I wanted to add one thing that hasn't been mentioned yet - if you're still seeing "matching with IRS records" after 14 days, it might be worth checking if there are any outstanding items in your "To Do" list on studentaid.gov. Sometimes there are small verification steps that need to be completed before the processing can finish, and they don't always send email notifications about these. Also, I found it helpful to screenshot the confirmation page when I first submitted my FAFSA, because it shows your Data Release Number (DRN) which can be useful if you need to call for help. The representatives can look up your application faster with that number. One more tip - once you do get your SAR with your SAI, make sure to save a PDF copy! Some schools ask for it during their verification process, and it's much easier to have it saved rather than trying to navigate back to find it later. The waiting is definitely the hardest part, but you're almost there! Keep us updated when your SAR comes through.

Hi Daniela! Welcome to the community! I just went through this same process a few weeks ago and completely understand the anxiety of waiting for your SAI to appear. Since you mentioned finding that verification item in your "To Do" list, that's likely what was causing the delay! Once you complete those verification steps, the processing usually moves much faster - mine showed up within 2-3 days after I cleared a similar citizenship verification issue. One thing that really helped me during the wait was bookmarking the direct link to my Student Aid Report page so I could check quickly without navigating through all the menus. Also, if you haven't already, make sure your email settings in your studentaid.gov account are set to receive notifications - they'll send you an email as soon as your SAR is ready. The whole process is definitely more stressful than it needs to be, but you're so close now! Once that SAR appears with your SAI, you'll finally have the number you need to start understanding your aid eligibility. Keep us posted on how it goes!

Update for anyone following this thread: The Department of Education just released their contingency plan for the potential shutdown. They've confirmed that Pell Grant disbursements WILL continue as scheduled. The document states that approximately 96% of their financial aid staff would be exempt from furlough specifically to ensure critical operations like disbursements continue. However, they also noted that customer service operations would be limited, and processing of new FAFSA applications could face delays. If you have a pending application or are dealing with verification, that's where you might see the biggest impact.

As someone who's been through multiple government shutdown scares while depending on Pell Grants, I can confirm what others have said - the grants themselves are usually protected. What really helped me was creating a backup plan early on. I talked to my financial aid office about emergency aid options, looked into payment plan extensions, and even researched local emergency funds for students. Also, if you're really worried about the timing, some schools will let you defer certain deadlines if you can show that federal aid delays are the cause. The key is being proactive and communicating with your school's financial aid office rather than waiting to see what happens. They deal with these situations regularly and usually have protocols in place. Don't let the anxiety consume you - I know it's scary when your entire education depends on that funding, but the system is designed to keep critical programs like Pell running even during political chaos.

It really is an outdated approach. I feel like the system was designed for how families worked in the 1980s or something, not today's reality. Thanks for sharing your experience - it helps knowing I'm not alone in this struggle at least.

I'm going through something similar right now and it's incredibly frustrating! One thing that might help - have you looked into your state's financial aid programs? Some states have their own grants and scholarships that use different criteria than FAFSA. Also, if you're in a healthcare program with clinical rotations, check if your school has any emergency aid funds or profession-specific scholarships. Many nursing/medical programs have small grants specifically for students in financial hardship that don't go through the normal FAFSA process. Another option to explore: some employers (even part-time ones like your coffee shop) offer tuition assistance programs. It might be worth asking HR if they have any educational benefits you're not aware of. Even a small amount could help bridge the gap while you're fighting this dependency status battle. Keep pushing on the Professional Judgment route that others mentioned - that really seems like your best shot given the circumstances. The whole system is so broken for students like us who are truly independent but don't fit their narrow definitions.

Just to provide some closure on this thread - based on the most recent guidance from Federal Student Aid, for married parents who file taxes jointly, only one parent needs to complete the contributor section on the 2025-2026 FAFSA. However, both parents should have FSA IDs. The good news is that since: 1. Your contributor section shows as processed 2. Your son's SAI has been calculated 3. The corrections were completed successfully This means your son's FAFSA is complete and ready for schools to use for financial aid packaging, regardless of your husband's pending contributor status. The Department of Education has confirmed that in cases where multiple contributors are invited but only one is needed (as with joint tax filing), the system will use the completed contributor information to finalize the application.

As someone who just went through this nightmare with my daughter's FAFSA, I can confirm what others have said - the system is definitely buggy this year! We had the exact same situation where I completed my contributor section in February and it processed fine, but my husband's stayed stuck on "processing" for months even though we file jointly. What finally worked for us was just leaving both applications alone and focusing on whether the Student Aid Index (SAI) was calculated, which it sounds like yours now is! That's the key indicator that your son's application is actually complete from the Department of Education's perspective. One tip that might help others - we found that calling the school's financial aid office directly was way more helpful than trying to reach Federal Student Aid. The school could see on their end that all the necessary information had been received, even though the FAFSA website still showed confusing status messages. They were also able to confirm that our aid package wouldn't be delayed by the processing glitch. Hang in there - this new system has been frustrating for so many families, but it sounds like your son's application is in good shape!

quick question: are ur twins going to the same school? if yes some colleges have special twin scholarships! my friend's twins got half off at [redacted] university just for being twins lol

Just wanted to add that you should also check the specific deadlines for each school your twins are applying to! Even though you'll be filling out federal FAFSA forms, many colleges have their own priority deadlines for institutional aid that can be earlier than the federal deadline. With twins applying to different schools, you'll want to make a calendar of all the important dates so you don't miss any opportunities for additional grants or scholarships. Also, some schools require CSS Profile in addition to FAFSA, so double-check those requirements too. You're doing great navigating all this!