oh also tell her to apply for scholarhsips for foster youth even if shes just in guardianship!! my cousin got like 3 different ones bc there not many people who apply for them!

Just wanted to add another resource that might be helpful - the National Foster Youth Institute has a FAFSA guide specifically for youth who aged out of foster care or are in guardianship situations. They break down all the dependency questions really clearly and have sample documentation you might need. Also, don't forget to look into your state's tuition waiver programs for former foster youth - many states have these even for students in guardianship situations. Your daughter might qualify for in-state tuition waivers or other benefits beyond just federal aid. Worth checking with your state's higher education agency!

That's fantastic news! I'm so glad you were able to get the help you needed and that the financial aid office was more supportive once they understood your situation. Your experience is a perfect example of why it's so important to advocate for yourself and ask questions - the FAFSA system can be confusing, but there are often solutions available if you know how to navigate it. The combination of potentially getting a Pell Grant AND having employer tuition assistance options sounds like a great outcome. Thanks for sharing your update - it gives hope to other families in similar situations. Best of luck to your son with his HVAC program!

This is such an inspiring update! Your persistence really paid off, and I'm so glad you didn't give up after that initial disappointing response. The inherited property issue is actually more common than people realize - FAFSA's asset calculations can be really tricky when you have property you can't actually liquidate. Your experience is going to help so many other families who might be in similar situations but don't know about professional judgment reviews or special circumstances forms. The employer-sponsored route is brilliant too - getting paid while training AND having a guaranteed job afterward sounds like the ideal situation. Best of luck with the recalculation and the tuition assistance programs!

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who's completed the PLUS loan process for all 4 years with my son who graduated last year. The annual reapplication definitely becomes routine, but here are a few things that helped us: 1) We set up a dedicated folder (digital and physical) to track all PLUS loan documents each year, 2) I created a simple spreadsheet to track the different interest rates and amounts borrowed each year, and 3) Most importantly, we treated each year as a separate financial decision rather than assuming we'd automatically borrow the same amount. Some years we were able to borrow less because of summer earnings or additional scholarships. The key is staying organized and not getting overwhelmed by the year-to-year uncertainty. It's definitely stressful, but thousands of families successfully navigate this process every year. You've got this!

I'm in a very similar situation with my daughter starting college next year, and this thread has been incredibly eye-opening! I had no idea we'd need to reapply annually - I was assuming the PLUS loan approval was good for all four years. Reading everyone's experiences, it sounds like the key things I need to prepare for are: keeping our credit in good shape each year, applying for FAFSA as early as possible (October 1st!), and being ready for the loan amounts to potentially change based on tuition increases and changes in her other aid. The idea of making interest payments during school to prevent capitalization is something I hadn't considered but makes a lot of financial sense. Thanks to everyone who shared their real experiences - both the success stories and the cautionary tales. It's helpful to know what to expect, even if the annual uncertainty is stressful. At least now I can plan accordingly instead of being caught off guard!

One more crucial thing to understand: PSLF requires 120 *qualifying* monthly payments, which means you need to: 1. Work full-time (30+ hours/week) for a qualifying employer 2. Make payments while on an income-driven repayment plan 3. Make payments on time If you expect to continue federal employment for at least 2 more years (to reach the 10-year requirement), then consolidating Parent PLUS loans makes sense. Also, consider timing: Since your oldest is a senior, their loans will enter repayment soon. Your middle child's loans won't enter repayment for 5+ years. If you consolidate separately, you could potentially have some loans forgiven earlier than others. One strategy some federal employees use is to minimize Parent PLUS loans by having the student maximize their direct subsidized/unsubsidized loans first, then only use Parent PLUS for the remaining amount needed.

As someone who's navigating federal employment and student loans, I want to add a timing consideration that might help with your planning. Since you have 8 years of federal service already, you only need 2 more years to hit the 10-year PSLF requirement. Given your kids' ages, here's what I'd consider: - Your oldest (senior year) - any Parent PLUS loans you take now could potentially be forgiven in just 2 years if you consolidate immediately - Your middle child (starting college next year) - these loans would be forgiven after 3 years of payments - Your youngest (still in middle school) - you have time to reassess the program and rates when they're ready for college The key is getting that consolidation done ASAP after taking out each Parent PLUS loan and making sure your employment certification is filed every year. Don't wait until you have all the loans - start the PSLF clock ticking on each one as soon as possible. Also double-check that your current federal position qualifies for PSLF. Most do, but it's worth confirming with HR or using the PSLF Help Tool on studentaid.gov.

This entire thread has been absolutely incredible to read through! As a college financial aid advisor, I see these SSN conflict issues way too often, and it's so frustrating how difficult it can be for families to get proper help from the FSA support system. What really stands out to me is how many different solutions people have shared here - from the FSA-40 form to getting college financial aid offices involved to using services like Claimyr to actually reach competent agents. The fact that GalaxyGlider's issue turned out to be a database error on FSA's end (transposed SSN) is unfortunately more common than families realize. I'm definitely bookmarking this thread to share with students and families who run into similar issues. The step-by-step advice about asking specifically for Tier 2 specialists and SSN investigations, calling at 8 AM Eastern, and keeping detailed documentation of every interaction is gold. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their experiences and solutions. This kind of community support and knowledge sharing is exactly what families need when dealing with these technical nightmares!

This thread is absolutely incredible - thank you all for sharing such detailed experiences and solutions! I'm currently helping my nephew with his FAFSA and we've been hitting roadblocks, but this gives me so much hope and a clear action plan. What really resonates with me is how many people mentioned that persistence is key and that you often need to call multiple times to reach someone who can actually help. The distinction between front-line agents and Tier 2 specialists is something I never knew about but makes total sense given everyone's experiences here. I'm particularly grateful for the specific terminology to use ("SSN investigation" and "FSA ID SSN conflict resolution") and the tip about calling right at 8 AM Eastern. These kinds of insider tips are exactly what families need but rarely get from official sources. It's both frustrating and validating to learn that so many of these issues are system errors on FSA's end rather than user mistakes. Makes you realize how many families probably give up thinking they did something wrong when it's actually a technical problem that needs proper escalation to resolve. Bookmarking this entire thread - it's like a masterclass in FAFSA troubleshooting that should be required reading for all parents entering this process!