UPDATE: We figured it out! Turns out my mom had accidentally created TWO FSA IDs like someone suggested. We found both accounts, and sure enough, my brother's FAFSA was linked to one and mine to the other. We called FSA (took forever to get through but we finally did), and they helped merge the accounts. My FAFSA is now visible in her dashboard and she was able to complete her signature! Thanks everyone for your help - especially the suggestion to check for multiple FSA IDs!

That's such great news! I'm so glad you got it resolved. The multiple FSA ID issue seems to be way more common than it should be - I wonder if FSA could add some kind of warning when someone tries to create a new account with info that matches an existing one. Thanks for updating the thread too, this will definitely help other families who run into the same problem. Hope you get your SAI score soon and can finalize your financial aid package!

Just wanted to share an update and some hope for others dealing with this! After reading all your suggestions, we tried several things at once: my dad lifted his credit freezes (thanks Zoe!), updated his address with his bank, and tried accessing his account from the library computer. Something worked because his verification finally went through this morning after 3 weeks of waiting! I'm not sure which specific fix did it, but I suspect it was the credit freeze issue since that seemed to be the most immediate change. For anyone else stuck in this situation, definitely check those credit bureau freezes first - it's something that's easy to overlook but seems to be a common cause. Also huge thanks to Mei Lin for the tip about contacting the school's financial aid office directly. Even though my dad's verification came through, having that extension gives me so much peace of mind. The financial aid advisor I spoke with said they're seeing this issue with about 15% of contributor accounts this year, so you're definitely not alone if you're dealing with this. Don't give up! Keep trying different solutions and definitely reach out to your schools for help while you're troubleshooting.

Congrats on getting it resolved! This thread has been so helpful - I'm bookmarking it for sure. The credit freeze issue seems to be way more common than people realize. I work at a bank and we see customers all the time who forget they have freezes in place, then wonder why various verification systems aren't working. For anyone still dealing with this, you can usually check and temporarily lift credit freezes online at each bureau's website (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion). It's free and takes like 10 minutes per bureau. Just remember to put the freezes back in place once your FAFSA verification goes through! Also wanted to add that if you're really stuck, some community colleges and public libraries offer free FAFSA assistance sessions where volunteers help troubleshoot these kinds of technical issues. Might be worth looking into if you're in a rural area without easy access to your school's financial aid office.

I'm so sorry for your loss - I can't imagine how difficult this must be while also trying to navigate financial aid. I went through something similar when my father passed away during my senior year of college. A few additional tips that helped me: 1) When you call the financial aid offices, ask to speak with a "financial aid counselor" rather than just any representative - they're typically more knowledgeable about special circumstances. 2) If possible, try to get any verbal agreements or instructions in writing via email for your records. 3) Some schools have grief counseling services that can also help connect you with additional campus resources you might not know about. The process is frustrating, but the financial aid staff generally want to help once they understand your situation. You're doing everything right by asking questions and preparing documentation. Your son is lucky to have such a dedicated advocate.

I'm so deeply sorry for your loss. Losing a spouse is devastating, and having to navigate FAFSA on top of everything else must feel overwhelming. I want to share something that might help with the immediate stress - you absolutely can and should file the FAFSA now rather than waiting. Here's what I'd recommend: 1) File the 2025-2026 FAFSA using your current single/head of household status and estimate your income based on what you expect to earn this year (without your husband's income). 2) Immediately after submitting, contact each school's financial aid office to request both a Professional Judgment Review AND ask about dependency override options as others mentioned. 3) Prepare a packet with: death certificate, recent pay stubs, a letter explaining your circumstances, and your 2023 joint tax return for comparison. The key thing to remember is that financial aid offices deal with these tragic situations regularly and they have processes in place to help. Don't let anyone make you feel like you're asking for special treatment - you're dealing with a legitimate change in circumstances that the system is designed to accommodate. Take it one step at a time, and remember that advocating for your son's education is a beautiful way to honor your husband's memory.

I'm going through the exact same thing! My daughter's SAI jumped from around -$800 for 24-25 to $1,200 for 25-26 and I was panicking. Like others have mentioned, it seems like the formula changes are hitting a lot of families unexpectedly. One thing that helped me was realizing that even though the SAI increased, some schools are also adjusting their aid policies to account for these changes. I called my daughter's top choice school and they said they're aware many families are seeing higher SAIs this year and they're taking that into consideration when packaging aid. Also, don't forget that you can always submit a special circumstances appeal if you have any expenses or situations that aren't reflected in the FAFSA - things like high medical bills, job loss, or even just the fact that the formula change is creating unexpected hardship. It's worth a shot! Hang in there - this whole process is so stressful but there are usually options available once you dig deeper.

I'm dealing with this exact same situation! Just submitted my daughter's FAFSA for 25-26 and our SAI estimate went from around -$400 last year to $980 this year. Same income, same assets, everything identical. It's so stressful because we were counting on similar aid to what we got for 24-25. Reading through all these comments is both reassuring (that we're not alone) and terrifying (that this seems to be happening to a lot of families). I think I'm going to try that Claimyr service someone mentioned to actually get through to FSA and get some answers. Has anyone had luck with the special circumstances appeals at their schools? I'm wondering if the formula change itself could be grounds for an appeal, especially for families who were budgeting based on previous years' aid packages.

Thank you everyone for the incredibly helpful advice! I've talked with my cousin and we're going to: 1) Gather all the documentation about her mom's death and dad's work situation, 2) Contact each school's financial aid office directly to explain the situation before submitting the FAFSA, and 3) Look into those special circumstances forms that several of you mentioned. Also going to try that Claimyr service to speak directly with an FSA agent since we've had no luck getting through on our own. I'll update here if we find a solution that might help others in similar situations!

I went through something very similar with my younger sister a few years ago. Her biological dad passed away when she was 16, and our mom remarried. The stepdad was financially well-off but made it clear he wasn't paying for college. What saved us was being proactive with the schools she applied to. Here's what worked: We called each financial aid office in early fall (way before FAFSA deadlines) and explained the situation. Most schools have seen this before and have specific procedures. Three out of four schools she applied to were able to work with us through their "professional judgment" process. The key was having documentation ready - death certificate, proof of the stepdad's refusal in writing (we had him sign a simple statement), and letters from us explaining the family dynamics. One school even told us they could treat it as if mom was unmarried for financial aid purposes once they reviewed everything. Your cousin shouldn't give up - the system has more flexibility than it appears on the surface, but you have to know how to navigate it. Start making those calls to financial aid offices now!