I'm so glad I found this thread! My son's FAFSA did the exact same thing yesterday - went from "processed" to "in review" just from me logging in to check something. I was absolutely panicking thinking I had somehow messed up his application. Reading everyone's experiences here, especially @The Boss with the twins and @Nina Chan's professional insight, has been incredibly reassuring. It sounds like this is just one of those frustrating quirks of the new FAFSA system. I'm going to follow the advice to screenshot everything and wait it out. Thank you all for sharing your stories - it really helps to know we're not alone in dealing with these random system glitches!

I'm a newcomer here but dealing with the exact same panic! My daughter's FAFSA just switched from "processed" to "in review" this morning when I logged in to double-check her SAI for a scholarship deadline. I thought I had somehow broken her application! Reading through all these experiences has been such a lifesaver - it's incredible how many families are going through this same stressful situation. The explanation about random quality assurance checks makes so much sense, and hearing that the original submission date is what matters for priority deadlines is hugely reassuring. I'm taking everyone's advice to screenshot everything and wait it out. Thank you all for sharing your stories - it's so comforting to know this is just a system quirk and not something we did wrong!

UPDATE: We figured it out! My son logged into studentaid.gov with his FSA ID, clicked on "Manage My FAFSA" then selected "Edit FAFSA Form." He was able to add the new college without removing his current one. The new school should receive his information within 3-5 business days according to the confirmation page. We've also emailed both financial aid offices to inform them of the transfer. Thanks to everyone for your helpful advice!

Glad you got it sorted out! One more tip for anyone else reading this thread - make sure your son keeps screenshots of the confirmation page showing both schools were successfully added. I learned this the hard way when there was a system glitch that removed one of my daughter's schools and we had no proof it was ever added. Having that documentation saved us weeks of back-and-forth with the financial aid offices. Also, consider setting a calendar reminder to check both schools' aid portals in about 10 days to confirm they've received and processed his updated FAFSA information.

One more important tip - when creating your FSA ID as the parent contributor, use a different email address than your student used. The system requires unique emails for each account. Also, keep track of your FSA ID username and password - you'll need it again next year and for any corrections.

Congratulations on getting through the process! This thread has been so helpful - I'm bookmarking it for other parents who are struggling with the same confusion. The FAFSA website really needs to clarify their instructions because the mixed messaging about one vs. two parent accounts is causing so much unnecessary stress. For anyone else reading this: the key takeaway is that married parents filing jointly only need ONE contributor account, but you'll enter information for both parents during the process. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences!

As someone who went through this process two years ago, I want to add that you should also consider reaching out to UW's Office of Student Financial Aid via email in addition to calling. Sometimes it's easier to get a response that way, and you'll have a written record of your communication. When I appealed, I included a detailed budget breakdown showing exactly where the financial gap was - tuition, housing, books, etc. - and how much additional aid I needed to make attendance feasible. Also, don't be discouraged if your first appeal isn't approved for the full amount you requested. You can sometimes submit additional documentation or clarification if new circumstances arise. The retirement distribution situation you mentioned is definitely a valid reason for appeal since it's not representative of your ongoing income capacity. Make sure to emphasize that this was a one-time event and provide documentation showing your family's typical annual income without it.

I went through a similar appeal process at another state university last year and wanted to share what worked for me. The key things that seemed to make a difference: 1) I submitted everything early (mid-April), 2) I was very specific about our changed circumstances with exact dollar amounts, and 3) I included a letter from my parent's financial advisor explaining why the retirement withdrawal was necessary and wouldn't happen again. One thing I'd add to all the great advice here - if UW has a "Professional Judgment" process (many schools do), ask specifically about that when you call. It's sometimes a separate track from regular appeals and can be more flexible for situations exactly like yours where there's a one-time income spike that doesn't reflect your actual ability to pay. Also, don't forget to look into emergency grants or hardship funds that might be available through UW's financial aid office. These are often separate from regular aid and can help bridge gaps while you're waiting for your appeal decision. Good luck - your situation with the retirement distribution sounds like exactly the type of circumstance these processes are designed to address!

Thank you SO much Sean for that update! I've been checking this thread obsessively for any good news. I'll definitely reach out to my daughter's financial aid offices first thing Monday morning to see about getting a provisional aid package set up. It's such a relief to know the Department of Education is finally addressing this mess with a workaround. I was starting to panic that we'd miss all the decision deadlines because of their broken system. Will keep everyone posted on how the alternate verification process goes once I get that email!

I'm having the exact same issue! Been stuck on the parent SSA verification for over a month now and it's driving me crazy. My son is a senior and we're running out of time to compare financial aid offers. I've tried calling multiple times but the wait times are insane and when I finally get through, they just tell me to wait for the technical team to fix it. I'm definitely going to try the mobile app suggestion and see if I can get escalated to that specialized team. Thanks everyone for sharing - at least now I know I'm not going crazy and this is a widespread problem. Will try the Claimyr service too since I can't afford to spend entire days on hold anymore!