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- DO post questions about your issues.
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Tyrone Hill
So glad to see your update that you're getting positive responses from the schools! This gives me hope for my own situation. I just wanted to share what I learned from my experience - when I called using Claimyr, the FSA agent mentioned that they're also working on sending out official notifications to colleges about this issue, which should make the appeal process even smoother for families still dealing with this. For anyone still struggling, don't give up! The squeaky wheel gets the grease, and it sounds like most schools are being reasonable once they understand what happened. Keep pushing and document everything like everyone has said!
Thanks for sharing this update! It's really encouraging to hear that FSA is working on official notifications to colleges - that should help so many families who are still dealing with this mess. I'm new to this whole FAFSA process (first kid going to college) and honestly had no idea these kinds of random recalculations could even happen. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful. I'm saving all these tips about documentation and using Claimyr in case we run into similar issues. It's reassuring to know there are solutions and that schools are generally being understanding about the situation.
Nick Kravitz
This thread has been so incredibly helpful! As someone who's been lurking here trying to figure out this exact same issue, I can't thank everyone enough for sharing their experiences and solutions. Our SAI jumped by $25k in March and I've been losing sleep over it. Reading through all the advice about getting a case number from FSA, documenting everything, and contacting schools directly has given me a clear action plan. I'm definitely going to try the Claimyr service since so many people have had success with it. It's frustrating that we have to become advocates and detectives just to get accurate financial aid information, but at least now I know it's possible to get this resolved. Will update once I make some progress!
StarSurfer
•Welcome to the club nobody wanted to join! Your situation sounds exactly like what so many of us have been dealing with. That $25k jump is no joke - I totally get the sleepless nights. The advice in this thread really has been a lifesaver. When you call FSA (definitely use Claimyr based on everyone's success with it), make sure to specifically ask them to note in your file that you received and relied on the original calculation for college planning. That language seems to carry weight with the schools. Also, if you have the original FAFSA completion email, screenshot that immediately if you haven't already. Some schools have been asking for that as proof. Good luck and please do update us on your progress - it helps everyone to see how these appeals are going!
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If your confirmation page shows the last 4 digits of both SSNs and indicates completion, you should be all set. Just make sure you both signed the FAFSA with your FSA IDs at the end. One last tip - save a PDF copy of your confirmation page for your records. You'll need your SAI score once it's calculated, which should happen within 3-5 business days if there are no verification issues.
Ella Russell
•Great advice about saving the PDF - just did that. And yes, we both digitally signed with our FSA IDs at the end. I'll be watching for the SAI score to come through. Thanks again for all the helpful information!
I just went through this same process with my son last month and had the exact same panic! The new FAFSA system definitely takes some getting used to. One thing that helped ease my mind was logging back into both our FSA ID accounts and checking that our profiles showed our SSNs were verified - you can see a green checkmark next to "Identity Verified" in your account dashboard. Also, if you're still worried, you can always check your Student Aid Report (SAR) once it's processed in a few days - it will show your SSNs are properly linked. The system really is more secure this way, even though it feels weird not manually entering that critical info like we used to!
Zane Gray
•That's such a good tip about checking the FSA ID dashboard for the green checkmark! I just logged in and confirmed both our accounts show "Identity Verified" with the green checkmark. It's reassuring to know there's a way to double-check that everything is properly linked. You're right that it does feel strange not entering the SSN manually - I kept second-guessing myself thinking we missed something important. Thanks for mentioning the Student Aid Report too - I'll definitely keep an eye out for that to arrive in the next few days for final peace of mind.
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Laura Lopez
Thank you all for the helpful advice! I decided to cancel the application and start fresh. We cleared browser cache, used Chrome instead of Safari, and made sure to double-check every section before continuing. It worked perfectly this time! Her info is correctly showing as student only, and my information is properly listed under Parent 1. The SAI preview number looks much more reasonable now too. What a relief! For anyone else having this problem, definitely just cancel and start over rather than waiting for verification to fail.
Great to hear you got it sorted out! Be sure to regularly check the status in the coming weeks. With the new FAFSA system, some applications are being selected for additional verification even when everything is entered correctly. Just keep an eye on your daughter's StudentAid.gov account for any notifications.
Laura Lopez
•Will do! I've bookmarked the site and set a reminder to check weekly. Really appreciate everyone's help with this!
I'm so glad I found this thread! I'm a college freshman and just went through this nightmare with my mom last fall. We had the exact same issue where my info was showing up in both student and parent sections. After reading all these responses, I want to add that you should also make sure to print or screenshot your final FAFSA summary page once everything is correct. The system sometimes has display glitches even after submission, and having that documentation saved us when our school's financial aid office had questions about our SAI calculation. Also, don't panic if you get selected for verification even with correct info - it's totally random this year and doesn't mean you did anything wrong!
Freya Ross
•That's such great advice about printing the summary page! I never would have thought of that but it makes total sense given all the glitches people are experiencing. Did you run into any other issues during the verification process, or was it pretty straightforward once you had the correct information submitted?
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For those saying that the FASFA opens in December, that is not correct. The FAFSA is currently scheduled to open on October 1st for the 26-27 school year. Last year it was delayed until December 1st so that is where they are getting that date mistakenly,
Nia Thompson
•I think there might be some confusion here. According to the Federal Student Aid website, the FAFSA for 2026-2027 is actually scheduled to open on December 1, 2025, not October 1st. The December 1st date isn't just because of last year's delay - it's the new permanent opening date under the FAFSA Simplification changes that went into effect. The October 1st opening date was used in previous years before the new system was implemented. I'd recommend double-checking the official studentaid.gov website for the most current information, but as of now, December 1st is the confirmed opening date for the 2026-2027 academic year. @4006bcc183a6 - This is exactly why it's good you're asking these questions early! There's definitely some conflicting information floating around about dates.
I just checked the official Federal Student Aid website and can confirm that @4b39a7f6e0cf is correct - the FAFSA for 2026-2027 will open on December 1, 2025, not October 1st. This is the new permanent date following FAFSA Simplification, not just a temporary delay like what happened last year. The confusion is totally understandable since the dates did change recently, but it's important for @4006bcc183a6 and other parents to have the accurate information for planning purposes. December 1st is definitely the date to mark on your calendars! Here's the direct link to verify: https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa
Ava Thompson
I completely understand feeling overwhelmed - I felt the same way when my oldest was a junior! You're smart to start early. Just to confirm what others have said, the FAFSA for 2026-2027 will indeed open December 1, 2025. Here's my advice as someone who's been through this twice now: **Start preparing NOW:** - Create FSA IDs for both you and your daughter at studentaid.gov (seriously, do this ASAP - verification can take weeks) - Start organizing your 2024 tax documents (you'll need these for the application) - Make a list of schools she's interested in and research their specific financial aid deadlines - Use the Federal Student Aid Estimator to get a ballpark figure **December 1st strategy:** - Don't stress about being first in line at midnight - you have time - Complete the application when the website is stable (avoid peak hours) - Double-check everything before submitting - corrections are a pain **Key dates to remember:** - FAFSA opens: December 1, 2025 - Most college deadlines: January-March 2026 - State grant deadlines: varies by state (some as early as January) You're already ahead of most parents by asking these questions now. Take a deep breath - you've got this! 🙂
Diego Flores
•Thank you so much for this comprehensive breakdown! As someone completely new to this process, having a clear timeline and action plan is exactly what I needed. I love how you've organized it into what to do now versus what to do in December - that makes it feel much more manageable. I'm definitely going to create those FSA IDs this week before I lose my nerve! And the tip about avoiding peak hours on the website is really smart. I hadn't thought about the fact that everyone would be trying to log on at the same time. One quick question - when you mention "corrections are a pain," what kind of mistakes should I be extra careful to avoid? Are there common errors that parents typically make that I should watch out for? Thanks again for such helpful and reassuring advice! It's so nice to hear from someone who's successfully navigated this twice.
Lia Quinn
•Great question! Here are the most common FAFSA mistakes I've seen (and made myself with my first kid): **Financial info errors:** - Mixing up parent vs. student income/assets - Using the wrong tax year (remember, it's 2024 taxes for 2026-27 FAFSA) - Forgetting to include untaxed income like child support or retirement contributions - Entering bank account balances from the wrong date (use the date you submit the FAFSA) **Student info mistakes:** - Wrong Social Security number (sounds obvious but it happens!) - Incorrect grade level or enrollment status - Not listing all schools she's considering (you can add/remove later, but it's easier to include them all initially) **Process errors:** - Only one parent signing when both need to (if married) - Not selecting the right dependency status - Skipping questions you think don't apply (answer everything - skipping can delay processing) Pro tip: Print out the FAFSA before submitting and have another person review it with fresh eyes. My husband caught several errors I missed because I'd been staring at it too long! The IRS Data Retrieval Tool can help avoid tax-related errors if it's working properly. But always double-check the numbers it pulls in. @065c29ed9248 Thanks for the helpful framework - you made this so much clearer for everyone!
Rami Samuels
I'm so sorry you're dealing with this nightmare! As someone who just went through FAFSA hell myself, I feel your pain. The SSN conflict issue seems to be happening to more families this year - I wonder if it's related to all the FAFSA system changes they made. One thing that helped me when I couldn't get through to FSA was reaching out to my kids' high school guidance counselor. She had direct contacts at some of the colleges and was able to advocate for deadline extensions while we sorted out our technical issues. High school counselors deal with these problems all the time and often have insider knowledge about workarounds. Also, if you're on social media, try reaching out to @FAFSA on Twitter with your situation. Sometimes public pressure gets faster responses than going through normal channels. Document everything and don't give up - your kids deserve that financial aid!
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Abigail Patel
•That's a really smart suggestion about contacting the guidance counselor! I hadn't thought of that but you're right - they probably deal with these FAFSA issues all the time and would know which colleges are more flexible with deadlines. I'm definitely going to reach out to my kids' counselor tomorrow along with trying the FSA call again. The social media tip is interesting too - worth a shot if the phone route doesn't work out. Thanks for the encouragement, it really helps to know other families have gotten through this mess successfully!
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StarSailor
I'm so glad to see this thread and that you got it resolved! I'm actually a newcomer here dealing with a very similar issue - the FAFSA system is telling me I already have an account when I'm trying to help my daughter with her application, but I've never created one. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful, especially the specific advice about calling right at 8am and asking directly for the FSA ID Resolution Center. It's frustrating that this seems to be such a common problem this year. I'm wondering if the new FAFSA changes have somehow made the system more sensitive to SSN conflicts, or if there's just been an increase in data entry errors. Either way, it's reassuring to know there's a specific department that can actually fix these issues. I'm planning to follow the strategy outlined here - call first thing tomorrow morning, contact my daughter's school financial aid office to explain the situation, and document everything just in case. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and solutions. This community is a lifesaver when you're dealing with these bureaucratic nightmares!
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