If the laptop is owned by your business and reported as a business asset on your tax forms, then it would be considered part of your excluded business assets. The key is consistency between tax reporting and FAFSA reporting. If you're depreciating it as a business expense on your Schedule C, then it's a business asset and covered by the exclusion.

why does everythng have to be so complicated with fafsa??? last year I spent 3 days trying to figure out how to report my husbands tool chest for his side business. ended up just leaving it off and nothing happened lol

anybody know how long it takes to get the sai score thing now? my son submitted 3 weeks ago and still nothing

As someone who also just went through this process, I can confirm what others have said - the new FAFSA really is designed this way! I was initially panicked when it skipped over all the detailed financial questions I was expecting based on what older parents had told me about previous years. But it turns out that if you qualify for the simplified needs test (which sounds like you do with your income level and Medicaid coverage), the system automatically assumes you'll get maximum aid and doesn't need all those extra details. My daughter's application processed smoothly and she received a great aid package. The key thing is just making sure your basic information is accurate since that's what really matters for verification purposes. Don't stress - you did everything right!

This entire thread has been such a valuable resource! Brooklyn, your transformation from panic to success is exactly what so many students need to hear. The financial aid process can feel overwhelming, especially when you think you've made a critical mistake with deadlines. What really stands out to me is how this conversation shows that financial aid offices are often more flexible and understanding than students expect. The 2024-2025 FAFSA cycle has been particularly challenging with all the technical issues and system changes, so many schools have had to adapt their policies accordingly. For anyone else finding this thread later: the key takeaways seem to be 1) Submit your FAFSA immediately regardless of missed deadlines, 2) Call your school's financial aid office and be honest about your situation, 3) Ask specifically about late applicant processes and remaining institutional funds, and 4) Don't be afraid to mention the FAFSA system issues this year as context. Brooklyn's experience proves that while timing is important, it's rarely too late to explore your options. Financial aid officers want students to succeed - sometimes you just need to give them the chance to help you!

Brooklyn, this has been such an inspiring thread to follow! Your story really demonstrates that financial aid offices are often much more understanding and flexible than we expect, especially during this challenging FAFSA cycle with all the technical issues. I wanted to add one more tip for anyone else in a similar situation: when you do get your SAI back and have that follow-up conversation with financial aid, come prepared with specific questions. Ask about work-study opportunities, payment plan options, and whether there are any departmental scholarships you might still be eligible for. Some academic departments have their own scholarship funds that operate on different timelines than general institutional aid. Also, don't forget to check with your state's higher education agency about any remaining grant opportunities. Some states have rolling deadlines or emergency aid programs that might still be available. Your proactive approach and willingness to advocate for yourself really paid off. Thanks for sharing your journey - it's going to help so many students realize that a missed deadline isn't the end of their college dreams!

As a newcomer to navigating financial aid for college students, this conversation has been incredibly enlightening! I'm currently going through the same situation with my son who's also finishing his freshman year. Based on what everyone has shared, it sounds like the key takeaways are: 1) Schools do send aid packages every year, but timing varies significantly 2) Returning students often get their packages later than incoming freshmen 3) Always check the student portal - many schools have moved away from mailed letters 4) Don't hesitate to call if you're concerned, as documents can get lost in the system 5) Aid packages can change year to year even with similar finances I'm definitely going to have my son check his student portal this week and will keep the Claimyr suggestion in mind if we need to contact the financial aid office. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - it's so helpful to know we're not alone in this process!

As someone who just went through this process with my daughter last year, I can confirm that schools definitely send aid packages annually! The timing can be frustrating though - we didn't get her sophomore package until late May, which made summer planning stressful. One thing I wish I'd known earlier: if your daughter's school uses work-study as part of her aid package, those positions fill up fast! Even if the aid letter comes late, it's worth having her check with the student employment office early to see what work-study jobs might be available. We learned this the hard way when all the good on-campus jobs were taken by the time we got her package. Also, don't assume the aid will be exactly the same as freshman year. Our daughter's package actually improved slightly because she qualified for some sophomore-specific scholarships we didn't know existed. Every school handles this differently, so hang in there!

I'm going through the exact same nightmare right now! Been getting that same "Unable to complete this action" error for weeks and it's driving me insane. Reading through all these responses gives me so much hope though - I had no idea this was such a widespread issue with the new FAFSA system. I'm definitely going to try the 3am submission trick tonight with all my browser extensions disabled, and I'll also reach out to my school's financial aid office tomorrow morning to explain the situation. It's such a relief to know that schools are being understanding about these technical problems and that there are workarounds that actually work. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and solutions - this community is a lifesaver!

I'm just starting my FAFSA journey as an incoming freshman and this thread is both terrifying and reassuring at the same time! It's scary to see how widespread these technical issues are, but it's also comforting to know that schools are being understanding about the situation and there are actual solutions that work. I'm definitely bookmarking all these tips - the 3am submission trick, disabling browser extensions, trying the mobile app, and most importantly documenting everything with screenshots. It sounds like having that paper trail is crucial when working with financial aid offices. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences, especially Sofia for coming back with the successful update! This gives me a game plan if (when) I run into similar issues. One question - for those who had success with the mobile app, did you find it worked better than the website even during normal hours, or was it mainly helpful as an alternative when the website was completely broken?